Photosensitivity

In medicine, increased sensitivity of the skin to light and other sources of UV.</P>Photosensitivity commonly causes reddening and blistering of the skin with exposure to sunlight and, in time, it heightens the risk of skin cancer.

A number of diseases make for photosensitivity, as do scores of prescription and non-prescription drugs.

(For details, see Sunburn and Sun-Sensitizing Drugs).

The eyes may also be oversensitive to light, a condition called photophobia, as occurs for example in measles.

In biology, photosensitivity need not be abnormal.

It refers to the fact of being readily stimulated by light.