One in six people has an allergy to the sun, which means that the dreams of a bronzed bod this summer are impossible. Instead, what many of us face is a summer of angry red rashes wherever the sun hits us. Some people are unfortunate enough to develop an allergy to the sunlight which reacts badly with their skin. There are a variety of causes, from simple sun exposure to taking certain drugs or using products which don’t agree with the sunlight. The number of people who have this condition but are undiagnosed is vast, as many people assume that they’ve just got ‘prickly heat’ – this condition is actually quite rare. Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is an itchy skin condition which is the most common form of a sun allergy. One in six people suffers from it, but most don’t realise that this is the case. It is identifiable by the small red itchy spots, or blisters, which arise on the skin’s surface. It’s far more common for women to have it than men, though researchers are unsure why this is, and it generally develops in the late teens to early 20s. It’s commonly found on the V of your chest and, once you’ve got it, it will most likely return each year.
The allergy is actually an immune reaction which occurs when light hits the skin and causes it to develop slight changes in the skin cells. Our bodies react to this differently if we have PLE, as it tries to fight them off which causes the rash to appear. You can treat or prevent it by using a high factor sun cream, such as SPF 25 or above, which contains UVA and UVB protection. Some sun creams only block UVB rays but it is the UVA rays which usually create the reaction, so be sure to check the label for both in order to prevent a rash. You may want to seek out those with titanium as an ingredient, as this can be helpful in completely blocking out the sunlight. Anti-histamines can also be useful as they limit the allergic reaction the body has to allergens – you can get these over the counter in pharmacies. You may find it useful to gradually increase your exposure to sunlight as well, as this will help condition your body to not view sunlight as an allergy. However, be sure to do this safely and gradually – always wear sun screen as a protection against burning. If you only experience a mild rash, you may find it beneficial to do this in the spring when the sunlight is limited. However, if it is more severe, you should seek medical advice first – your GP may be able to prescribe a steroid cream to be applied in the evening which can limit your reaction.
You can treat this allergy by coming out of the sun immediately when it flares up, taking an anti-histamine and washing the affected area thoroughly. Calamine lotion will reduce any swelling on the skin, and stop the itching. If you’ve suffered from the problem before, be prepared by taking your own toiletries away with you rather than using those provided for you in the hotel – these can irritate the skin and make the problem worse. It’s also important to determine absolutely that you do have an allergy, rather than just relying on self diagnosis, as they can carry out an allergy test to see whether it is in fact the sun or another allergen which is causing your skin problems.