Photosensitivity in humans

Light sensitivity or photosensitivity refers to a notable or increased reactivity to light. Apart from vision, human beings have many physiological and psychological responses to light. In rare individuals an atypical response may result in serious discomfort, disease, or injury. Some drugs have a photosensitizing effect. Properties of natural or artificial light that may abnormally affect people include:

• Timing of light (upset of normal circadian rhythms, seasonal affective disorder, sleep disorders)
• Intensity of light (photophobia, sunburn, skin cancer)[1][2]
• Wavelength of light (in lupus, urticaria)
• Rapid flickers in intensity of light may trigger or aggravate photosensitive epilepsy, epileptic seizure, or migraine headaches.[3]

For broader coverage of this topic, see Photosensitivity.

Conditions that may include sensitivity to light include vertigo and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Controlled application of artificial light can be used in a program of light therapy to treat some disorders.

Sunlight

Sunlight, especially its ultraviolet radiation component, can cause increased or additional types of damage in predisposed individuals, such as those taking certain phototoxic drugs, or those with certain conditions associated with photosensitivity, including:

• Psoriasis[4]
• Atopic eczema[4]
• Mastocytosis
• Mast cell activation syndrome
• Histamine intolerance

• Erythema multiforme[4]
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis[4]
• Autoimmune bullous diseases (immunobullous diseases)[4]
• Mycosis fungoides[4]
• Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome[4]
• Porphyria cutanea tarda

Also, many conditions are aggravated by strong light, including:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus[4]
• Sjögren’s syndrome[4]
• Sinear Usher syndrome[4]
• Rosacea[4]
• Dermatomyositis[4]
• Darier’s disease[4]
• Kindler-Weary syndrome[4]

Fluorescent lamps

Further information: Fluorescent lamps and health

The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) in 2008 reviewed[5] the connections between light from fluorescent lamps, especially from compact fluorescent lamp, and numerous human diseases, with results including:

• The inner-ear condition Ménière's disease can be aggravated by flicker. Sufferers of vertigo are recommended to not use fluorescent lights.
• Polymorphous light eruption is a condition affecting the skin thought to be caused by an adverse reaction to ultraviolet light. Its prevalence across Europe is 10-20% of the population. Artificial light sources may provoke the condition, and compact fluorescent light have been shown to produce an eruption.
• Chronic actinic dermatitis is a condition where a subject's skin becomes inflamed due to a reaction to sunlight or artificial light. Its prevalence in Scotland is 16.5 per 100,000 population. There is evidence that compact fluorescent light worsen the condition.
• With the autoimmune disease lupus, chronic exposure to compact fluorescent lamps could possibly be a problem.
• There is evidence that actinic prurigo is worsened by compact fluorescent light. This disease affects 3.3% of the general population.
• 3.1% of the population suffer from solar urticaria, a skin disorder affected by ultraviolet light. Some patients are directly affected by compact fluorescent light.
• Phytophotodermatitis may be aggravated by the additional levels of ultraviolet light emitted by compact fluorescent light.
• Patients undergoing photodynamic therapy are at additional risk of adverse photosensitive reactions caused by compact fluorescent light.
• One cause of cataracts is exposure to ultraviolet light. Provided the level of UV emission from lamps is within safe limits, and the lamp a sufficient distance away from the individual, there should be no increased risk of developing cataracts.
• Photophobia is a symptom of excessive sensitivity to light which affects 5 to 20% of the population. No studies have been conducted into the effect of compact fluorescent light on sufferers of photophobia but there is the possibility for compact fluorescent light to affect sufferers.
• There is evidence that flicker can cause seizures in patients with photosensitive epilepsy, but there has yet to be any evidence to date attributing seizures to compact fluorescent lamps.
• Self-reporting suggests fluorescent lamps aggravate dyslexia.

See also

• Asthenopia (eye strain)
• Photophobia
• Phototoxicity
• Photosensitivity
• Photosensitivity in animals
• Photodermatitis
• Phytophotodermatitis

References

1. Guide to Photophobia/Light Sensitivity, axonoptics.com. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
2. Lightmare, lightmare.org. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
3. Light and Sensitivity, headaches.org. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
4. European Guidelines for Photodermatoses > 2 Photoaggravated Disorders at European Dermatology Forum
5. "Light Sensitivity, Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks" (PDF). Director-General for Health and Consumers, European Commission. 2008. pp. 26–27. Retrieved 2009-08-31.