Reddening of the skin,
itching, and pimples are just a few of the signs that flare up when we suffer
from a sun allergy – and they are the ones that mainly afflict a fifth of the population,
which means those with photosensitivity. Allergic reactions caused by the sun
are quite common but not particularly known because they are not easily
recognized. In fact, this is the immune system's reaction to skin cells altered
by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
How
does allergy to the sun manifest?
Sun allergy usually
occurs during spring and early summer months, still, with the daily sun
exposure the skin gets used to and "hardens" and the likelihood of
allergic reactions to the sun decreases.
Sun allergy symptoms
vary from person to person, and it seems that the problem mostly affects women
20-40 years old with fair or sensitive skin – although it can occur in everyone
regardless of gender or age.
The most common
symptoms are redness of the skin with the appearance of edema or rash, itching,
pigmentation of the skin, bubbles full of fluid, fluid flow, or
"break" of the epidermis mainly in the areas exposed to the sun.
What
are the types of sun allergies?
Sun allergy is characterized
by different reactions and types, which are:
Multiforme rash by
light
This is the most
common allergic reaction to the sun, which usually occurs in adolescence and is
more common in women. The allergy is manifested by a rash that causes itching,
blisters, or red patches on the epidermis. The rash usually appears in the
spring, a few hours after exposure to the sun.
Photoallergic
dermatitis
The most common
expression of allergy occurs when, after several exposures to the sun, a
chemical that has been applied to the skin, reacts to sunlight. Various
medications, sunscreens, cosmetics, and perfumes can trigger the skin reaction,
with symptoms appearing after two or three days.
Phototoxic
dermatitis
In this case, the
symptoms of allergy appear from the moment a phototoxic substance (i.e., a perfume)
that is applied to the skin, encounters ultraviolet radiation.
Solar urticaria
This is a rare
condition that is mainly due to the skin's reaction to the sun. It involves the
transformation of the normal component of the skin into an allergen. It mainly
affects young women, creating hives just minutes after exposure to the sun.
Symptoms can be from mild to very severe, to the point of anaphylactic shock.
We need to emphasize that
there are some medications – such as antibiotics, antihistamines, chemotherapy
drugs, cardiac, diuretics, and diabetes medications - that can cause skin
sensitivity. That's why we always keep the instructions for medication usage,
to have the information about a possible sun sensitivity.
Which
parts of the body are most affected?
Usually, the body's
reaction to the sun appears more often on the parts of the body that are most
exposed: the arms, legs, shoulders, back, neckline and neck. But it is not unlikely
that the allergic reaction will occur anywhere on the body, even in areas
protected by the clothes we wear.
How
can we protect ourselves from sun allergy?
It is almost
impossible not to be exposed to the sun's rays – after all, it would be dangerous
for our body as sunlight is necessary for the natural synthesis of vitamin D.
However, there are several tips that we can follow to protect ourselves
efficiently. So, we:
Use daily and
repetitive sunscreen with a high protection factor against UVA and UVB
radiation. In pharmacies, there are specialized sunscreens specifically for
sun-allergic skins, tested and approved by dermatologists.
Apply sunscreen every
two to three hours and whenever our skin gets wet, as water can interrupt the
protective action of the product.
Avoid sunbathing during
the critical period from 11:00 to 16:00 in the afternoon.
Prefer to sit under a
shade whenever we are outside the house.
Make sure that the
duration of our stay under the sun increases progressively, to increase the skin’s
resistance to solar exposure.
Moisturize our skin
with products containing aloe or panthenol after our sun exposure.
Strengthen our immune
system by including in our diet foods or supplements containing calcium,
selenium, zinc, and beta–carotene.
Do not forget to
constantly hydrate, consuming water, or other liquids.
Wear clothes to
protect from the sun, in light colors and-ideally-cotton fabrics. We complement
our look with sunglasses and a hat.
Choose products with
beta carotene, vitamin E or C, if we want to tan.
Finally, if we are
under medication, we check with the dermatologist for any skin reactions to the
sun.
