ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO THE SUN?

A SUN Allergy? You are wincing right? Trying to remember all the hundred and thousands of other allergens which you have been warned against since time immemorial....pollen, oysters, mushroom, mosquitoes... and now the sun too?

Well relax, yes Sun Allergy is a fact, not a figment of some senile science fiction writer's fertile imagination, but it's really not what you and I imagine when we mention the word 'allergy'. Unlike in case of allergens like pollen etc. which makes our individual immune system function strangely the Sun is not directly responsible for any allergy, what causes Sun allergy is in fact is the individual’s intrinsic hypersensitivity to the sun, which causes eruptions, called Polymorphous Light Eruption.

Sun allergy is a common phenomenon in countries which have 4 seasons and is traditionally caused by exposure to the springtime sun. Rashes are known to appear only on those parts of the body which are exposed to the sun directly and develop within 1 to 4 days after exposure. With the gradual change of season from spring to summer the rashes also lessen and finally disappear completely as the skin gets more accustomed to the ultraviolet rays.

Symptoms
1) Reactions appear within hours of being exposed to the sun. on many occasions people who stay in the sun throughout the day begin developing signs of the allergy only in the evening or even later at night.

2) Little red blisters or small, itchy bumpish formations are common reactions.

Usually any such reaction to the sun disappears with the progress of the season, probably because of the skins growing comfort with the temperature and general climate. But that is not to say that time will provide a healing touch if you expose an already affected area to the sun for long hours.

Avoiding Sun Allergy
1) Simply stay away from the sun. The sun rays are the strongest between 11 and 3 (usually) stay home or at least indoors during this time.
2) If you do have to be outside wear protective eye wear and cover your head, mouth, nape etc.
3) Consider using an antihistamine but consult a doctor before opting for one.
4) Use a sunscreen or sun block of a reputed brand.


In case you do develop allergic rashes take the following precautions to ward them off,
a) wear loose clothes made of natural fabric (like cotton)
b) when going out use an umbrella and sunscreen
c) to heal itchy rashes use corticosteroids. Many of these are easy to acquire and will be available at any medical shop. However, the more effective varieties will require a prescription so it would be best to consult a doctor so as to obtain one.