Are You Allergic to the Sun?
Thursday June 7, 2007
In my practice, I often encounter people who say that they are allergic to the sun. With exposure to sunlight, they experience symptoms such as itching, hives or burning. Some have visible rashes while others don't. Some have a medical condition which makes them more sensitive to sunlight; others are using various medications or topical agents that cause a reaction on the skin with sun exposure.
It is possible that you can be allergic to the sunlight, with exposure causing hives. More commonly, people experience hives as a result of heat exposure - whether due to the warm of the sun, hot showers or exercise. Other reactions to sunlight occur as a result of contact dermatitis to topically applied products, such as cosmetics and sunblocks.
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Hi, I have got allergic to sun since I was 14 yo, now 35 years old. I hate it. I used to be outdoor person, swimming, bike cycling, etc. Now I cannot do anything outside. I love summer, but I cannot go anywhere. My skin will react with hives and red rash just few hours after exposing to sun. They are very itchy and I will have to control myself not to scratch them otherwise it will leave scars. They do not go away after 24 hours like some doctors said though, it will go away more than 1 weeks sometimes, even 3 months with bad rash. Is there any ways to stop this at least reduce them besides wearing long sleeve and all sun protections that you all already mentioned? Some medications maybe?
My hives break out about 24-48 hours after sun exposure. They drive me crazy for three days, then they are gone. If I have a base tan, no problems, and I don’t get them any more unless I lose my tan, then I have to start over again. Prednisone and Atarax are the only way to get relief.
Susan– you have polymorphic light eruption syndrome. I have it as well. Same symptoms. It baffled me for a while as it would just happen once a year in the Spring– but apparently it’s not uncommon. Just wanted to clue you into it and let you know you aren’t alone.
Have you tried supplementing with 5000IU D3 per day during the previous winter months?
Try taking a tepid bath with about a cup of baking soda dissolved in it. The rash you described is called prickly heat.
Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, and other forms of porphyria offer a medical explanation Vampirism. This condition does not always present visible rashes, and as such may be difficult to diagnose. I have had this condition since age 4, and was not diagnosed until 13.
I have been allergic to the sun since i got a real bad sunburn when i was in the 6th grade. Now, 31 years later, i am suffering more each year. Not only do I get the raised rash on my arms, but if i get any sun exposure on any other part of my body (That doesn’t get normal exposure during the year) I get an ugly red/purple rash that is very painful. When i was a kid they tried to tell me it was poison ivy, i was alleric to trees…grass…everything.
I am allergic to the sun as well i dont get hives but a real deep purple color and swell up twice the size of my normal self in the burned area. I have been like this since i was 2 and i am 32 now. I have tried all types of sunscreens and different creams, sprays and other stuff and nothing works other then waiting out the time for the burn to go away and swelling to go down which is about 3 days or more. I have found some clothes that is fairly priced and is every day looking clothes. coolibar.com has everything for people like us to be normal again or in a sense of normal however the burns are no more since i have been wearing the clothes. I was a person who couldnt be out no more then 15 minutes at a time now i can be outside at least 3 hours with the clothes yeah i have a life outside. Even swimming is possible with the clothes from coolibar.com
Hi, I started breaking out right when Aunt Flow first visited me around 14 yrs. old. and I’m 48 now. I to was always outside all summer, if I wasn’t in the water I was by it. If I get a base tan (tanning bed)and keep it and I still use tanning lotion’s (and yes I still tan with them) I don’t break out during the summer. I had a doctor relate it to hormones and sun exposure he has seen alot of Indians with this.(I didn’t break out when I was pregnant)so maybe there’s something to it. All I know is I’m broke out now really bad that’s how I found this web site. Good luck
My girlfriend has really dark skin, but she will burn if exposed to the sun for only two minutes (i’m serious). What is the problem? Anyone else heard of such a thing? It is even worse if she uses the wrong sunblock, she’ll burn even quicker! Any answers?