Condition
Photodermatoses
Photodermatoses are skin conditions in which light, usually sunlight, triggers or worsens a reaction, from common polymorphous light eruption to rare inherited disorders. The evidence is strongest for afamelanotide, with trials in erythropoietic protoporphyria finding people gained much more pain-free time in sunlight, and for nicotinamide, which helps cells repair UV damage. Beta-carotene and fern extract have moderate support, but the afamelanotide results apply to that one rare condition.
Sources: PMID 26132941; PMID 26979527
- Supplements studied
- 1
- Medicines and peptides
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 3
- Trials
- 1
- People studied
- 57
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polymorphic Light Eruptions | Improves (the measure goes up) | 3 studies | 57 people | |||
Studies that measured polymorphic light eruptions
| ||||||
Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context
Afamelanotide
- Pain-Free Sun Exposure Time: changes; see studies
- Quality of Life (EPP): improves
- Phototoxic Reactions: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain-Free Sun Exposure Time 69.4 vs 40.8 hours median (US trial); 6.0 vs 0.8 hours (EU trial) | Changes; see studies | Large effect | 6 studies | |||
| Quality of Life (EPP) Improved outdoor activity participation | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 6 studies | |||
| Phototoxic Reactions 77 vs 146 reactions over 9 months treatment | Improves (the measure goes down) | Large effect | 2 studies |
Key findings
- Pain-Free Sun Exposure TimeChanges; see studies
- Quality of Life (EPP)Improves (the measure goes up)
- Phototoxic ReactionsImproves (the measure goes down)
The Photodermatoses (Sun Sensitivity) Support protocol
2 primary supplements · 4 supporting supplements
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)500 mg twice daily
- Beta-Carotene25–180 mg daily (dose depends on condition)
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Studies cited
9 studies from PubMed
- German Cohort Observational Study to Investigate the Short- and Long-Term Safety and Clinical Effectiveness of Afamelanotide 16 mg (SCENESSE) in Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP)
- Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review.
- Afamelanotide: A Review in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
- Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
- A review and update on melanocyte stimulating hormone therapy: afamelanotide.
- A bioassay for the detection of neutralizing antibodies against the α-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog afamelanotide in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria
- Oral administration of a hydrophilic extract of Polypodium leucotomos for the prevention of polymorphic light eruption
- Photoprotective activity of oral polypodium leucotomos extract in 25 patients with idiopathic photodermatoses
- Oral polypodium leucotomos extract photoprotective activity in 57 patients with idiopathic photodermatoses