Medknow Publications on behalf of The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Phototesting is an essential tool in the investigation of
photodermatoses. AIMS: The main aim was to study the cutaneous
response to UVR in terms of minimal erythema dose (MED) to both UVA and
UVB in normal Indian subjects with a solar simulator and to study the
relationship of skin type to MED. METHODS: One hundred healthy
volunteers not on any medication and without any history of
photodermatoses were phototested using a solar simulator with whole
spectrum irradiation (UVA, UVB and visible light) and only visible and
UVA radiation. The tested areas were marked with gentian violet and
readings were taken after 24 hrs. RESULTS: Of the 100 volunteers, 48%
were males and 52% were females, with a mean age of 36.6 \ub1 11.6
yrs. The most common skin type among Indians was type 5 (46%) followed
by type 4 (41%). The mean MED for UVB was 61.5 \ub1 17.25J/cm2. The
MED for UVA could not be determined as none of the patients showed any
erythema after irradiation for 45 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: As the MED is
found to be low in idiopathic acquired photodermatoses, the MED in the
normal population could serve as a baseline data in the investigation