Filed in archive Skin Allergies , Sun Allergies by ruth on November 10, 2006

One of the most visited in this blog is my entry on actinic prurigo, a skin disorder that is triggered by photosensitivity or an allergic reaction to exposure to sunlight/UV light.

I'd like to bring out another comment left in that entry, in the hopes that more people will get to read it. raven Lovecraft wrote:

I'm always been sensitive to light and heat, though until I was 14 it wasn't more than that. For 6 years now (14 till present) I've had an allergy to light. Until recently no one believed me, not even doctors. I now have a new doctor who has seen the effects, and now at 19 I'm hopefully going to be getting somewhere.

No one is sure exactly what it is I have, but my symptons are reddening skin which quickly turns purple if the exposure is continued, my skin begins to flake and peel off, I bloat out, and I also break out in spots/blisters, though the above symptons is what I commenly get as I'm not exposed long enough for the blisters to come. I avoid light, at most I'm in it for a couple of mintues, and the burning is very apparent.

The sun is the worst, and even thick with clouds it makes little to no difference. Floresent lighting also effects me, I redden in less than a minute, as does lightbulbs, though it takes longer for the same amount of pain to overcome me. I also get drained of strengh, and my mind seems to shut down. I just basically get very tired.

I am interested in speaking with others who share light sensitivity. I've never met anyone like me, or been in any type of comunication.

If you'd like to chat, my e-mail is fearfulshadow@hotmail.co.uk

It makes me feel bad that I cannot offer much information about sun allergies, as I have no personal experience with it, nor have I ever met anyone who suffers from such a disorder. But judging from the number of people landing on that particular entry of mine, I see that while photosensitivity doesn't seem to be that common a condition, there are a considrable number of you browsing the web.

Talking or chatting to fellow patients might not ease your allergic symptoms physically. But simply sharing and comparing notes do help us cope, whatever ailments we suffer from. If you suffer from photosensitivities, or some form of sun allergy, do drop Raven a note.

Related Entries:

Wanted: Actinic Prurigo Patients - 16 September 2006
Can Food Allergies Among Children Be Prevented? - 07 March 2007
Handling Your Dog's Allergies - 21 April 2007
How Do Soaps Trigger (Skin) Allergies? - 14 June 2007

« Wheat Allergies and Celia... | Main | Allergies to Ladybugs »

Permalink: Do You Also Have Sun Allergies?

Tags: sun+allergy sun+allergies photosensitivity actinic+prurigo light+sensitivity skin+allergy allergies

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Vote for Do You Also Have Sun Allergies?:

Currently 9.25/10
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Rating: 9.25 out of 12 vote(s) cast.

Response from: Clinton (03/19/07 10:33pm)

iv been suffering with my ploblem with the sun now since i was 5 (now 22) and in that time i have come to learn that i cant let it stop me from living my life even if that means i get a bad outbreak. my friends all onderstand and except me for who i am.

Response from: christina (04/24/07 3:02pm)

I also have some type of sun allergy. After being exposed to the sun for about 5-10 minutes, even on a cloudy day, my skin turns bright red and is very itchy. It will go away a couple hours later. Benadryl helps a little with the itching but it is still uncomfortable. I first noticed this about four years ago and I will be turning 30 this year. It is causing difficulties in my life now that I have a 2 yr old son who loves playing outside.

Response from: Terri Ridings (08/29/07 7:25pm)

Hi,
Im Ben's mum and i came across this by accident, whilst looking up more information about his condition. Thank you for highlighting that these conditions occur and that if you believe that things dont quite add up keep badgering your doctors until they accept that it might be something out of the ordinary( in our case not excema) and that might require specialist help.
Thanks Terri

Response from: JOyce (10/04/07 3:36am)

I always thought I had a sun allergy and then was diagnosed with SLE. Once I found this out, and avoided the sun from 10:00 - 4:00 and was faithful with sunscreen, hats and long sleeves, the sun isn't a problem. Of course, how could it be when I am hardly out in it? :o) Just a thought for some of you that your "sun allergy" may be disese related.

Response from: DEBORAH (04/27/08 4:38pm)

I have suffered Actinic Perigo since I was in my teens now 46 every year I think it will just disappear but it does not. I love the sun and go abroad a few times a year and to be in the sun I have to take Predisolone which is a steroid 5 tablets a day for a week and they do work, no red spots,rashes of any kind, but once stop taking them red a week later blotches.rash all appear. Even in the sun here the same rashes appear, It makes your life a misery everyone wants a bit of colour in the summer. I wish they would bring out another form of treatment which is not a steroid, there must be something else available. Thalidomide I have had but made me unwell.I don not know anyone whom has even heard of actinic Perigo.I dont think there are many doctors who have even heard of it except skin consultants. with all the technology today there must be help for us who suffer

Response from: ross@gladtobegluten-free.com (05/07/08 8:44am)

Hi.
My wife and 6 year old son have an interesting reaction when in the direct sunlight. They start sneezing ! Very strange but true. I thougt my wife was joking when she first told me but when our son starting doing it, I could see that it was true. It is not severe enoug to affect lifestyle more a bit of a curiosity.
Regards.

Response from: Barbara (06/02/08 11:39am)

When I get out in the Sun, I get a rash this year it is really bad. Red itches, Ijust dont no what to do????????? Please Help. Barb

Response from: Deb M (06/19/08 5:40pm)

When I was 18, I suddenly started to break out in very itchy hives after being out in the sun. I am 33 now and I will probably have it forever since it shows no signs of going away anytime soon. One doctor tried to tell me I was allergic to sunscreen until I informed her that I get it even if I don't use sunscreen. I have researched this type of thing on line and I keep landing on the same two things: Polymorphous Light Eruption and Solar Uticaria. I am not sure which one I have since they sound similar. If anyone would like to e-mail me to chat about this, please feel free. It is nice to know I am not alone.

Response from: Teresa (06/20/08 12:13pm)

My daughter has suffered with Actinic Prurigo since 1998 (she was 7 years old). She saw five different gp's who couldn't diagnose her condition). It was only diagnosed after moving house and seeing our present gp who sent her to a dermatologist, who sent her to another dermatologist that performed a biopsy to confirm it was actinic prurigo. Every winter she is fine, every spring when the sun shines she comes out in spots (people think she has chicken pox until she explains she is allergic to sunlight). Then come autumn she is fine again. Itching is worse at night (keeping cool is then only thing that helps e.g. air-conditioning when on holiday). She has tried many creams and some tablets. She has tried a couple of years of desensitisation with the uv lamps under hospital supervision but she still suffers spots all summer. The only alternative they can suggest is the thalidomide tablet. Sun creams don't really seem to help.