Dermatitis solaris

Sunburn

Toxic dermatitis, more precisely a prostaglandin-mediated reddening of the skin after UV exposure. People with fair skin types are particularly susceptible to sunburns.

Up to 40% of all people suffer at least one sunburn per year, younger people even more frequently.

• Most erythema is produced between 295- 315nm wavelength. Thus, the risk for sunburn is highest here.
• The rays cause subepithelial vascular dilatation and damage to keratinocytes. There is induction of apoptosis.
• At the sea and in the high mountains, UV-absorbing dust and haze particles are absent, reflections of the UV rays occur through water and snow, so that sunburn can occur more quickly than usual.

• First symptoms after 4 h, the peak is reached after approx. 12-24 h. During this time, a two-dimensional erythema develops. Subepithelial blisters may also appear.
• The skin changes subside with crusting and/or, in the case of minor sunburn, coarse lamellar scaling and, in a few cases, hyperpigmentation.
• General symptoms such as fever, heat sensation, exsiccation and ↓ blood glucose levels may occur with large skin involvement.

• Anamnesis ( sun exposure)
• Clinic

• Stratum spinosum: eosinophilic dyskeratotic cells
• Upper corium: vascular dilatation
• Perivascular, lymphohistiocytic infiltrates.
• Facultative: focal cell necrosis, extensive epithelial necrosis or subepithelial bullae

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