title: Photoprotective effects of a broad-spectrum sunscreen in ultraviolet-induced cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a randomized, vehicle-controlled, double-blind study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess if the exclusive use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen can prevent skin lesions in patients with different subtypes of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation under standardized conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25 patients with a medical history of photosensitive CLE were included in this monocentric, randomized, vehicle-controlled, double-blind, intraindividual study. The test product and its vehicle were applied 15 minutes before UVA and UVB irradiation of uninvolved skin areas on the upper aspect of the back in a random order, and standardized phototesting was performed daily for 3 consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Characteristic skin lesions were induced by UVA and UVB irradiation in 16 patients with CLE in the untreated area, and 14 patients showed a positive test result in the vehicle-treated area. In contrast, no eruptions compatible with CLE were observed in the sunscreen-treated area in any of the 25 patients. This resulted in significant differences (P < .001) between UV-irradiated sunscreen-treated versus vehicle-treated areas, and between UV-irradiated sunscreen-treated versus untreated areas. Furthermore, a significant difference (P < .05) was observed concerning the age of disease onset and the patient history of photosensitivity. Patients who were younger than 40 years at onset of CLE reported photosensitivity significantly more often than patients with a higher age of disease onset. None of the patients showed any adverse events from application of the test product or the vehicle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data resulting from standardized experimental phototesting might not be transferable to a clinical setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate clearly that the use of a highly protective broad-spectrum sunscreen can prevent skin lesions in photosensitive patients with different subtypes of CLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany. kuhnan@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Annegret
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gensch
authors.forename: Merle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haust
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Meuth
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dupuy
authors.forename: Percy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Metze
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruzicka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents