Polymorphous Light Eruption (PLE / PMLE)

Differentiation of PLE on pigmented skin from Actinic LP can be tricky without a biopsy as the second condition is also fairly common in India and Gulf. On fair skin PLE is described as ‘pink or red raised spots’ [ http://dermnetnz.org/reactions/pmle.html ] but the pink hue is never appreciable on pigmented skin. PLE is generally pruritic and involves photo exposed areas, often sparing the face as in the above case. Actinic LP is non-pruritic and commonly involves the face as the case posted below (http://www.gulfdoctor.net/blog/2006/01/diagnosis.html ).