This intensely itchy, blistering rash on the forearms and upper chest of a 13-year-old girl occurred after a day at the beach. The girl had polymorphic light eruption (PMLE), the most common abnormal reaction to UV light.

All of the following statements about PMLE are true, except:

A. PMLE classically presents as a papular or papulovesicular eruption on the arms and anterior chest

B. The reaction usually begins 12 to 24 hours after an initial exposure to light of a suddenly increased intensity

C. Some parts of the body are severely involved while similarly exposed areas are paradoxically spared

D. The rash resolves after 7 to 10 days, often leaving whitish scarring

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Intensely Pruritic Rash After Sun Exposure in a Tween Girl

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