Sunburn and Sun Poisoning (cont.)
Can diseases cause a heightened sensitivity to UV rays?
Yes. Certain disorders place their sufferers at very high risk of skin damage
-- including severe sunburn, blisters, and sores -- from exposure to UV
radiation. The following is a small sample of afflictions that increase the
skin's sensitivity to UV radiation:
- Albinism: Individuals with classic
oculocutaneous albinism lack melanin in
their skin and eyes -- hence, the term "oculocutaneous" ("oculo" for eyes, and
"cutaneous" for skin). Without the protection of this pigment, their white skin
and pink eyes are both highly sensitive to UV and susceptible to the rays'
damage.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus: Individuals with
lupus can have inflamed tissues,
including the skin on the face. The "butterfly" rash (or malar rash) of lupus
over the cheeks and nose is extremely sensitive to UV rays. In fact, UV-B and
UV-A rays can cause lupus to flare. This butterfly rash and its sensitivity to
sun is one of common characteristics of lupus.
- Porphyrias: The porphyrias are disorders of specific enzymes that are
needed for the metabolism of heme (part of the pigment
hemoglobin that permits
red blood cells to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide). Patients with these
disorders manufacture abnormally large amounts of substances called porphyrins.
Stimulation of the excess porphyrins in the skin by the UV rays causes damage
and scarring of the skin. This skin damage is a prominent feature of several
forms of porphyria including porphyria cutanea tarda, hereditary coproporphyria,
variegate porphyria, and, particularly, congenital erythropoietic porphyria.
- Vitiligo: Vitiligo is a relatively common disorder that causes patches of
white de-pigmented skin. These patches lack melanin and are extremely sensitive
to UV rays.
- Xeroderma pigmentosum: This disorder appears to result from an inherited
hypersensitivity to the cancer-causing (carcinogenic) effects of ultraviolet
light. Sunlight causes DNA damage that is normally repaired. Individuals with
xeroderma pigmentosum have defective inability to repair the DNA after UV damage. Affected
individuals are hundreds times more vulnerable to developing skin cancer than
other people. Their extreme skin photosensitivity predisposes them to pronounced
skin damage and scarring but also to the early onset of skin cancer (basal cell
and squamous cell carcinomas and
malignant melanoma).
Next: What kinds of cancer can UV rays cause? »
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