sun allergy

i went to the doctor with a rash that appeared on my chest after being in the sun for a little while(1 hour). He perscribed a cortisone cream which i should apply for 4 to 5 days a few times a day. He said the rash was caused by an allergic reaction to the sun. I am on vacation in a sunny climate now but usually i am in a cold climate for my studies. Could this be an allergy for the sun? And will i be able to go in the sun after i am finnished using this cream? Or will i get the same allergic reaction again?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Heather:

To be honest, I can't tell from your question whether what you have is a sun allergy or not.  What people usually refer to as "sun poisoning" is a pimply rash which occurs shortly after sun exposure, regardless of sunscreen use (because sunblocks just block the burn rays, not the long-wave ultraviolet rays to which one can become allergic.)  This is not "damage"--i.e. it has nothing to do with skin cancer.  My advice is to try a broad-spectrum sunscreen which also protects against UVA rays (there are many brands--ask your pharmacist.)  This sometimes helps.  But even if you still hget some degree of outbreak, as long as it doesn't bother you too much, you don;t need to stay out of the sun entirely.  As I said, the 'allergy" is annoying, not damaging.

best.

Dr. R

[Kristen Straubel]

I have been diagonsed with a sun reaction called polymorphous light eruption. It looks and acts like sun poisoning. It appears on my hands and occasionally on my knees and feet. I have had it for approx 4 years now, I am 31, and just this year it has started occurring in the winter. I am not outside much, but the air is very dry. I put lotion on my hands, but it doesnt help. Can you provide me with any research sources on this disorder. Recently I was in Australia and in the sun. On my hand a ring of bumps formed. THey look like a blister/wart. They itch terribly. ANy information would be appreciated.

[Linda]

I also have red,itchy,bumps mainly on my chest when I get too much sun. It is really bad and keeps me up at night. I have tried everything and nothing worked until someone told me about lysine its an herb in pill form you can get in any grocery store it says its for cold sores and blisters but it works! Take it before sun exposure. Also good news, after you get a base tan the itch and bumps go away,so just get a slow tan and dont let yourself get burnt.

[sue mark]

i am 41 and work out side on a farm and suffer every year with this itchy rash, and after 15 yrs it can cause alot of scaring beware. i got loprox ointment with is an antifungal that was my son,s perscription for something else tried it and it helped me.now iget the doctor to perscribe it for me. it helps at night to dry this up. and a good sunscreen is OMBRELLA 30 this does help. i have found through the years this rash has shifted to many different parts of my body 1 my chest then my nose now my arms nose and hands what next . this is damaging your skin i have to see the dermatologist at my doctors orders she didn,t like the way iam so scared. will let you know whats up

[Nancy Gallant]

My daughter has this polymorphous light eruption as well. Once the spring arrives she starts to get little blisters on her hands and face. She is 8 and these started when she was 4. Is there anything else that we can do to stop the itching? It is happening now even on days when it is overcast. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

[judi]

I also have a sun reaction called photosensitive polymorphus.
It started nine years ago on a Caribbean cruise as a rash on the back of my neck and on my hands.  It went away within days of coming back home and out of the sun.  I have had this problem again and again each year when I gointo the sun in the Caribbean.  I don't have as much trouble in the summer because I gradually harden and limit my sun exposure.  My doctor has tried Shade sunscreen, plaquinal, prednesone(sp), antihistimines, all to no avail.  Each year this reaction is worse. I have been tested for Lupus, and have had various other tests looking for the reason for this reaction.  Medications were stopped, no luck...This year I tried to stay covered as much as
possible, but my hands rashed and then they split open and have sores on the back of them.  My dermatologist  looked at them today, gave me some cream to heal them, but is at a loss as to what to do next. We are going to try betacarotene pills and plaquinal combination the next time.  I would appreicate any input from like reactions.

[Keith Walker]

I'm an African-American male and since last summer, I have been experiencing rashes that occur after any exposure to the sun. The first occurance was after a day at the beach (Indiana) and I broke out with a red rash on my chest, neck, arms, face and lips.  Since that time, covered up or not, I break out in some form of a rash.  I have used, sun block, sun screen, vitamins and still the same result. What's bothering me most is that I take care to cover myself with a hat and sleeves to limit my sun intake, and still the rash.  Can you offer any suggestions or remedies?

[stacey]

I am 29 years old and for the last week have broken out with these bumps on my lower arms whenever I am in the sun. Is this an allergy to the sun? I am also on thyroid medicine could this have something to do with it to? It itches like crazy. What should I use?

[helen]

I just came back from the dermatologist and was told that I have polymorphic sun reaction.  I have had a very red, raised rash on my face ever sincevery early spring when I went outside to garden. I am in and out all day as I work as a home health nurse. The cheek that is closest to the window of the truck that I drive is broken out the worst.  I had this last spring for the first time and it did not last this long. Thanks for the tips, I don't usually wear sun screen, but I will now! Not very happy to hear about locations changing, and the dermatologist did say that it would get worse each year. I live in a northern maritime climate which makes it hard to do the slow tanning and keeping a tan.  This is quite a shock.  Thanks for letting me vent.  Helen

[Katoo]

I have some kind of sun allergy too. It started a week ago, on my face and neck. it was red itchy, and a little swollen. I went to 3 doctors before one gave me something that works (benadryl). But none of them told me that it was the sun, they all thought it was food or comestics products allergy. So, 2 days ago it started again after i went outside for lunch. It was really itchy, i went to the hospital (it was late friday night) and was finaly told by a competant doc that it was due to the sun. He gave me Reactine (don't know if it's the name everywhere, as i am in canada) and also Apo-Prednisone. So far, it has almost completly reduce my symptoms. holp that helps...

[Mary]

In March I was on vacation in the caribbean.  One day I was out in the sun all day and got kind of burnt on my face.  That night or the next my face started to swell up.  By the next day my face was extremely swollen to where I did not look like my normal self at all; I looked like I was mongoloid and could not even see my eyelashes.  I went to the doctor and he gave me a shot and some pills and in about 3 to 4 days it was finally gone.  Now in July I was out in the sun for only a few hours and got a little pink on my face and the next morning my eyes were all swollen up.  Everything I have read about sun poisoning says it is usually a rash.  Mine is now rash at all and is only swollen.  I currently have a severe sinus infection that I can't get rid of that I've had for months.  Some people tell me that certain diseases have reactions to the sun.  I'm wondering if I should pursue this further with a doctor or just live with it.  The first time it happened I told my doctor about it.  When it did happen, the doctor I seen was in the caribbean.

Appreciate any help anyone has!

Mary

[sarah]

Over the past few weeks I developed a bumpy rash all over my arms legs and back where I had been exposed to the sun.  The rash appeared on my back in the shape of a tank top.  I went to the doctor and she told me that it was likely to be an allergy to the sun.  She prescribed prednisone in order to get rid of the rash which has gotten rid of it.  Now I'm wondering though what can be done about the allergy.  Will I have to forever wear jogging pants and sweatshirts in the summer?

[Jonathan]

My 8 year old son has been complaining about his neck and arms "itching" after exposure to the sun since he's been 2 years old.
There is no visibile rash or burn

[Susan]

for the person who posted the reply regarding taking the herb lysine.  how big of a dose and how often?  how long before sun exposure?  i have been doing some research on sun allergies.  one dr. suggested 300 mg 3 times a day of vitamin b6.  i am going to try that also.  i found both at wal mart.  the lysine is in 500 mg tablet form

[John]

after being  in sun at the end i have develope white spots my docotor does't think it is anything but i have the same white spot on neck ( i had these for a long time 15 years) theyre flat and looks like a lack of pigmet there. My grand fathter was part albino with pinkskin and brown spots. My question is as i age well this delevope futherand does being in the sun kill the pigment ?

[[e-mail]]

after being  in sun at the end i have develope white spots my docotor does't think it is anything but i have the same white spot on neck ( i had these for a long time 15 years) theyre flat and looks like a lack of pigmet there. My grand fathter was part albino with pinkskin and brown spots. My question is as i age well this delevope futherand does being in the sun kill the pigment ?

[RememberMom]

A related discussion, New To Florida was started.

[iris716]

A related discussion, "Face"   Itchy and Swollen Face was started.