photodermatosis

views updated

photodermatosis (foh-toh-der-mă-toh-sis) n. any of various diseases caused by exposure to light of varying wavelength (see photosensitivity). The face and neck are most commonly affected. A common photodermatosis is polymorphic light eruption, which appears with the first sunshine of spring and abates by late summer. The photodermatoses include certain porphyrias.

More From encyclopedia.com