ACK! I think I have a sun allergy!!

[ElizK]

My arms are so itchy! I spent several hours outside on Saturday. I got a little bit of sun, mostly tan with slightly burned shoulders. But the outside of both arms ITCH!!! I did a search (gotta love self-diagnosing on the internet, right?) and came up with Polymorphus Light Eruption. Here's the info:

A few of the most common types of sun allergy are:

Polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) — PMLE, which usually appears as an itchy rash on sun-exposed skin, is the second most common sun-related skin problem seen by doctors, after common sunburn. It occurs in an estimated 10% to 15% of the U.S. population, affecting people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Women are affected by PMLE more often than men, and symptoms typically begin during young adult life. In temperate climates, PMLE is usually rare in the winter, but common during the spring and summer months. In many cases, the PMLE rash returns every spring, immediately after the person begins spending more time outside. As spring turns into summer, repeated sun exposure may cause the person to become less sensitive to sunlight, and the PMLE rash either may disappear totally or gradually become less severe. Although the effects of this desensitization process, called "hardening," usually last through the end of the summer, the PMLE rash often returns at full intensity the following spring.

Any one have any experience with this?

 

[agnes!]

It could also be some type of allergy to a lotion or sunscreen.

agnes!

 

[ElizK]

It could also be some type of allergy to a lotion or sunscreen.

agnes!

It could. Only thing is I've got this rash where I didn't put by sunscreen, and I haven't used any lotion on my arms in a long time.

 

[HeatherH]

Yes, that sounds like a sun allergy, I used to get it EVERY year when I first started getting exposed to more sun in the spring and summer. It eventually went away, probably because I'm in a more temperate climate year-round now and get more sun exposure year-round.

You will definitely want to load up on the sunscreen before going out again, and better yet, keep your arms covered until the bumps disappear.

 

[barbeml]

I have suffered from this for years. It itches like CRAZY. Sunscreen helps.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

This is a little OT but has anyone ever had a rash in between their legs from them rubbing?? That happens to me a lot in the summer and its usually just red with some small bumps and it goes away. I seemed to have develop a larger bump almost the size of a dime but smaller and it looks like a giant pimple. I had one on my other leg but it seemed to go away yet the other one hasnt...any take on that??? Its annoying that its finally nice out and I cant wear skirts and I'm not sure if its okay to cover w/a band aid??

 

[SDFgirl]

I had your exact symptoms on my honeymoon after staying in the sun for a few hours. My arms and legs itched like crazy!

It turns out that it was a reaction to come antibiotics I was on. Could that be it?

 

[carissanboys]

I've always had this. Never been diagnosed, but I've always joked that I'm allergic to the sun. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, or for how long I'm exposed, if I'm out in the sun for any length of time, I get the "itchies". It happens mainly on my arms, hands, upper chest, and face. I have to be very careful and be sure I put sunscreen on if I'm going to be outside for any length of time. I always figured it was just because I have a very fair complexion.

 

[mickeyboat]

I got this when I went on my cruise, and the ship doctor said I might be having an allergic reaction to Bonnine - the medicine I was taking for motion sickness. My father had a similar reaction.

TinkerbellLuvr7- I think what you have is an infected follicle or ingrown hair. The little bumps you are seeing might be razor burn. If the pimple thing doesn't go away in a few days, or it gets bigger and painful, see your doctor. You might need to have it lanced.

Denae

 

[preb]

I have this sun alergy and have had it for a few years. We travel quite a bit and it really flares up in the Caribbean sun. I've have seen several doctors about it and it was suggested that I'm actually allergic to the rays that don't cause the burn/tan - I can't remember if it's UVA or UVB. Anyway, I always make sure to use sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and it seems to help. Again, it's not so bad here in Michigan but I really suffer in the southern sun.

Good luck!

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I have only ever had this once--and it was from a tanning bed not the actual sun.

I didn't have a rash but I was itchy and when I scratched(not hard more rubbed because of fake nails) I would bruise. And they weren't little bruises either they were huge and angry looking---My boss actually called me into her office one time to make sure my DH wasn't beating me

I stopped tanning and the itch and bruises stopped--I don't know if this is the same thing or not.

To the other poster--I get ones like that every once in a blue moon from shaving--I'm not a fan of going to the doctor for him to look at my bits so I break it myself--once there was an ingrown hair about 4 inches long For a couple of days after I use neosporin and a bandaid and nothing went wrong

 

[dis ms.]

Oh, I feel your pain ... and then some.

I've had solar- and heat-induced urticaria for several years. Basically, I have an allergic reaction from sun exposure and whenever I get really hot. I get hives and/or red splotches and my skin itches (sometimes to the point of burning). Sunscreen doesn't help in my case. I take Allegra an hour before I exercise or go out in the sun. Even then I still get a little splotchy, but at least I don't itch.

When I say I'm allergic to exercise, I mean it.

 

[momof1princess]

i've been very allergic to the sun since i was 18 and sunscreen DOES help, at least in my case. i can use spf 50 sunscreen and spend a week at wdw with very little itching (i reapply after eating lunch). in my case, just driving around w/ my arms exposed and the sun shining through the windows on them is enough to cause a rash. however, oddly enough, i don't need sunscreen on my legs, just from scalp to tummy. and evidently, it runs in my family-almost everyone in my immediate family has this allergy, to some degree.