Am I allergic to the sun? (read details in details)?

(read details in details) Ever since I was young when I was out in the sun, a few hours later I would break out in a rash. The rash is just like poisin ivy. I get bumbs, itches badley and spreads.

Now that I am older, I get it more easily now. I only get it in spring/summer. But even if I go in the sun for ten minutes I get the bumps/itches later that day.

I mainly get it on my hands, arms, elbows, knees and lower legs. Never anywhere else. With or without lotion I get this.

It's not that hot outside yet so I could not see it being the heat. Anyone else get this or have any clue what this is? I asked my dermotoligist about this, but because it was winter and I did not have it, without him seeing it, he had no clue.

Asked by amyt76 57 months ago Similar questions: allergic sun read details Health > Allergies.

Similar questions: allergic sun read details.

Yes it is an allergy to the sun. I have a friend who has exactly what you described. She cannot be out in the sun unless she has on a lotion with a high spf rating.

If she forgets and is in the sun for just a little while she will break out.

If it is a sun "allergy" (sensitivity) it should lessen the reaction. Your doctor should be able to test you for it - see further down for details. The Mayo Clinic says at mayoclinic.com/health/sun-allergy/AN00305: It is possible to have a sun allergy — although it is not a true allergy.

In sensitive people, sun exposure activates inflammatory cells or proteins in the skin, which triggers hives (solar urticaria). Certain medications and conditions also can cause increased sensitivity of the skin to sun exposure (photosensitivity). But in such cases, reactions are usually red rashes, not hives.

If you have sun allergy, you can reduce your risk of a reaction by: Limiting your time in the sun Wearing sunglasses and protective clothing when you're outside Your doctor may also recommend the use of antihistamines to prevent or reduce a reaction. Using sunscreen may offer some protection. But sunscreens don't block out ultraviolet rays completely, so you may still experience a skin reaction.

___________________ The reaction is actually called polymorphic light eruption (PMLE) and is particularly common in women in their 30's and 40's. It usually shows up a few hours to several days after sun exposure and it is not a disease in itself but rather a description of symptoms. The "polymorphic" refers to the fact that rash can take many forms, although in one individual it is usually the same every time it appears.

The most common variety of rash consists of pink or raised spots on the arms, chest, and lower legs, areas that are most directly exposed to the sun. It may look like an exaggerated sunburn or a bad case of hives. Sometimes the condition can mimic dermatitis, appearing as blisters and red, scaly patches.

Typically, photosensitivity reactions appear in the spring or early summer and are provoked by the first warm, sunny day. "The most common scenario is that a person gets the rash in May or June, continues to spend time outdoors, and by July, the skin adapts.No more rash. Dermatologists call this a hardening process," says Frank DeLaus, MD, a dermatologist in Utica, New York.

Another key time for sun allergies is winter holidays spent in the tropics. Skin that hasn't seen the sun in some time is suddenly exposed to a harsh dose of sunlight. ____________________ The cause according to http://www.drinkdeeplyanddream.com/realvampire/sunallergy.html is usually due to a combination of heredity and hormones, but can also result from drugs or disease.

"Scientists believe that in sun-sensitive individuals the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays interact with a compound in the body that suppresses or alters the skin's immune function. That causes the inflammatory rash. The inflammation is fueled by UV-B rays (which can be blocked by most sunscreens) and by longer UV-A rays, which penetrate more deeply.

UV-A rays are not blocked by window glass, which explains why allergic reactions can occur while riding in a car, and why sunscreens--most of which only partially block UV-A rays--may not be an effective defense. Tanning booths and indoor sunlamps, which transmit large amounts of UV-A radiation, can be even more problematic than natural sunlight. Why sunlight triggers PMLE in some people and not others is not entirely understood, but scientists suspect that heredity and hormones both contribute.

The condition generally occurs in women between the ages of 20 and 40, although it sometimes affects children.In men, PMLE is less common. "There is no question that PMLE has a genetic component, " says UCSF's Epstein. "Sun sensitivity tends to run in families."

Studies have shown that anywhere from 15 to 50% of sun allergies may be hereditary. Environment appears to play a role as well. Skin reactions tend to be most common in people from temperate climates where tropical sunlight is a rarity.

According to the Dermatology Web site for Waikato Hospital in Hamilton, New Zealand (www.dermnet.org), as many as 10% of Northern European women holidaying in the Mediterranean each year come down with PMLE. Skin reactions are less common in people who are exposed to sunlight all year round. Certain medications and products can also cause your skin to be extra sensitive to sunlight, as can some diseases.So, if you get a rash or an unusually severe burn after being out in the sun only a short time, don't automatically assume that you have an allergy.

Chemicals that produce an intense reaction after a brief exposure to the sun are called photosensitizers. You don't have to be sun sensitive to have a reaction to a photosensitizing drug or product, although not everyone will have a reaction. Oddly, you may have the reaction once and not again.

Some common photosensitizing drugs include acne medicines, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs, antifungal agents, diuretics, oral diabetes medications, tranquilizers, and tricyclic antidepressants. Photosensitivity can also result from exposure to soaps, deodorants, perfumes, dandruff shampoos that contain coal tar, and even some sunscreens. Photoreactive agents are also found in artificial sweeteners, petroleum products, hair dyes, and common household items like shoe polish and mothballs.

In addition, photosensitivity can be the result of an underlying medical condition, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease that mainly affects the skin and joints but can involve other organs as well. Porphyria, a disorder that results from too many porphyrin molecules (derived from chemicals that make hemoglobin) in the blood and urine, can cause it, too. People who have AIDS also may be highly sensitive to light.

Being allergic to the sun is no fun. But if it happens to you, consider the bright side (sorry). Skin cancer and sun damage can take years to show up: PMLE alerts you to the sun's danger right away.

We all know that tanning and burning are no longer cool. " They go on to say what to do about it: "Treat it as you would a sunburn. Soothe the affected area with a cool bath or a cold compress and take aspirin or acetaminophen for pain.

Then, call a doctor for advice. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist to evaluate the rash and monitor the situation.Be sure to tell the doctor what medications you're taking and what substances you've applied to the skin. In some cases, blood or urine tests may be ordered to rule out underlying disease.

Photosensitivity--though not necessarily the existence of an allergy--can be confirmed with a phototest. The standard technique is to expose a small area on the buttocks or lower back to artificial light to see if the rash can be replicated. But for most people a phototest isn't necessary.

"When a practitioner is familiar with photosensitivity, it isn't difficult to diagnose," says Epstein. If it is PMLE, the prescription may be to go out in the sun--gradually. Ask your doctor to recommend a broad-based sunscreen, preferably one that contains total sunblock, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

The purpose of sun exposure is to condition your skin for 20 minutes a day to gradually harden it. Extreme sensitivity to light, however, calls for more drastic measures, such as covering up and staying out of direct sunlight. But most cases of PMLE, though not necessarily curable, can be helped with medications, such as: Beta-carotene.

A natural source of vitamin A found in vegetables, such as carrots, it may be prescribed as a dietary supplement to reduce the severity of photosensitive reactions. Beta-carotene can be consumed in large amounts without toxicity, but don't be surprised if your skin (particularly your palms) temporarily turns yellow or orange. Hydroxycholoroquine.

Generally prescribed to prevent and treat malaria, the medication also may suppress or prevent an inflammatory rash provoked by the sun. PUVA (psoralen plus UVA). A special form of ultraviolet therapy than combines medication with UV-A radiation.

It is administered for several weeks in the early spring to prevent photosensitive reactions. Oral steroids. Oral steroids are used therapeutically to help clear up sun rashes.

If you are going on vacation, particularly to a tropical climate, you might want to ask your doctor about prescribing a short course of oral steroids Sources: Various darwin™'s Recommendations Womens UV Sun Protective Outdoor Shirt (Long Sleeve) 10" ECLIPZE anti-UV Sun Umbrella - Taupe Amazon List Price: $31.95 Skin Disorders Sourcebook: Basic Information About Common Skin and Scalp Conditions Caused by Aging, Allergies, Immune Reactions, Sun Exposure, Infectious ... Parasites, (Health Reference Series) Amazon List Price: $87.00 Used from: $10.60 .

I'm not sure, but I have a question for you that may help. Have you been on any steady medication since your childhood? I know that one of my blood pressure prescriptions say’s not to be in the sun.

I’m not sure if that’s because I’d burn easily or if I would break-out like you. I feel so bad for you, cuz, I got poison ivy very badly as a child and then found out I was allergic to penicillin. I also got hives a couple of years back due to an anti-depressant.

That was horrilbe. I couldn’t stop rubbing the itches. I had to miss out on some celebrations because of it.

Here’s a medical site that you can look up your symptoms and maybe find a clue about what’s going on. I hope you do, cuz I’m itching just typing about it. Ughh!

Www.medlineplus.com Go to health topics, then to itching. Good luck! Sources: me and my past itches LILYGAL's Recommendations Itching.(Ask the Ostomy Nurse)(Brief Article): An article from: Ostomy Quarterly Amazon List Price: $5.95 Scratch beneath the surface to diagnose unusual itches.(Clinical Rounds): An article from: Skin & Allergy News Amazon List Price: $5.95 Substances producing pain and itch, (Monographs of the Physiological Society) Used from: $19.95 Go to the doc.

Quick, next time you get this, okay? .

I have to avoid the sun too I get sunburn after 10 minutes in the sun. My husband jokes that I can get sunburn from a flashlight. But it's no joke - I have to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen just to go outdoors.

I've had a skin cancer removed from my cheek about 5 years ago. My doctor tells me to cover up i.e. , long sleeves, pants, etc.It takes the fun out of summer.

Incidentially, I get extremely uncomfortable in the heat of summer, red face, prickly skin too. I don't know if the heat bothers you, too, but I sympathize. I definitely think people can have an allergic reaction to the sun.

Ok, then it's hives. intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/... mayoclinic.com/health/sun-allergy/AN00305 ;-) Sources: know a bit about 'allergies' .

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