Helpful Sun Allergy Remedies

A sun allergy occurs when your body has an immune system reaction to sunlight. Any part of your skin that has had sun exposure may break out in a red rash that is itchy but not usually severe. Sometimes the allergic reaction is more severe and can include blisters and hives. When this happens you will need to seek help from a doctor or allergist to provide fast relief to the exposed areas of your skin. Keep in mind that the sooner you get treatment for your reaction the sooner your symptoms will ease. What type of remedies are available?

The first thing to note is if you have been diagnosed with sun allergies your initial treatment starts with prevention. Before you go out into the sun there are a few things you should do to reduce your chances of having an allergic reaction. These include:

• Apply sunscreen of at least an SPF factor of 15 to your skin including your lips, ears, and any other areas exposed.
• Avoid direct sunlight during peak UV time, usually between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses that have UV light protection.
• If you have a sun allergy try to use common sense. Don't walk around in the sun without ample protection, and wear clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible.

I've Had A Reaction, What Treatments Are Available?

Provided you haven't had one of the more severe reactions you can treat your sun rash like you would a mild case of sunburn. Try to cool your skin with a cold compress or lightly mist it with cool water. Aspirin is also a popular medicine to help with the pain, but your doctor can give you a list of other pain relievers that are stronger. You can also try certain antihistamines for the itching, or some anti-itch medication containing Corticosteroid to help your skin return to normal. And obviously you will want to stay out of the sun as the solar rays will only make your symptoms worse. If your rash or other symptoms are more severe you need to seek medical attention as soon as you can.

Treatment Of Polymorphic Light Eruption (PMLE)

For milder cases of PMLE, itching is the most common symptom. You can use various oral antihistamines like Benadryl™ or various topical steroid creams on the skin to help control the itching. These products are designed to keep you from scratching the area, but are not actually cures for the condition. They merely keep you from inflaming the rash any more than it already is. More severe cases of PMLE should be discussed with your doctor or allergist. They may recommend more advanced treatments like stronger medication or even a gradual exposure to the sun, in limited amounts. While this doesn't cure your condition it can desensitize your skin to the sun's effects and lessen your symptoms dramatically.

Solar Urticaria Remedies

Planning a treatment program for solar urticaria can sometimes be a little frustrating as it can take some trial and error to see which combination of products or techniques are effective. With these types of sun allergies you will likely need to modify your lifestyle to avoid a lot of direct sunlight. For treating a mild reaction of hives or a rash you can use a nonprescription oral antihistamine for the itching or cortisone based anti-itch cream. When your symptoms are more severe or unresponsive to the over-the-counter medication your doctor can prescribe stronger medicine or even phototherapy.

Just like with other allergies, when you have a sun allergy you need to discuss it with your doctor to see if some minor changes to your routine and some mild medication are all the treatment options you need for lasting relief. Since there is no current cure you will likely be dealing with the symptoms your entire life. It's better to get some help understanding all the specifics about your situation so you are prepared in the event of an allergic reaction.