Photocontact dermatitis
Meaning of photocontact dermatitis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, photocontact dermatitis: (a) means inflammation of an area of the skin from exposure to light in the presence of a phototoxic agent or photoallergen that has been applied to the same area of skin; and (b) includes phototoxic contact dermatitis and photoallergic contact dermatitis; and (c) excludes: (i) allergic contact dermatitis; (ii) irritant contact dermatitis; (iii) phototoxic contact dermatitis due to systemic administration of a phototoxicant; and (iv) systemic allergic dermatitis.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 82 of 2020
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting photocontact dermatitis or death from photocontact dermatitis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having the affected area of skin exposed to light in the presence of a phototoxic agent within the 48 hours before the clinical onset of photocontact dermatitis;
Note: phototoxic agent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)for photoallergic contact dermatitis only, having the affected area of skin exposed to light in the presence of a photoallergen within the five days before the clinical onset of photoallergic contact dermatitis;
Note: photoallergen is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Note: The initial sensitising exposure to a photoallergen may be either systemic or cutaneous and may have occurred months to years before the re-exposure that has resulted in the photocontact dermatitis.
Note: Cross-photosensitisation may occur between photoallergens (for example ketoprofen and sunscreens containing benzophenones).
- (3)having the affected area of skin exposed to light in the presence of a phototoxic agent within the 48 hours before the clinical worsening of photocontact dermatitis;
Note: phototoxic agent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)for photoallergic contact dermatitis only, having the affected area of skin exposed to light in the presence of a photoallergen within the five days before the clinical worsening of photoallergic contact dermatitis;
Note: photoallergen is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Note: The initial sensitising exposure to a photoallergen may be either systemic or cutaneous and may have occurred months to years before the re-exposure that has resulted in the photocontact dermatitis.
Note: Cross-photosensitisation may occur between photoallergens (for example ketoprofen and sunscreens containing benzophenones).
- (5)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for photocontact dermatitis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(3) to 9(5) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 83 of 2020
5 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, photocontact dermatitis or death from photocontact dermatitis is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having the affected area of skin exposed to light in the presence of a phototoxic agent within the 48 hours before the clinical onset of photocontact dermatitis;
Note: phototoxic agent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (2)for photoallergic contact dermatitis only, having the affected area of skin exposed to light in the presence of a photoallergen within the five days before the clinical onset of photoallergic contact dermatitis;
Note: photoallergen is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Note: The initial sensitising exposure to a photoallergen may be either systemic or cutaneous and may have occurred months to years before the re-exposure that has resulted in the photocontact dermatitis.
Note: Cross-photosensitisation may occur between photoallergens (for example ketoprofen and sunscreens containing benzophenones).
- (3)having the affected area of skin exposed to light in the presence of a phototoxic agent within the 48 hours before the clinical worsening of photocontact dermatitis;
Note: phototoxic agent is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)for photoallergic contact dermatitis only, having the affected area of skin exposed to light in the presence of a photoallergen within the five days before the clinical worsening of photoallergic contact dermatitis;
Note: photoallergen is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
Note: The initial sensitising exposure to a photoallergen may be either systemic or cutaneous and may have occurred months to years before the re-exposure that has resulted in the photocontact dermatitis.
Note: Cross-photosensitisation may occur between photoallergens (for example ketoprofen and sunscreens containing benzophenones).
- (5)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for photocontact dermatitis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(3) to 9(5) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
