Sun allergy

Sun allergy is a collective term for skin irritation that occurs after prolonged exposure to the sun. The cause of sun allergy is not yet fully understood. Doctors now suspect that the sun's UV radiation alters a substance in the skin, causing the immune system to react. The immune system triggers an allergic reaction to this particular substance, resulting in the symptoms typical of sun allergy.

Small, itchy, red pustules may appear, or blisters may form, which later lead to red, dry patches of skin. In rare cases, large areas of red skin may develop. The symptoms usually appear on the arms, legs, feet, and décolleté area. In most cases, the face remains symptom-free.

There are as many different types of sun allergies as there are different symptoms. The most common type is polymorphic light dermatosis. This often causes bumps to appear around 12 hours after exposure to the sun. There is also photoallergic contact dermatitis. This occurs when a substance applied to the skin reacts with UV radiation. Such substances can include sunscreen or perfume, for example. There is also sun allergy hives, in which symptoms appear after just a few minutes in the sun. Finally, there is what is known as actinic prurigo. This sun allergy mainly affects people with darker skin tones. It often causes raised spots, which can also appear on parts of the body that have not been exposed to the sun.

Prevention:

• Avoid the sun between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Wear appropriate clothing (e.g., long sleeves, hats)
• Choosing a suitable sunscreen is also important: it should be free of oils and emulsifiers and have a high sun protection factor
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours

The following can help if you have an acute sun allergy:

• Quark compresses and aloe vera creams can help with acute sun allergies
• If someone suffers from severe symptoms, special ointments (with or without cortisone) and antihistamines can be used as therapy.

And finally, here's a tip on how to prepare for next summer:

If you know you suffer from sun allergy, you can take beta-carotene or Calcium Sandoz Sun & Day as a preventive measure to avoid the onset of sun allergy. These should be taken at least three weeks before strong sun exposure to prepare the skin.

To ensure that you can look forward to summer again, come and visit us for a personal consultation!