title: Chronic actinic dermatitis in Asian skin: a Singaporean experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the characteristics of chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) in a heterogeneous group of Singaporean patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The photobiologicial features of all patients phototested and diagnosed with CAD from January 2005 to December 2009 were examined retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-eight patients were diagnosed as having CAD. The mean age at diagnosis was 62 years (range 35-83). Forty-one were (70.7%) Chinese, six (10.3%) Indians, eight (13.8%) Malays, and three (5.2%) Others. Forty-seven were (81.0%) male and 11 (19.0%) were female. Forty-nine (84.5%) had Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV and nine (15.5%) had phototype V. Three of 26 (11.5%) tested for human immunodeficiency virus were positive. The face, neck, and forearms were most commonly affected. Thirty-two patients (55.2%) had reduced minimal erythema dose (MED) to both ultraviolet B (UVB)and ultraviolet A (UVA), 23 patients (39.7%) had lowered MED to UVB only, while three (5.1%) had reduced MED to UVA only. Patients were followed up for a mean of 16.8 months. All were treated with photoprotection and topical steroids; however, a few required oral immunosuppression with partial improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Singapore, CAD was seen more commonly in elderly Chinese males of Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV. Reduced MED to both UVB and UVA was the most common phototest finding.
authors: National Skin Centre, Singapore. aaron.tan@mohh.com.sg
authors: Aaron Wei-Min
authors: AW
authors: Tan
authors: Kar-Seng
authors: KS
authors: Lim
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Theng
authors: Wei-Sheng
authors: WS
authors: Chong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*