U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Polymorphic light eruption

MedGen UID:
508043
Concept ID:
C0031736
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: PLE - Polymorphic light eruption; polymorphic light eruption; Polymorphic photodermatitis; polymorphic photodermatitis; Polymorphous light eruption; Polymorphous Light Eruption; polymorphous light eruption; Pruritus estivalis; Sun allergy
SNOMED CT: Polymorphic light eruption (238525001); Polymorphous light eruption (238525001); PLE - Polymorphic light eruption (238525001); Polymorphic photodermatitis (238525001); Pruritus estivalis (238525001)
 
HPO: HP:0032379
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0041182

Definition

The cardinal symptom is severely pruritic skin lesions. Macular, papular, papulovesicular, urticarial, multiforme- and plaque-like variants are differentiated morphologically, hence the name polymorphous. Usually one morphology dominates in a single individual (monomorphous). The skin lesions develop a few hours to several days after sun exposure. Initially, patchy erythema develops, accompanied by pruritus. Distinct lesions then develop. The upper chest, upper arms, backs of the hands, thighs, and the sides of the face are the primary localizations. The skin lesions resolve spontaneously within several days of ceasing sun exposure and do not leave behind any traces. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVPolymorphic light eruption

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Kadurina M, Kazandjieva J, Bocheva G
Dermatol Ther 2021 Nov;34(6):e15167. Epub 2021 Oct 27 doi: 10.1111/dth.15167. PMID: 34676645
Lehmann P, Schwarz T
Dtsch Arztebl Int 2011 Mar;108(9):135-41. Epub 2011 Mar 4 doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2011.0135. PMID: 21442060Free PMC Article
Ling TC, Gibbs NK, Rhodes LE
Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2003 Oct;19(5):217-27. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0781.2003.00048.x. PMID: 14535892

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Hart PH, Norval M, Byrne SN, Rhodes LE
Annu Rev Pathol 2019 Jan 24;14:55-81. Epub 2018 Aug 20 doi: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-012418-012809. PMID: 30125148
Lehmann AR, McGibbon D, Stefanini M
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2011 Nov 1;6:70. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-6-70. PMID: 22044607Free PMC Article
Norval M
Prog Biophys Mol Biol 2011 Dec;107(3):323-32. Epub 2011 Aug 23 doi: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2011.07.014. PMID: 21875613
Horkay I, Emri G, Varga V, Simics E, Remenyik E
Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2008 Apr;24(2):56-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2008.00341.x. PMID: 18353083
van de Kerkhof PC, Murphy GM, Austad J, Ljungberg A, Cambazard F, Duvold LB
J Dermatolog Treat 2007;18(6):351-60. doi: 10.1080/09546630701341949. PMID: 17907013

Diagnosis

Sebaratnam DF, Lowe P
Med J Aust 2017 Oct 16;207(8):328. doi: 10.5694/mja17.00108. PMID: 29020899
Goetze S, Elsner P
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2015 Dec;13(12):1250-3. doi: 10.1111/ddg.12809. PMID: 26612794
Valbuena MC, Muvdi S, Lim HW
Dermatol Clin 2014 Jul;32(3):335-44, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2014.03.010. PMID: 24891055
Lehmann AR, McGibbon D, Stefanini M
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2011 Nov 1;6:70. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-6-70. PMID: 22044607Free PMC Article
Tutrone WD, Spann CT, Scheinfeld N, Deleo VA
Dermatol Ther 2003;16(1):28-39. doi: 10.1046/j.1529-8019.2003.01605.x. PMID: 12919124

Therapy

Kadurina M, Kazandjieva J, Bocheva G
Dermatol Ther 2021 Nov;34(6):e15167. Epub 2021 Oct 27 doi: 10.1111/dth.15167. PMID: 34676645
Sebaratnam DF, Lowe P
Med J Aust 2017 Oct 16;207(8):328. doi: 10.5694/mja17.00108. PMID: 29020899
Juzeniene A, Grigalavicius M, Juraleviciute M, Grant WB
Clin Dermatol 2016 Sep-Oct;34(5):548-55. Epub 2016 May 20 doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.05.004. PMID: 27638432
Goetze S, Elsner P
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2015 Dec;13(12):1250-3. doi: 10.1111/ddg.12809. PMID: 26612794
Valbuena MC, Muvdi S, Lim HW
Dermatol Clin 2014 Jul;32(3):335-44, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2014.03.010. PMID: 24891055

Prognosis

Burfield L, Rutter KJ, Thompson B, Marjanovic EJ, Neale RE, Rhodes LE
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2023 Mar;37(3):511-520. Epub 2022 Dec 3 doi: 10.1111/jdv.18772. PMID: 36433668
Lehmann AR, McGibbon D, Stefanini M
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2011 Nov 1;6:70. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-6-70. PMID: 22044607Free PMC Article
van de Kerkhof PC, Murphy GM, Austad J, Ljungberg A, Cambazard F, Duvold LB
J Dermatolog Treat 2007;18(6):351-60. doi: 10.1080/09546630701341949. PMID: 17907013
Simon JC, Pfieger D, Schöpf E
Eur J Dermatol 2000 Dec;10(8):642-5. PMID: 11125334
Scheen SR 3rd, Connolly SM, Dicken CH
J Am Acad Dermatol 1981 Aug;5(2):183-90. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(81)70086-0. PMID: 7263963

Clinical prediction guides

Juzeniene A, Grigalavicius M, Juraleviciute M, Grant WB
Clin Dermatol 2016 Sep-Oct;34(5):548-55. Epub 2016 May 20 doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.05.004. PMID: 27638432
Reddy H, Carmichael AJ, Wahie S
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2015 Jan;29(1):97-101. Epub 2014 Mar 29 doi: 10.1111/jdv.12470. PMID: 24684752
Felton S, Navid F, Schwarz A, Schwarz T, Gläser R, Rhodes LE
Photochem Photobiol Sci 2013 Jan;12(1):29-36. doi: 10.1039/c2pp25158b. PMID: 22945598
de Gruijl FR
Photochem Photobiol 2008 Jan-Feb;84(1):2-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00211.x. PMID: 18173695
Scheen SR 3rd, Connolly SM, Dicken CH
J Am Acad Dermatol 1981 Aug;5(2):183-90. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(81)70086-0. PMID: 7263963

Recent systematic reviews

Burfield L, Rutter KJ, Thompson B, Marjanovic EJ, Neale RE, Rhodes LE
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2023 Mar;37(3):511-520. Epub 2022 Dec 3 doi: 10.1111/jdv.18772. PMID: 36433668
Lava SA, Simonetti GD, Ragazzi M, Guarino Gubler S, Bianchetti MG
Br J Dermatol 2013 May;168(5):1066-72. doi: 10.1111/bjd.12197. PMID: 23374016

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Recent activity

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...