Phototoxicity from systemic agents

Abstract

Phototoxicity caused by systemic agents has been well described in the literature for only a handful of medications. Diagnosis rests initially upon the clinical recognition of a photodistributed eruption. Thereafter, histopathology and light testing with the patient on and off of the suspected medication should confirm the clinical suspicion. The creation of accurate and up-to-date tables of medications causing phototoxicity rests upon adequate documentation from the literature and thorough laboratory investigation of newly suspected agents.