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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or primary care doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist).
Before your appointment, your doctor may recommend that you expose your skin to ultraviolet light to cause a reaction. This helps your doctor see and better evaluate your symptoms.
What you can do
Write down your signs and symptoms, when they occurred and how long they lasted. Also, make a list of all medications, including vitamins, herbs and over-the-counter drugs that you're taking. Even better, take the original bottles and a written list of the dosages and directions.
Write down questions that you want to ask your doctor. Don't be afraid to ask questions or to speak up when you don't understand something your doctor says. If you have symptoms of polymorphous light eruption, questions you may want to ask include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms?
- Are tests needed to confirm the diagnosis?
- What are other possible causes for my symptoms?
- Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
- What is the best course of action?
- Can I wait to see if the condition goes away on its own?
- Do I need prescription medication, or can I use over-the-counter medications to treat the condition?
- What kind of follow-up, if any, should I expect?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:
- When did you first notice the rash?
- How often do you experience these symptoms?
- Do you have other symptoms?
- What medications are you taking?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- How often are you exposed to sun or UV radiation?
- Do you regularly protect your skin from UV radiation?
- Morison WL. Photosensitivity. New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;350:1111.
- Habif TP. Light-related diseases and disorders of pigmentation. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/112343683-3/0/1195/133.html?tocnode=51442249&fromURL=133.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01319-8..50021-2--cesec54_2402. Accessed Dec. 2, 2008.
- The sun and your skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_sun.html. Accessed Dec. 3, 2008.
- DeLeo V. Sunscreen use in photodermatoses. Dermatology Clinics. 2006;24:27.
- Hawk JL, et al. Abnormal responses to ultraviolet radiation: Idiopathic, probably immunologic, and photo-exacerbated. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2979797. Accessed Dec. 2, 2008.
- Millard TP, et al. Photosensitivity disorders: Cause, effect and management. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2002;3:239.
- Bickers DR. Photosensitivity and other reactions to light. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2868622. Accessed Dec. 3, 2008.
- Benseler SM, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2007;33:471.
- FDA approves a new over-the-counter sunscreen product. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01417.html. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
