Understanding the Ultra Itchy Sun Allergy

Just imagine you have been happy all these seasons enjoying the chills and sitting near the fir place, but when the spring arrives, it kind of puts you in grief and trouble. Why? Because nobody likes the extreme heat from the sun and above all the scorching heat of the sun during the spring is at its peak. Sun causes the most disastrous effect to your skin. If you are getting red and exposure sun makes you feel itchy, then you may be allergic to the ultraviolet rays or the sun.

Allergy is a disorder of the immunity system, where it wrongly diagnoses the harmless environmental substances into harmful allergens, thus causing allergy to individuals. Sun allergy too is one such wrongly recognized allergen by the immunity system. Well in some cases of sun allergy people aren’t allergic to the sun, but it is the immunity system which reacts to the allergen, thus causing the allergy like symptoms in people. This hypersensitivity of the skin towards sun can be termed as Polymorphous Light Eruption (PMLE). Sun allergy is the most vulnerable condition which happens majorly during summers. Almost 30% of populations across the globe suffer from sun allergy. Almost 10% to 15% of Americans are already suffering from sun allergy.

Symptoms of Sun allergy-i. Skin rash in the form of patchy or red bumps
ii. Hives
iii. Watery eyes
iv. Running nose
v. Fever
vi. Itchiness
vii. Redness and
viii. Inflammation. If an individual is suffering from these common symptoms then the impact of this allergy may reduce within few weeks, but in extreme cases, sun exposure may also give rise to some chronic problems such as chronic hives, which may persist for months.

Types of Sun Allergy-i. Polymorphous Light Eruption (PMLE) - This is the most common type problem faced by majority due to exposure to the sun. It affects one’s skin, after causing a body or skin tan or skin burn. It is caused by the ultra violet rays of the sun.
ii. Actinic Prurigo - Overexposure to sun for long or prolonged hours may cause thus type of allergy. It happens due to the UV rays, but leaves the mark on one’s body just like a pimple. It happens during seasonal change, from spring to summer.
iii. Photo allergic Eruption – The use of sunscreen lotion or products used on the skin give rise to chemical reaction in the form of skin rash.
Treatment for Sun Allergy-i. Following anti-histamine treatment will help in stopping the flow of chemicals such as histamine, which causes fever, headache and runny nose.
ii. Corticosteroid induced chemicals used in lotion and make up products when used will prevent the problem of allergy from aggravating.
iii. Application of milk to the affected part of the body will help in soothing the cooling the area.
iv. Cucumber paste when applied makes the skin feel fresh and cool, thus prohibiting the skin rash from spreading.