phytophotodermatitis

Phytodermatitis resulting from photosensitization.

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phy·to·pho·to·der·ma·ti·tis .fīt-ō-.fōt-ō-.dər-mə-'tīt-əs n, pl -ti·tis·es or -tit·i·des -'tit-ə-.dēz an inflammatory reaction of skin that has been exposed to sunlight and esp. UVA radiation after being made hypersensitive by contact with any of various plants or plant parts and esp. those (as limes and celery) with high levels of psoralens and that is typically characterized by a burning sensation, blisters, and erythema followed by hyperpigmentation

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n.

an eruption of linear blisters occurring after exposure to light in people who have been in contact with certain plants, such as wild parsnip or cow parsley, to which they are sensitive. A particularly dramatic reaction occurs with giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).

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phy·to·pho·to·der·ma·ti·tis (fi″to-fo″to-dur″mə-tiґtis) [phyto- + photo- + dermatitis] phototoxic dermatitis of an area of skin that has been exposed to a plant that contains a psoralen-type photosensitizer; characteristics include burning erythema, then edema with small vesicles that coalesce into large bullae, and later intense residual hyperpigmentation.

Child with phytophotodermatitis, several weeks after contact with his father's hands while they were wet with lime juice immediately before an afternoon at the beach.