Darrick Robles In spring, most people look forward to the first long hours of sunshine. However, a polymorphic light eruption, popularly known as sun allergy, causes one or two symptoms at precisely these times. The itchy, red patches make it hard to enjoy time in the sun. You can get help at Med-Healths.
Definition of a sun allergy
An allergy is an excessive reaction of the immune system against a substance that is usually foreign to the body. Because the immune system does not respond directly to UV rays, there is technically no real “sun allergy”.
Skin diseases that are triggered by light are therefore called light eruptions or photodermatoses. They are divided into 4 different groups:
- Immune-triggered light eruptions
- Light sensitivity caused by chemicals and/or drugs
- Skin conditions worsened by light
- genetic diseases
When talking about a sun allergy, most people mean the so-called polymorphic light eruption, which belongs to the first group. As it is the most common light-induced skin disease in Central Europe, Scandinavia and the USA, this article is primarily concerned with it.
Symptoms of sun allergy
Polymorphic light eruption is an age-independent disease. Women are affected significantly more often than men. It occurs mainly in the spring (March to June) when the first rays of sunshine come out, but it can also cause symptoms during a skiing or beach holiday. Many sufferers show a kind of “habituation effect” to UV rays, which is why the symptoms often subside during the summer, although this is when the sun exposure is highest.
The symptoms of polymorphic light eruption usually appear a few hours to a few days after exposure to the sun. They can vary greatly from person to person – hence the name polymorph. This term comes from the Greek and means translated “diversity”. The skin complaints can include, for example, small or larger pustules , redness , wheals or elevations . However, they have one thing in common: they itch.
Because the skin manifestations are triggered by light, you’ll find them on sun-exposed areas of your body. The sides of the face, upper arms, neckline, and backs of hands are some of the areas that get the most sun. If you avoid the sun, the itchy patches will usually go away on their own.
Causes of sun allergy
The exact causes of polymorphic light eruption are still unclear, but it is currently assumed that the immune system attacks endogenous components that have been altered by light.
Some substances can cause skin problems in combination with light. When UV light interacts with these substances, it is possible on the one hand that they cause direct inflammatory skin reactions in the exposed area, on the other hand they can trigger a classic allergy. The direct inflammatory response is much more common than an allergic one. It resembles a sunburn and is often sharply localized to the area affected by the substance. A common example is meadow grass dermatitis, which causes streak-like, sharply defined redness where grasses streak along the body. Some medications can also trigger photodermatosis.
Diagnosis of sun allergy
The diagnosis of polymorphic light eruption can often be made directly from the skin symptoms and the medical history. Additionally, various tests can find the area of radiation that causes the most discomfort. Depending on this, different sunscreens can be used, for example, which provide special protection against these wavelengths.
When should I see a doctor for sun allergy?
A rare photodermatosis with potentially serious consequences is urticaria solaris – hives caused by the sun’s rays. Already a few minutes after exposure to the sun, itchy wheals appear on the exposed parts of the body. Sunbathing, which exposes your whole body to the sun’s rays, can cause serious circulatory problems, so see a doctor straight away if you suspect you have this condition.
What can you do if you are allergic to the sun?
The skin symptoms of polymorphic light eruption disappear if you avoid the sun. By using a good sunscreen with a broad spectrum filter and taking appropriate sun protection measures, you can prevent the symptoms. In addition, you can wear long-sleeved clothing and avoid strong sunlight, such as midday sun.
Therapy for sun allergy
The main part of the treatment is avoiding excessive exposure to the sun . There are also ways to lessen the severity of the symptoms once the redness has developed. For example, your doctor can prescribe creams that you can apply to the affected areas to relieve itching and speed up healing. Other therapies, such as getting used to light , should only take place under the supervision of a specialist. You can get advice on this from your doctor.
Chronic sun sensitivity
If you suffer from severely itchy skin conditions that cause you discomfort over a long period of time, you may suffer from chronic sun sensitivity, chronic actinic dermatitis. These are different clinical pictures that are all similar and are therefore grouped together. In contrast to polymorphic photodermatosis, thickened, itchy redness is usually found here, which is not only limited to parts of the body exposed to the sun, but can also spread to other areas that are clothed but insufficiently protected. These diseases are relatively rare.
Sun allergy in childhood
Children can also suffer from polymorphic light eruption. However, there are some rare congenital forms of photodermatosis that already appear in childhood. If you suspect that your child is suffering from photodermatosis, you should consult a pediatrician.
This is how Med-Healths can help with sun allergy
At Med-Healths you can talk directly to a doctor about your symptoms. In this conversation he can advise you and you can send him photos of your skin conditions directly to enable the diagnosis to be made. They can prescribe medication to relieve your symptoms or, if necessary, issue a referral to a specialist.
