The natural history of chronic actinic dermatitis: an analysis at a single institution in the United States.
Dermatitis 2014;
25:27-31. [PMID:
24407058 DOI:
10.1097/der.0000000000000007]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Chronic actinic dermatitis is a photosensitivity disorder with scant epidemiologic data. Case series in Europe have previously shown that improvement or resolution of chronic actinic dermatitis occurs over time in most patients. However, the natural history of chronic actinic dermatitis in patients in the United States has not been studied.
OBJECTIVE
To study the natural history of chronic actinic dermatitis in patients in the United States.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective chart review and telephone questionnaire after a 3- to 19-year follow-up period.
RESULTS
Of 20 patients with chronic actinic dermatitis, 7 patients (35%) experienced resolution and an additional 11 patients (55%) experienced improvement of their photosensitivity to sunlight during the follow-up period. The proportion of patients experiencing improvement or resolution of their chronic actinic dermatitis increased at 5, 10, and 15 years after diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that abnormal photosensitivity to sunlight in chronic actinic dermatitis improves or resolves over time in most patients in New York. The rates of improvement or resolution in our patients in New York are similar to the rates in case series in Europe despite likely patient demographic differences.
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