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Dermatology277 papers

Photoptarmosis

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Photoptarmosis, often associated with chronic sun exposure, encompasses photoaging, pigmentary disorders, and photocarcinogenesis, leading to skin changes such as wrinkles, laxity, and uneven pigmentation. Effective management involves photoprotection and various therapeutic interventions targeting skin rejuvenation and prevention of further damage 18.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical assessment focusing on visible signs of photoaging (wrinkles, pigmentation changes, skin laxity) 18.
  • No specific diagnostic tests; grading often based on visual evaluation and patient history 18.
  • Management

  • First-line treatments:
  • - Topical retinoids (e.g., tretinoin 0.05%): Promote epidermal hyperplasia, inhibit matrix metalloproteinases, and stimulate collagen synthesis 48. - Sunscreen use: Essential for photoprotection, tailored to skin type and climate 1.
  • Adjunctive treatments:
  • - Fractional laser therapy: Effective for skin rejuvenation, improving texture and reducing wrinkles 51011. - Photodynamic therapy (PDT): Beneficial for photorejuvenation, reducing fine wrinkles and improving skin roughness 912. - Chemical peels (e.g., Jessner's-TCA peel): Useful for medium-depth resurfacing and treating actinic damage 21. - Oral supplements (e.g., Imedeen): May offer additional support in long-term skin health maintenance 19.

    Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Limited data; caution with retinoids due to potential teratogenic effects 8.
  • Pediatrics: Photoprotection crucial; avoid aggressive treatments until adulthood 1.
  • Elderly: Focus on minimizing irritation and maximizing cosmesis with treatments like non-ablative laser therapies 17.
  • Comorbidities: Tailor treatments considering systemic health; avoid exacerbating conditions like photosensitivity 6.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Use broad-spectrum sunscreens daily to prevent further photodamage (Evidence: Strong 1).
  • Incorporate topical retinoids such as tretinoin 0.05% for collagen stimulation and skin rejuvenation (Evidence: Strong 48).
  • Consider fractional laser therapy for significant photoaging, balancing efficacy with patient tolerance (Evidence: Moderate 510).
  • Evaluate photodynamic therapy for patients seeking non-invasive options with aesthetic benefits (Evidence: Moderate 912).
  • Monitor and adjust treatments based on skin type and patient response to minimize irritation and maximize adherence (Evidence: Expert opinion 1).
  • References

    1 Kohli M, Srinivas CR, Saraswat A, Ganjoo A, Kathed A, Patel G et al.. Practical Recommendations for Indians on Sunscreen Use-A Modified Delphi Consensus by Indian Sunscreen Forum (PRISM-ISF). Journal of cosmetic dermatology 2025. link 2 Teng Y, Tang H, Fan Y, You J. A Bibliometric Analysis of the Top 100 Most-Cited Articles on Skin Photoaging. Journal of cosmetic dermatology 2025. link 3 Sun Y, Chen S, Zhang Y, Qi X, Guo D, Feng B et al.. Filament coating system assists recovery of ablative fCO. Journal of cosmetic dermatology 2024. link 4 Wood E, Almukhtar R, Gonzalez A, Angra K, Lipp M, Fabi S. A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, and Patient Satisfaction of Tretinoin 0.05% Lotion for Chest Rejuvenation. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD 2022. link 5 Friedman P, Chapas A, Kilmer S, Rahman Z, Roberts W, Ross E et al.. Optimizing Outcomes With the 1550/1927 nm Dual Wavelength Non-Ablative Fractional Laser: Experienced User Recommendations. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD 2021. link 6 Hamel R, Mohammad TF, Chahine A, Joselow A, Vick G, Radosta S et al.. Comparison of racial distribution of photodermatoses in USA academic dermatology clinics: A multicenter retrospective analysis of 1080 patients over a 10-year period. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine 2020. link 7 Garcia RL, McCullough JL, Reece B, Massino FJ. Novel Topical Cytokinin Improves Coarse Wrinkles and Skin Roughness Without Skin Irritation. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD 2018. link 8 Riahi RR, Bush AE, Cohen PR. Topical Retinoids: Therapeutic Mechanisms in the Treatment of Photodamaged Skin. American journal of clinical dermatology 2016. link 9 Szeimies RM, Lischner S, Philipp-Dormston W, Walker T, Hiepe-Wegener D, Feise K et al.. Photodynamic therapy for skin rejuvenation: treatment options - results of a consensus conference of an expert group for aesthetic photodynamic therapy. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG 2013. link 10 Rostan EF. Combining laser therapies for optimal outcomes in treating the aging face and acne scars. Facial plastic surgery clinics of North America 2012. link 11 Gentile RD. Combined laser treatment of actinic sun damage and acne scarring. Facial plastic surgery clinics of North America 2012. link 12 Kohl E, Karrer S. Photodynamic therapy for photorejuvenation and non-oncologic indications: overview and update. Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia 2011. link 13 Roelandts R. Photodermatology. Quo vadis?. Actas dermo-sifiliograficas 2009. link73169-2) 14 Draelos ZD. Concepts in a multiprong approach to photoaging. Skin therapy letter 2006. link 15 Kang S. The mechanism of action of topical retinoids. Cutis 2005. link 16 Landau M. Advances in deep chemical peels. Dermatology nursing 2005. link 17 Weiss RA, Weiss MA, Beasley KL, Munavalli G. Our approach to non-ablative treatment of photoaging. Lasers in surgery and medicine 2005. link 18 Shim EK, Barnette D, Hughes K, Greenway HT. Microdermabrasion: a clinical and histopathologic study. Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] 2001. link 19 Kieffer ME, Efsen J. Imedeen in the treatment of photoaged skin: an efficacy and safety trial over 12 months. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV 1998. link 20 Kligman LH, Sapadin AN, Schwartz E. Peeling agents and irritants, unlike tretinoin, do not stimulate collagen synthesis in the photoaged hairless mouse. Archives of dermatological research 1996. link 21 Monheit GD. The Jessner's-trichloroacetic acid peel. An enhanced medium-depth chemical peel. Dermatologic clinics 1995. link 22 Gross EL, Molnar S, Curtiss A, Reuter RA, Berg SP. The use of monoclonal antibodies to study the structure and function of cytochrome f. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 1991. link90468-x) 23 Suzuki A. Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase. I. Structural, immunochemical and catalytic properties. Biochimie 1987. link90193-3) 24 Smith KC. Photobiology and photomedicine: the future is bright. The Journal of investigative dermatology 1981. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Practical Recommendations for Indians on Sunscreen Use-A Modified Delphi Consensus by Indian Sunscreen Forum (PRISM-ISF).Kohli M, Srinivas CR, Saraswat A, Ganjoo A, Kathed A, Patel G et al. Journal of cosmetic dermatology (2025)
    2. [2]
      A Bibliometric Analysis of the Top 100 Most-Cited Articles on Skin Photoaging.Teng Y, Tang H, Fan Y, You J Journal of cosmetic dermatology (2025)
    3. [3]
      Filament coating system assists recovery of ablative fCOSun Y, Chen S, Zhang Y, Qi X, Guo D, Feng B et al. Journal of cosmetic dermatology (2024)
    4. [4]
    5. [5]
      Optimizing Outcomes With the 1550/1927 nm Dual Wavelength Non-Ablative Fractional Laser: Experienced User Recommendations.Friedman P, Chapas A, Kilmer S, Rahman Z, Roberts W, Ross E et al. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD (2021)
    6. [6]
      Comparison of racial distribution of photodermatoses in USA academic dermatology clinics: A multicenter retrospective analysis of 1080 patients over a 10-year period.Hamel R, Mohammad TF, Chahine A, Joselow A, Vick G, Radosta S et al. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine (2020)
    7. [7]
      Novel Topical Cytokinin Improves Coarse Wrinkles and Skin Roughness Without Skin Irritation.Garcia RL, McCullough JL, Reece B, Massino FJ Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD (2018)
    8. [8]
      Topical Retinoids: Therapeutic Mechanisms in the Treatment of Photodamaged Skin.Riahi RR, Bush AE, Cohen PR American journal of clinical dermatology (2016)
    9. [9]
      Photodynamic therapy for skin rejuvenation: treatment options - results of a consensus conference of an expert group for aesthetic photodynamic therapy.Szeimies RM, Lischner S, Philipp-Dormston W, Walker T, Hiepe-Wegener D, Feise K et al. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG (2013)
    10. [10]
      Combining laser therapies for optimal outcomes in treating the aging face and acne scars.Rostan EF Facial plastic surgery clinics of North America (2012)
    11. [11]
      Combined laser treatment of actinic sun damage and acne scarring.Gentile RD Facial plastic surgery clinics of North America (2012)
    12. [12]
      Photodynamic therapy for photorejuvenation and non-oncologic indications: overview and update.Kohl E, Karrer S Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia (2011)
    13. [13]
      Photodermatology. Quo vadis?Roelandts R Actas dermo-sifiliograficas (2009)
    14. [14]
      Concepts in a multiprong approach to photoaging.Draelos ZD Skin therapy letter (2006)
    15. [15]
    16. [16]
      Advances in deep chemical peels.Landau M Dermatology nursing (2005)
    17. [17]
      Our approach to non-ablative treatment of photoaging.Weiss RA, Weiss MA, Beasley KL, Munavalli G Lasers in surgery and medicine (2005)
    18. [18]
      Microdermabrasion: a clinical and histopathologic study.Shim EK, Barnette D, Hughes K, Greenway HT Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] (2001)
    19. [19]
      Imedeen in the treatment of photoaged skin: an efficacy and safety trial over 12 months.Kieffer ME, Efsen J Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV (1998)
    20. [20]
      Peeling agents and irritants, unlike tretinoin, do not stimulate collagen synthesis in the photoaged hairless mouse.Kligman LH, Sapadin AN, Schwartz E Archives of dermatological research (1996)
    21. [21]
    22. [22]
      The use of monoclonal antibodies to study the structure and function of cytochrome f.Gross EL, Molnar S, Curtiss A, Reuter RA, Berg SP Archives of biochemistry and biophysics (1991)
    23. [23]
    24. [24]
      Photobiology and photomedicine: the future is bright.Smith KC The Journal of investigative dermatology (1981)

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