Allergic reaction from the sun

It began in 1992 when my husband worked at a gold mine.  While he was working there his skin broke out like he had poison oak, but it wasn't.
  His face, neck, arms and torso swell up with a red painful rash.  He has had it so bad that his eyes almost closed shut with the swelling.   When it starts to go away it gets very dry and even cracks.  During this time, he has to rest and not get stressed or it gets worse.  The first time he was put on steroids  because his reaction was extreme.
  He still has this condition, but in between outbreaks over a period of years, he has been able to be in the sun and even get a suntan.  We thought we had it figured out the last time he broke out.  After taking antibiotics, he broke out after contact with the sun so we thought it was an allergic reaction to the two of them combined.  But a year and a half later, he had another outbreak without the use of antibiotics.
  Please help us, we live in the mountains and are very active people.  We are very limited to what we can do now.  Is there a cleanse he can do, vitamin he can take, food he should eat?  Did the antibiotics cause the imbalance?

Thanks

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I can't be sure, of course, but your husband may have an allergy to the long waves of ultraviolet rays from the sun (the ones that cause tanning but not burning.)  This is called PMLE (polymorphous light eruption.)  It is pretty common.  Prevention is hard, and involves using a sunscreen that protects against UVA  (there are many on the market.)  I suggest a consultation with a dermatologist who will know what PMLE is and what blood tests to run to diagnose it.  You might want to take some pictures of the rash at its worst, in case it has subsided by the time you get to see the doctor.  That's my best guess from a distance, but he'll need to see a doctor for definite diagnosis.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[foxfire200]

I have been allergic to the sun since I was a child. I would break out in a terrible rash if I was outside all day. In my early twenties I thought I had grown out of it but last year it started all over again. I'm also allergic to water,so whenever I bathe or swim I break out in a rash. The water rash is slightly different though. The sun rash lasts and is much worse than the water rash which only lasts for about 20 to 30 minutes and then goes away.