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Solar urticaria

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Solar urticaria has an equal incidence in males and females.

Onset may be sudden and may be life-threatening. It is induced by exposure to UVA and visible light wavelengths.

Treatment options for solar urticaria include:

  • non-sedating antihistamines such as fexofenadine and cetirizine
  • other options include absorbent sunscreens, restriction of UVR at the relevant wavelength (it can be useful to photo-test patients to assess which wavelengths trigger their symptoms and how easily the urticaria is provoked (3)), maintenance of a non-responsive state with natural or artificial light exposure and immunosuppressive therapy e.g. plasmapheresis

Reference:

  1. Ferguson J.Photosensitivity disorders.Medicine International (1992);102:4282-4.
  2. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2002;3(4):239-46.
  3. Primary Care Dermatological Society. Solar urticaria (Accessed 30/7/14)

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