Abstract

The concept of sun-reactive "skin typing" was created in 1975<sup>1</sup>for a specific need: to be able to classify persons<i>with white skin</i>in order to select the correct initial doses of ultraviolet A (UVA) (in joules per cubic centimeter) in the application of the then newly developed technique for the treatment of psoriasis—oral methoxsalen photochemotherapy (PUVA).<sup>2</sup>The need arose as a result of experience with several patients who were a "dark" phenotype (brown or even black hair, and some with brown eyes) but, to our surprise, developed severe phototoxic reactions following oral ingestion of 0.6 mg/kg of methoxsalen and then, two hours later, were exposed to 4 to 6 J/cm<sup>2</sup>. These initial doses were obviously too high, and it was then understood that the estimation of the white-skinned person's tolerance level to oral PUVA could not be based solely on the phenotype (hair and eye color).

Keywords

MethoxsalenDermatologyMedicinePsoriasisPUVA therapyPhototoxicityUltravioletDark skinOpticsPhysicsGeneticsBiology

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Publication Info

Year
1988
Type
article
Volume
124
Issue
6
Pages
869-871
Citations
3157
Access
Closed

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Thomas B. Fitzpatrick (1988). The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI. Archives of Dermatology , 124 (6) , 869-871. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.124.6.869

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DOI
10.1001/archderm.124.6.869