Allergic to the sun (photodermatosis) is an excessive immune reaction to exposure to sunlight. Doctors strongly recommend to start the treatment of sun Allergy as early as possible. If staying under the sun makes you even the slightest allergic reaction, you should immediately take all precautions before turning to the doctor, an allergist, writes likar.info.
Causes of allergies to the sun
According to medical statistics, the number of registered cases of Allergy to the sun is increasing every year. Note that sun allergies are not necessarily occurs in the chronic form. Perhaps after the prescribed treatment, symptoms of Allergy will be eliminated and you will not be disturbed.
The sun’s rays by themselves are not allergens, but they can cause in the human body under their influence begin to accumulate substances causing an allergic reaction.
Sun Allergy is often observed in young children because their immune system is not able to cope with body stress.
In General, all the causes of allergic to the sun, can be divided into two groups:
External causes. These include cosmetics, perfumes and local remedies that increase the body’s sensitivity to sunlight. It is known that the sensitivity to the sun also increase antimicrobial and diuretic drugs. Much depends on the length of stay of the person under the sun.
Before you use a particular cosmetic or therapeutic product, carefully read the user manual to it. If the user indicated that the drug can cause photodermatitis, it is necessary to minimize their stay in the sun. When choosing cosmetics pay particular attention to the content of substances such as boric acid, mercury compounds, essential oils, eosin. These components increase the severity of the disease.
As the most striking example of an external (or exogenous) photodermatitis can cause Rhus dermatitis, which develops in response to the flowering meadow plants in summer. Contained in such substances furocoumarins in combination with ultraviolet radiation can cause allergic skin reaction.
Photodermatitis often cause some drugs, such as sulfonamides, chlorpromazine, barbiturates, antihistamines, some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral contraceptives, antibiotics and other. In addition, you should consider the time that sun Allergy occurs more often when the skin is weakened in some additional impacts, such as tattooing or body scrub.
Internal causes. Allergy to sun rays can contribute to liver disease, disorders of the digestive tract, as well as malfunctions of the immune system. Noted that the correction of metabolic processes, normalization of liver function, the immune system, replenishment of vitamins and minerals, the severity of disease is markedly reduced up to complete disappearance.
Kinds of allergies in the sun
Photosensitivity leads to the development of a series of reactions, namely:
– Fotochromatyczne reaction. This is a rather normal reaction of the body after prolonged sun exposure. And even in a completely healthy person after hours of UV irradiation can occur sunburn of varying degrees.
– Phototoxic reactions. This reaction in the form of sunburn, manifested by swelling, erythema, blisters and other symptoms. Often phototoxic reactions develop in response to the intake of certain drugs and foods containing photosensitizers.
– Photoallergic reaction. This is a pathological response in which the body rejects ultraviolet rays.
Symptoms of an Allergy to the sun
The main symptoms of an Allergy to the sun are:
– Rash all over the body, the appearance of pustular rash;
– Peeling of the skin;
– Puffiness;
– Redness of the skin;
– Burning sensation and itching.
Often the symptoms of Allergy to the sun do not develop immediately. For example, unlike burns, Allergy symptoms can occur several hours later. You should split phototoxic and photoallergic reactions. If the first can develop in a few hours, then the second and after a few days after contact with sunlight.
Risk group
In some people the likelihood of developing an Allergy to the sun is much higher than others. So, increased risk of developing an Allergy to the sun have the following categories of people:
– People with light skin and blond hair;
– Pregnant women. According to medical statistics, pregnant women are more likely to suffer allergies to the sun;
– Small children;
– People taking medications that can cause excessive reaction of the skin;
– People who have relatives with a sun Allergy. There is a high likelihood of developing sun allergies, if one of the members of the nuclear family also is allergic to the sun;
– People in contact with substances that trigger sun Allergy.
– People who abuse the Solarium;
– People who the day before had done some cosmetic procedures (e.g. tattooing, chemical peeling and others).
TREATMENT OF SUN ALLERGY
Allergy is a disease that requires appropriate medical intervention. To avoid the sun man is almost impossible, especially in the hot season, so it is necessary to consult an allergist with the passage of all necessary diagnostic procedures.
In the presence of disorders in the internal organs and immune system, is assigned to the appropriate treatment. At the same time being a treatment aimed at addressing the symptoms of sun Allergy. For these purposes, generally used in topical preparations (ointments, creams) with lanolin, zinc and methyluracil. In some cases, the doctor will prescribe hormonal ointments and anti-inflammatory drugs. For stimulation of the regenerative processes in the skin are assigned the intake of b vitamins, vitamins C, E and nicotinic acid.
Creams and ointments from allergies. In the treatment of Allergy to sun rays are quite effective creams and ointments with corticosteroids, however they can be used only in severe allergic to the sun. In milder forms of the disease use of corticosteroid medications can not. It should be understood that the use of these tools can be used only with permission of a doctor. The treatment steroid ointments should be short, because their prolonged use can cause various skin disorders, such as, erythema, vasodilatation in the skin, and they quickly develop a tolerance, and if applied frequently, can develop skin atrophy.
Antihistamines. If you are allergic, as a rule, the patient is assigned antihistamines. However, it is worth noting that some of these drugs help, but not to others. It all depends on the root cause photodermatosis, based on what the doctor decides about the medicines. There are several generations of antihistamines. Drugs of the third generation are characterized by high safety and do not cause drowsiness, unlike antihistamines of the first and second generations.
Intake of vitamins. A possible cause of allergies to the sun can serve as a lower immune status, and deficiency of vitamins. In such cases, patients are prescribed the intake of vitamins like vitamin C, b vitamins, vitamin E, nicotinic acid and others. It should be understood that vitamin therapy is not an independent method of treatment of an Allergy, but merely acts as a component of comprehensive treatment.
The duration of treatment by sun Allergy can vary from several days to several weeks. It all depends on the severity of the disease and adequacy of prescribed treatment.
If you are still having disease symptoms usually increases. Fortunately, the repeat cases are rare.
Preventive measures
In order to minimize the chance of developing a sun Allergy, you must follow these guidelines:
– If possible, abstain from wearing clothing made from synthetic fabrics;
– Don’t spend too much time under the open sun. Sunbathing with a duration of 10-20 minutes will be enough, then “hide” in the shade;
– Use sunscreen;
– Visit the beach early in the morning and in the evening, when solar activity is minimal;
– Use umbrellas, hats and capes for protection from the sun.
