Allerigic to the Sun??

[newtodis]

Is anyone else allergic to the sun?? I've thought I had cold sores for about three months now that have not responded to various medications. I finally got fed up and went to another doctor today who determined it's not cold sores - I have impentago from a bacterial infection from exposure to the sun. I'm waiting on a referral to a dermatoligist (sp?) to figure out where to go from here but wanted to see if anyone else out there has/is dealt/dealing with this. It would just be helpful for someone - anyone at this point - to understand how I'm feeling and maybe answer questions I might have. I'm frustrated that it took three months to figure this out, completely embarassed by the sores all around my mouth and the crazy looks I get from people and just overwhelmed by the diagnosis at this point. I know it's not the end of the world, it just kind of feels like that right now as we live about 10 minutes from the ocean and I have two small boys who love to be outside.

I would appreciate any helpful websites, tips - anything at this point! We're going to Disney for the weekend on Friday afternoon but after that I plan on staying inside until these sores are completely gone.

TIA!

 

[Serena]

I am allergic to the sun. But I don't have that reaction. I blister. Fun. Anyway, the sunscreen by Neutrogena, Ultra Sheer Dry Touch has been a miracle for me. I went to WDW and did not blister. Didn't get a tan either, but that is okay.
Part of my arms that probably got wet and I didn't apply the sunscreen enough is still slightly blotchy from that trip.

We are told to use sunscreen every day, that means double, triple, to you.


I tell my kids I'm part vampire.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

If you were allergic to the sun you would have known it your whole life and broken out in a rash all over or other problems. While it probably is impentigo I highly doubt it's from the sun. Do you eat a lot of limes, lime juice on your skin reacts badly with the sun.

I would wait until you saw/heard from the derm before worrying you have to avoid all the sun. Good luck!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Allergic here also, I get blisters also and a severe red/purplish rash. My girlfriend who has Lupus has the same sun reaction as you. Make sure you get a full checkup.

 

[Starbrite]

Impetigo is not a reaction to the sun. It's a very contagious bacterial skin infection. Little kids usually bring it home from school or sports. It's generally cleared up with creams, sometimes an antibiotic. My kids have had it a few times. I know, it can look down right disgusting. Oozing, crusty, red & sore.


A sun allergy is a completely differerent ballgame. Hopefully your dermatologist can get to the bottom of it for you.

 

[newtodis]

My son gets impentago all the time and the "sores" (for lack of a better word for them right now) don't look like the "sores" he gets - of course I know what to look for at the first signs of his sores and get the cream on it right away. I've been taking Valtrex, another antibiotic and Abreva since June and can't get rid of the sores. I had nothing on my face on Sunday, went to the pool for 45 minutes with the kids and came home to an incredibly ithcy face and knew I'd have the sores the next morning. Sure enough, the bumpy little rash on my arms and my mouth was so gross from the sores around my lips.

I'm just going by what the dr said this afternoon and trying not to freak out at this point. I'm not sure if I'll see the derm before we go to Disney or not so I'm just trying to see what my options are and prevent future outbreaks if I can...I hope that makes sense.

Thank you all for the help and suggestions! I do appreciate it!

 

[Starbrite]

I'm just going by what the dr said this afternoon and trying not to freak out at this point.

I'm certainly no doctor - so they would know best.

One thing I learned, If you don't want to freak out...don't google it That's why I turn to the dis instead

 

[newtodis]

I'm certainly no doctor - so they would know best.

One thing I learned, If you don't want to freak out...don't google it That's why I turn to the dis instead

Thanks! Yeah I tried not to google it but couldn't help myself and found pictures way worse than my current outbreak so that's when I came to the DIS. I asked my question now I can go off and immerse myself in Jon and Kate gossip and plan our trip this weekend!

 

[redrosesix]

Hi Newtodis. One of my best friends is allergic to the sun. It doesn't mean she never goes out in the sun, but if she stays out too long she starts to get a rash -- if she gets under cover right away it usually goes away on its own. Longer or consistant exposure and it is much worse. She also had no problem with it when she was younger -- I didn't have hayfever as a kid either, but I sure do now.

Good luck at the dermatologist -- hopefully you have a less intense form of this.

 

[Stacerita]

Both my mother and I are allergic. We have to be really careful when we are out in the sun and cover up as much as possible. We usually end up with rashes on our arms mostly.

 

[momof1princess]

i am allergic to the sun and have to be VERY careful. even a few minutes of riding in the car with sun shining in on my arms causes a blotchy rash that itches worse than anything you can imagine. i've never had any sores. i did get a horrible case of epcot rash back in june from not putting sunscreen on my legs. that's the only thing i've ever found that itches worse than my sun allergy-i don't usually have to put sunscreen on my legs, but i will at epcot from now on. the pavement reflects more sunlight than at the other parks.

 

[EMom]

I am and I most often get blisters. Squillions of teeny tiny blisters. My arms are the easiest to blister. It's not a sunburn blister either, but an entirely different sort of blister. That's just one of the reasons I'd never got to WDW in the summer. I'd have to swim in a vat of sunblock every 30 minutes.

 

[RNMOM]

I have reacted to sun exposure at different times in my life. I get hives. Only on the exposed areas and one time my forearms and hands swelled up to nearly twice their size.

For what it is worth, you can develop an allergy at any time in your life. You don't have to be allergic to it from birth.

Do see a dermatologist and take any medications your doctors give you to clear up what is going on with you.

There are some lip balms that contain sun protection. I know Avon makes some and I am sure others do to. Neutrogena has been a good sunscreen for me too as it is very gentle and I don't break out from it like the others.

Some people will get canker sores, infections, cracks on their mouths from citrus fruits. My DH is one. He used to cut them in quarters then eat them from the skin but I figured out if he peels them and eats the individual sections without the rind he doesn't get the sores. There is a lot of acid in the skin also.

If you don't get this cleared up keep trying with a different doctor...not all of them have the same knowledge or experiences.

 

[2BigKIdz]

If I don't wear sunscreen on my lips while in the sun I will get a fever blister. My husband and our niece are the same way. I use Banana Boat lip balm with spf 45, as long as I am vigilant with it while I am outside, I don't have a problem.

I don't have any experience with your issue but hope that you can get it cleared up quickly!

As someone else posted, you can develop an allergy at any time in your life.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

If all you are doing is getting cold sores around your mouth it is probably Herpes Simplex virus, not an allergy. Outbreaks are commonly triggered by the sun or extreme cold. It's very common. My guess is you had the outbreak and it got infected with impetigo which perpetuated the outbreak. Viscous cycle.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, nor do I play one on TV!

 

[golfgal]

If you were allergic to the sun you would have known it your whole life and broken out in a rash all over or other problems. While it probably is impentigo I highly doubt it's from the sun. Do you eat a lot of limes, lime juice on your skin reacts badly with the sun.

I would wait until you saw/heard from the derm before worrying you have to avoid all the sun. Good luck!

Allergies can develop over time. You are not born allergic to things-it is developed-sometimes quickly sometimes slowly.

 

[kellyg403]

If all you are doing is getting cold sores around your mouth it is probably Herpes Simplex virus, not an allergy. Outbreaks are commonly triggered by the sun or extreme cold. It's very common. My guess is you had the outbreak and it got infected with impetigo which perpetuated the outbreak. Viscous cycle.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, nor do I play one on TV!

My dd21 has this issue...every year, the first time at the beach/sun exposure she gets the sores around her mouth. Once it spread and had turned into impetigo. This has been ongoing for her for several years.

Not sure if that is what you are dealing with but hopefully the dermatologist will have all the correct answers!

Kelly

 

[pyrxtc]

I am allergic to the sun. It developed suddenly a few years ago. I wear longsleeves all summer and try to keep covered up as best I could. I found an awesome beach shirt when I was in Florida that has long sleeves and even a hood. It is light and airy and works great to keep the hives away , especially when I use sunscreen underneatha nd then put the shirt on over my bathing suit. I even wear it in the water. My bathing suit this year came with pants made of the same meterial. I wore those every day on my beach vacation this summer. When they came off for a short time on a cooler day, I came home with sunburn and hives on my legs that didn't go away for almost a month. That was with 70 SPF too.

 

[si-am]

I've also been diagnosed as being allergic to the sun. I used to get a terrible blistering rash all over my legs (in my late teens, early 20s), but it's gotten better as I've gotten older.

I still get splotchy spots on my chest, neck and top of arms when I'm in the sun, and last year at WDW I got hives all over my legs! That was the first time for that! So itchy!

I am careful with the sunscreen but there's really not much that can be done.

 

[fun4me]

I've been allergic to the sun all my life. I get these big red itchy welts all along my arms, hands, feet, legs--anything exposed to the sun. I even get them riding in the car with tinted windows or if I put on sun screen.
I've had several different creams prescribed by different doctors all my life(I'm 37) and nothing worked. I've just learned to live with it and knew if I was going out in the sun during the summer I would have an itchy rash. So when my current doctor told me to take claritin and pepcid ac every morning--I didn't believe it would work at all. I was pleasantly surprised!!! I have had 2 summer sun months without a full blown itchy red rash! The real test will be when we goto WDW in October. Anyway just thought I'd pass that along to other people with sun allergy. I've been buying the generic versions of claritin and pepcid ac.

To the op I've never had any open sores around my mouth. Good luck with your problem.