Aa
sun allergy
Dear Doctor, Thank you for taking my question. I know this has been discussed several times before but mine seems to be a little different than those I've read so I'm hoping you can help. I have been in the sun all my life, I am dark complected, with dark hair and olive skin. What I'm trying to get across is that I am NOT fair skinned where I might be sensitive to the sun. I have never had a problem until about 6 years ago. We went to Florida and my friend and I developed a rash on our stomach and arms but our other friend didn't. We were in the sand on the beach, she wasn't. 2 years ago I went to Jamaica and once again, was on the beach in the sand and this time it was very severe! Sun poisoning; terrible rash everywhere! I was misserable! Last year I went to Florida again but this time I took 10mg Prednisone and a Benedryl everynight a week before and then when I got there and before I went in the sun I took a Tavist. Now, I wasn't on the beach much only on the beach house deck because I was afraid of what might happen but everything this time was fine. The last day I noticed a small rash, just slightly on my arm. That was it. I have used sunscreens all times to the beach and it didn't help. My questions are: Is there something in the sand or on beaches that effect the skin with the sun? I am fine in the Kansas City sun but when I get to an area with beaches its bad. Was I correct in taking what I did (prednisone/benedryl) before my last visit? I was trying to build up the benedryl in my system by taking it a week before I went but does that really happen? The Tavist seem to make me a little tired and I don't want to be tired all the time while on vacation..any other suggestion to take? Is there a shot to get before I go that might help? There is a sunscreen product called Bug & Sun and I thought maybe there are tina mites in the sand and that would help but it was only in 30SPF and I don't want something that heavy. Any suggestions you have for me would be greatly appreciated! I truly love the beach and vacationing there but I cannot be misserable like this. Thank you so much!!! Kelly
A related discussion, please help I can not live w/out the sun!!! was started.
I have suffered through this condition on and off for years. Have tried it all.....light treatments, medication to re=pigment, cortisone shots...you name it. I can not accept not being able to be outdoors, but the last few years have been miserable. I have been put on prednisone many times for bad cases, and can sun just fine on that, but not an option to stay on all summer. Is a miserable condition...always looking for a "cure"
Karen:
I, too, am in the same boat as you and others. I'm 27 and up until about three or four years ago, never had a problem with the sun. In fact, I almost never burned and always tanned. But now, I develop this itchy red rash on my arms and sometimes chest and face (depending on how severe). It's usually the worst when I'm in the caribbean because the sun is much stronger there. I have tried high-SPF sunscreens and they only seemed to fend off this irritation for a day or two. I went to Aruba last year and got this rash the 2nd day into my vacation. Being a huge beach lover and avid scuba diver, it really messes things up because it is extremely irritating and painful. Anyway, I know I'm rambling on but the point I wanted to make was that I never tried taking an antihistamine in combination with the PROPER sunscreen. I have learned that a sunscreen with an ingredient called Parsol should be able to help in conjunction with an antihistamine. I will be vacationing in St. Lucia the end of the month and will see how things go with following this procedure. I will post my experience here because if it works, I surely want to let others know because I find that people who aren't afflicted with this sun allergy really don't understand how annoying it is. For the most part, it seems that it comes out of nowhere and just leaves you puzzled.
I, too, am in the same boat as you and others. I'm 27 and up until about three or four years ago, never had a problem with the sun. In fact, I almost never burned and always tanned. But now, I develop this itchy red rash on my arms and sometimes chest and face (depending on how severe). It's usually the worst when I'm in the caribbean because the sun is much stronger there. I have tried high-SPF sunscreens and they only seemed to fend off this irritation for a day or two. I went to Aruba last year and got this rash the 2nd day into my vacation. Being a huge beach lover and avid scuba diver, it really messes things up because it is extremely irritating and painful. Anyway, I know I'm rambling on but the point I wanted to make was that I never tried taking an antihistamine in combination with the PROPER sunscreen. I have learned that a sunscreen with an ingredient called Parsol should be able to help in conjunction with an antihistamine. I will be vacationing in St. Lucia the end of the month and will see how things go with following this procedure. I will post my experience here because if it works, I surely want to let others know because I find that people who aren't afflicted with this sun allergy really don't understand how annoying it is. For the most part, it seems that it comes out of nowhere and just leaves you puzzled.
I have this condition now. I just returned from a vacation in the Caribbean and my arms and legs are covered with itchy bumps. Some are in the form of a red rash and others are flesh-colored bumps but the itching is severe. I am taking Benadryl to help with the itching. Is there anything else I can do? How long does this take to resolve? I have never had this problem before.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Kelly:
What people usually refer to when they desscribe "sun poisoning" is a pimply, itchy eruption which comes despite dark complexion or sunscreen. This is generally an allergy to the long waves of ultraviolet light which ordinary sunscreens don't block, regardless of SPF number. Sand most likely has nothing to do with it, nor do mites or other beasties. My advice is to use a sunscreen with UVA protection (Shade UVA and Obrelle are two, but there are many.) And pretreatment with Benadryl, Tavist, or another antihistamine seems like a good idea too, though prednisone is a bit much and should be able to be done without.
With these measures, you should be OK, in and out of Kansas City.
Best.
Dr. R
What people usually refer to when they desscribe "sun poisoning" is a pimply, itchy eruption which comes despite dark complexion or sunscreen. This is generally an allergy to the long waves of ultraviolet light which ordinary sunscreens don't block, regardless of SPF number. Sand most likely has nothing to do with it, nor do mites or other beasties. My advice is to use a sunscreen with UVA protection (Shade UVA and Obrelle are two, but there are many.) And pretreatment with Benadryl, Tavist, or another antihistamine seems like a good idea too, though prednisone is a bit much and should be able to be done without.
With these measures, you should be OK, in and out of Kansas City.
Best.
Dr. R
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