Action of Ultra-violet Light on Skin: Effect of the Histamine Liberator 48/80 and Methotrimeprazine

Abstract

Rottier and Mullink¹ irradiated human skin with ultra-violet light at a place where the horny layer had been removed by repeatedly applying adhesive tape. The erythemal reaction practically disappeared at wave-lengths 250–260 mµ, but increased at 300 mµ. They therefore suggested that photolysable substances from the stratum corneum were responsible for the erythemal reaction caused by ultra-violet light of wave-length 250–260 mµ. The problem concerning the mediator substance in ultra-violet erythema still seems to be unsolved. Lewis and Zotterman's² suggestion that it should be histamine has not been confirmed³. Recently, much interest has been focused on 5-hydroxytryptamine as a possible mediator in the production of œdema.