Sun Allergies???? !!!

[pyrxtc]

Well, I spent the last week at the beach and on the third day out I started to get a really bad rash on my arms and my hands swelled up so I couldn't wear my rings and my forearms hurt. It would go away at night and come back as soon as I was in the sun again. I thought it was just something at the beach but now I know it isn't cuz I went to an antique car show today and my arms are killing me! Nowhere else on my body was affected but I don't want to spend the summer inside or in long sleeves which is what is suggested if I have allergies to the sun. My hands are so swolen that my wedding band now fits my pinky finger.

Anyone else suddenly get allergies to the sun in their lives? I am almost 30 and figured that I wasn't going to gain allergies to anything. I also can't believe how much the rash hurts.
I did an internet seacrh and found this site http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10710.html
and it seems that I am bearing the lesser of all the allergies

Solar urticaria — This form of sun allergy produces hives (large, itchy, red bumps) on sun-exposed skin. It is a rare condition that most often affects young women.
Symptoms - Hives usually appear on uncovered skin within minutes of exposure to sunlight.


my kids are going to hate being stuck in the house this summer! I am also calling the DR Tuesday. I will bew in the outside for a GS field trip all day tomorrow. I guess I'll have to find a light jacket or sweater to wear or a really thin shirt.

 

[Horseshoes]

I occasionally get a heat rash, which sounds the same. It probably started around age 30. And actually at age 30 is when I started to develop other allergies too.

Sometimes I would get it, other times not. If I was at the beach or pool, I would just cover up or sit under the umbrella just as soon as it started coming out.

 

[pyrxtc]

I haven't been out in the sun since 3:15 and i still have it. It is large raised bumps and my whole arm is bright red. I can actually feel how swollen my hands are right now. They hurt to the touch.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Not that this the is same thing but certainly food for thought.

My former neighbor's son, would swell up and be in pain from sun exposure. Turns out he has a very, very, rare blood disorder where his skin cannot process some of the UV Rays in sunlight. It was literally going to into his internal organs, these UV rays.

So while I am sure you have nothing like that make sure you get checked out, OK? Perhaps something else is afoot, you know?

 

[Serena]

I'm photosensitive. I have to be really careful.

 

[MareQ]

THIS HAPPENED TO ME TOO! Actually first time it happened was at a trip in Disney - It happened when I was 30. NEVER BEFORE In my life have I had a problem. I was never one for laying in the sun - but I always tan - never burn etc.

On this trip all of a sudden at the end of one day on my chest (was wearing a v-neck that day) and my arms I noticed were itchy and red with a rash, swollen etc - it got worse that night. It didn't click right away that it was the sun - next day it got worse and worse - hurt like hell to be in the sun - wore long sleeves the next day in the park and finally that night it felt better - next day back to regular short sleeves - everything was back worse again then it FINALLY dawned on me that I was having a sun reaction - go figure!

 

[elgerber]

This happened to me to, at Disney. In August of 2001. It was awful! It doesn't happen in the fall or winter months there, but it sure did in the summer. I visited every first aid building in all the parks. They would give me calamine and other lotions for it. I am worried it will happen again when we go in 3 weeks. At least this trip is only 4 days, where it took at least 3 days into the last trip before it started. And, I had just turned 32 right before that trip. I never had anything like that before in my life, during all my sun worshipping years.

 

[luvdzne]

Have you started taking any new medicine? Certain medications can cause sun sensitivities.

 

[Stacerita]

I have sun allergies as well. It mostly affects my arms and my chest. I have to keep my arms covered while driving all the time. I limit myself to how much time I spend outside and sunscreen is a must must must. I also make sure I go over any meds that I need to take. There are a few that have made the condition worst.

 

[momof2inPA]

Some chemical exposures can cause UV sensitivity, too.

 

[chris1gill]

I have had significant issues with the sun in past years... anyhow, look for a sun block that contains 4 or 5% titanium dioxide.... it will block out the UVA rays that may be causing your troubles... CVS carries it's own brand & it's less expensive than the private labels...

 

[reddixie]

I have sun allergies and as Chris1gill suggested Sunscreen is what helps me. I went to my doctor and he told me never go out without sunscreen. So maybe that will help you as well. I would still go and check with your doctor.

 

[Aidensmom]

Have you started taking any new medicine? Certain medications can cause sun sensitivities.

This is what I was going to say. I live in FL and am constantly exposed to the sun, but since I started on a new medication for my asthma, I get rashes in the sun and get burned even when wearing really high SPF sunscreen (though sensitivity to the sun is not listed as a side effect of the med). I am completely wiped out for days after being in the sun. If I go to WDW for the day, I am in bed the entire next day asleep, and have sunburn and rashes.

 

[pyrxtc]

I don't take any meds and even putting my dogs out this morning, my arms were in the sun for 2 seconds and I could feel it already. Not lookinf forward to this summer. I ahve a Dr's appt tomorrow for it.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Isn't this what Michael Jackson claims his kids have

No, more seriously, I am really sorry to hear this. I hope for your sake that it isn't sun allergies and something you're doing differently- washing detergent, soap, shampoo, for example- that's aggrevating your skin. Have you tried using Benadryl? Does it still happen if you use an anti-histamine and then go out in the sun? What about a OTC topical ointment for hives?

Good luck and keep us posted-
xoxo

 

[Nite0wl71]

A few years ago after a day at Blizzard Beach I got a rash on my hand. It was about the size of a silver dollar, it was red, bumby and itchy. It went away when I came home so I thought it was something in the water.

Now I noticed whenever I go to Florida I have to keep cream on that spot or it happens again. This past Spring it actually started in some spots on my arm, but I have learned to put hydrocortisone on as soon as it starts itching.

The strange thing is it never happens at home, no matter how long I am in the sun

 

[Minnesota!]

This SAME exact thing happened to me last month at Disney! It was AWFUL! I had it on my chest, my arms, the back of my legs. I was in SO much pain. I was in the First Aid at Epcot daily! They gave me Calagel which worked. They (Disney) tried telling me it was the detergent for the sheets, but my mom/dad worked for the company (Ecolab) that makes the detergent my entire life. I have used the industrial detergent for 28 years. Never a reaction. I knew it had to be the sun.

AWFUL!! PAINFUL!! No way to spend my vacation.

I have pictures...I will try and upload if I remember.

Anyway...I don't know what I will do next time in FL. Scares me to have to go through that again. Would rather "birth another baby" than that...

 

[luvwinnie]

Yep...I am photosensitive, part of my "lupus like" disease. It makes me SICK...rash that itches like crazy, fever, joint pain, migraine. THere is a company called Sun Precautions that makes good products.

 

[luvwinnie]

link:

http://www.sunprecautions.com/cgi-bin/sgdynamo.exe?HTNAME=_home.htm

 

[lewdyan1]

Count me as another sun sufferer. It mainly affects my arms. I play tennis and have to wear long sleeves. I also wear long sleeve body glove swim shirts when I am at the pool or beach.