Revista de Medicina Desportiva (English) July 2018 | Page 6

What we are reading
In this heading we intend to give news of
recent articles or that deserve to be reread
and commented. It will be an open page to all
colleagues who wish to collaborate by describing
or commenting on topics of sports medicine.
Revista Medicina Desportiva informa, 2018; 9(4):4-5.

Prof. Doctor Osvaldo
Correia
Dermatologist
Clinical director of the
Centre of Dermatology
Epidermis, Instituto
CUF, Oporto
Associate Professor of the
Oporto medical School
President of the
Portuguese Skin Cancer
Association
Comentário a um tema
The article Sun allergy 1 Of Mayo
Clinic alerts us at this time of the
year for a growing problem that is
relevant in terms of Public Health.
In the designation of “solar allergy”
is included the group of the Fhoto-
dermatosis which are a group of skin
problems associated with an abnor-
mal reaction to the ultraviolet (UV)
radiation.
There are several eruptions
related to photossensibility that
affect mainly the exposed the skin
to the UV. They can be classified in
four groups:
1. i  mmunological mediated photo-
dermatitis
• Eruption solar polymorphous;
spring Juvenile eruption; actinic
folliculitis; actinic prurigo; sun
urticaria; Chronic actinic derma-
titis; hidroa vaciniforme
2. photosensitivity-induced by chem-
icals and medicinal products
3. d
 ermatoses aggravated by light
• Lupus; dermatomyositis; Darier
disease; rosacea; melasma; liq-
uen plan (actinicus); porfiria, etc.
4. g
 enetic disorders (xeroderma pig-
mentosum, etc.)
4 july 2018 www.revdesportiva.pt
It is important to
collect a good medical
story about the evo-
lution of the current
episode, about similar
previous personal or
family episodes, about
the prior or concomi-
tant use of oral or topi-
cal medication that may
cause photosensibility,
about the contact with
certain local plants (e.g.
contact with fig tree or
lime). Besides the physi-
cal examination, there
might be needed to
perform laboratory tests
for identification of
autoimmune diseases,
phototests, including
fotopatch.
It is essential fig-
ure out potentially
photosensitizing oral
medication. The most
responsible drugs are
the anti-inflammatory,
emphasizing the piroxi-
cam and analogous,
but also antibiotics,
specially tetracyclines
and quinolones, cardio-
vascular medications
(thiazides, amiodarone,
among others) and also
neuropsychiatric.
To treat the acute
episode, it might be nec-
essary to apply at the
spots of the allergy topi-
cal steroids, transiently
(days), twice a day, at
the places of allergy, or soothing
lotions, for example, of calamine or
aloe Vera, and avoiding the exposure
of the affected area to the sun). It
is sometimes necessary, in addition
to antihistamine oral medication, a
period of systemic steroids.
For prevention proper photopro-
tection is essential. It is advised
the wear of suitable clothing with
non-porous texture, with a design
that protects the neckline, arms and
forearms, and the hat, ideally of
wide flaps that protects the neck, as
well as the use of sunglasses with
UVB and UVA protection a 100%.
It is essential the protection of the
exposed areas with high SPF (sun-
screen protection factor), SPF 50+,
The skin cancer is
still the most common
type of cancer
There is a growing number of cases of
skin cancer and, among of the several
types of cancer, it is the one with the
most impressive rise. There are more than
3.5 million cases in Europe every year.
Make a safe sun exposure
Avoid unnecessary exposure
Look for shadow whenever possible and
avoid the summer sun during the midday
Wear protective clothes
Include dark colors, clothes with long sleeves,
hats with large flaps and sunglasses for
protection from UV. For children, whenever
possible look for clothes with protection
from UV as well.
Apply sunscreen
Check if the sunscreen you are applying
has a high sun protection factor, both
for UVA and UVB. Remind that most of
the sun screens only start acting about
half an hour after the application and the effi-
cacy lasts about two hours. Take care about the
very fluid protectors, “transparent” or in “foam”,
because they can give a false sense of security,
specially if they are nor applied several times with
several layers over the same skin area.
Children has a higher risk for