Methotrexate and the Photodermatitis Reactivation Reaction: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Methotrexate is an antimitotic and immunosuppressive agent used for the treatment of cancer, psoriasis, and rheumatologic disorders and for the termination of ectopic pregnancies. Physicians advising patients on the use of methotrexate need to be aware of its possible side effects, including photosensitivity. We present a patient who received methotrexate for the termination of an ectopic pregnancy and experienced a severe reactivation of her sunburn. The literature was reviewed on the types of photosensitivity and their relationship to methotrexate.