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Polymorphous light eruption

Last reviewed: 5 Apr 2025
Last updated: 08 Nov 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • recurrent history of lesions following ultraviolet radiation exposure
  • young women and adolescents
  • family history of PLE
  • severe itching
  • reduced symptoms over the course of a year
  • erythematous patches
  • papules
  • plaques
  • vesicles
Full details

Risk factors

  • ultraviolet A exposure
  • oxidative stress/reactive oxygen species
  • family history of PLE
  • female sex
Full details

Diagnostic tests

Tests to consider

  • phototesting and photoprovocation
  • skin biopsy
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

papular type (typical PLE) and plaque type with few small plaques

plaque type with widespread thick plaques + vesiculobullous variant

Contributors

Authors

Anusuya Kawsar, MBBS, BMedSci (hons), MRCP

Dermatology Registrar

Hammersmith Hospital

Imperial College Hospitals NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

AK declares that she has no competing interests.

Shirin Zaheri, MBBS, BSc, MRCP

Consultant Dermatologist

Charing Cross/Hammersmith Hospital

Imperial College Hospitals NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

SZ declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Anusuya Kawsar and Dr Shirin Zaheri would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Mieran Sethi, Dr Catherine Hardman, Dr Sarah Hogan and Dr Ina Marion Hadshiew, previous contributors to this topic. MS has been reimbursed by Vichy and La Roche Posay for presenting video clips and attending conferences about skin disease. CH, SH and IMH declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Erhard Holzle, MD

Professor and Chair

Department of Dermatology

Stadtische Kliniken

Oldenburg

Germany

Disclosures

EH declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Burfield L, Rutter KJ, Thompson B, et al. Systematic review of the prevalence and incidence of the photodermatoses with meta-analysis of the prevalence of polymorphic light eruption. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023 Mar;37(3):511-20.Full text  Abstract

Ling TC, Dawe RS, Gardener E, et al. Interventions for polymorphic light eruption. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Oct 9;2017(10):CD005069.Full text

Goulden V, Ling TC, Babakinejad P, et al. British Association of Dermatologists and British Photodermatology Group guidelines for narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy 2022. Br J Dermatol. 2022 Sep;187(3):295-308.Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Polymorphous light eruption images
  • Differentials

    • Photoallergic reaction
    • Phototoxic reaction
    • Chronic actinic dermatitis
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy
    • Sunlight exposure: risks and benefits
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Eczema

    More Patient information
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