Frequently Asked Questions About Sun Allergies

Although the sun provides conditions essential for life on Earth, it can also cause problems for that same life. You may already know about the potential skin hazards of too much ultraviolet radiation exposure - namely, sunburn. However, some people can actually display allergic reactions to sunlight that cause discomfort and cosmetic embarrassment.

If you think you might suffer from a sun allergy, you need to learn about the conditions that can set it off, possible treatment options, and smart strategies to keep your allergic symptoms at bay. Check out the answers to these frequently asked questions about sun allergies.

What Telltale Symptoms Do Sun Allergies Produce?

Sun allergies typically cause itchy, irritated red rashes on the skin after a certain amount of sun exposure (which, in some vulnerable individuals, may require only a few minutes under the sun's rays). In more severe cases, the rashes may progress to welts or blisters. Symptoms may clear up minutes or hours after exposure ends.

Sun allergies most commonly produce these symptoms on or around the neck, on the backs of the hands, or on the outer surfaces of sun-exposed arms and legs. In some cases, however, rashes and other symptoms may even extend to areas not exposed to the sun.

Why Do Sun Allergies Occur?

While medical science doesn't understand why sun allergies occur, the underlying mechanisms seem to resemble other kinds of allergies. As the skin reacts to sun exposure, the immune system sees the changed skin as somehow foreign to the body. It then launches histamine and antibodies against the skin, producing inflammation.

Sun allergies can take a few different forms, each of which has its own triggers and risk factors. For instance, young women may have an elevated risk for solar urticaria, which causes large welts. People of American Indian background may experience a severe form of sun allergy called actinic prurigo.

One kind of sun allergy, photoallergic eruption, involves the interactions of the skin with other substances, including common topical products such as sunscreen or cosmetics. It can also occur in reaction to drugs such as antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and diuretic medications.

How Can You Tell a Sun Allergy From Other Skin Issues?

Sun allergies can cause the same kinds of skin irritation as other conditions, including heat rash. However, a heat rash may occur in the absence of sunlight, affecting not only exposed skin but also unexposed skin folds. Sun allergies only occur after direct sun exposure.

You should suspect a sun allergy if your condition resolves itself shortly after you've escaped direct sunlight and if it mostly affects sun-exposed skin. If your symptoms linger for days at a time, you more likely have either a heat rash or an allergy to some other trigger.

How Do Doctors Diagnose and Treat Sun Allergies?

Your allergy specialist can perform blood tests, skin biopsies, and patch testing to check for other immune system diseases or allergic sensitivities. Evaluation under a UV lamp can pinpoint the wavelength that sets off your reactions.

If you suffer from annoying but mild sun allergy symptoms, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter remedies such as antihistamines, calamine lotion, or topical aloe vera to ease your discomfort. If you struggle with more severe reactions, you may need corticosteroids or other relatively powerful drugs.

What Can You Do to Prevent or Minimize Your Symptoms?

Although you probably can't (and shouldn't) avoid the sun 365 days a year, you can reduce your exposure to it. Try to stay indoors during the hours of peak sunlight (typically mid-morning through mid-afternoon). When you do go out, wear protective clothing and sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher

In some cases, you can desensitize your skin to sunlight, temporarily reducing your allergic reactions to it. This approach, known as phototherapy, involves gradually increasing your exposure to UV through the use of a sun lamp during the spring months, thus preparing the skin for summertime sun exposure.

Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Fort Worth can determine whether you have a sun allergy or some other condition, and then give you the proper treatment and guidance to tame this unwanted reaction. Contact our office to schedule a diagnostic evaluation.