Human Skin Phototypes (SPT)*
| Skin Phototype | Unexposed Skin Color | Sun Response History |
|---|---|---|
| I | White | Always burns, never tans |
| II | White | Always burns, minimally tans |
| III | White | Burns minimally, tans gradually and uniformly |
| IV | Light brown | Burns minimally, always tans well |
| V | Brown | Rarely burns, tans darkly |
| VI | Dark brown | Never burns, tans darkly |
* Those in SPT groups I & II are at highest risk for skin cancer.
Phototherapy is particularly helpful for:
- Eczema/atopic dermatitis
- Mycosis fungoides/cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
- Palmoplantar pustulosis
- Parapsoriasis
- Pityriasis rosea
- Polymorphous light eruption (prevention)
- Pruritus (esp. in renal failure)
- Psoriasis
- Vitiligo
- Other diseases may be helped: acne, alopecia areata, graft-versus-host disease, granuloma annulare, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, lichen planus, localized scleroderma, lymphomatoid papulosis, photodermatoses, pityriasis lichenoides, and urticaria pigmentosa
Photo/sun-aggravated dermatoses:
- Acne vulgaris (small %; most improve)
- Atopic dermatitis (small %; most improve)
- Bullous pemphigoid
- Darier disease
- Dermatomyositis
- Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis
- Erythema multiforme
- Grover disease
- Hailey-Hailey disease
- Lichen planus
- Lupus erythematosus
- Mycosis fungoides/cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (small %; most improve)
- Pellagra
- Pemphigus
- Pityriasis rubra pilaris
- Porphyria
- Psoriasis (small %; most improve)
- Rosacea
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Viral infections—e.g., HSV
Drugs causing photosensitivity:
- ACE inhibitors
- Amiodarone
- Ciprofloxacin
- Nifedipine
- NSAIDs
- Phenothiazines
- Sulfonamides
- Tetracyclines (esp. doxycycline)
- Thiazides