This study was designed to evaluate the clinical, histological and immunohistochemical findings and treatment of chronic actinic dermatitis in Korean patients.

Seventeen Korean patients with chronic actinic dermatitis were enrolled for this study. The clinical and histological findings and the results of phototest were reviewed with medical records, clinical photographs and pathologic slides. We also reviewed the effectiveness of the treatments in all patients with chronic actinic dermatitis.

In all patients with chronic actinic dermatitis, pruritus was severe, and the patients present in the early stages with erythemas on the face, neck and the back of the hands. As the eruption progresses, it became lichenified and scaly plaques and papules developed. The face, upper extremity and neck were most commonly affected. The most common abnormal results of the phototests were decreased MED-UVB alone. In 8 patients with actinic reticuloid, histopathologic findings showed irregular acanthosis, parakeratosis, spongiosis, atypical hyperchromatic cells with cerebriform nuclei, epidermotropism, Pautrier-like microabscess, deep perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, vertically-streaked collagen in the papillary dermis, stellate and multinucleated fibroblasts. Treatment includes topical tacrolimus and corticosteroid, oral corticosteroid, azathioprine and cyclosporine.

Our study showed classic clinical and histological findings. The most common abnormal results of the phototests were decreased MED-UVB alone. Topical steroid, tacrolimus and systemic cyclosporine, azathioprine are effective in treating chronic actinic dermatitis.