Sun allergy

A sun allergy is a reaction of the immune system to sunlight and, in most cases, is a red, itchy rash. Common locations include the neck, the dorsal surface of the hands, the outer surface of the arms and the lower portion of the legs. In rare cases, the reaction of the skin may be more severe, with formation of small bubbles or urticaria, which may even extend to the skin protected by clothing.
The photosensitivity is triggered by the changes occurring in skin exposed to sunlight, but are unclear reasons for this reaction. However, the immune system seems to recognize some components of the skin altered by the sun as "strangers" and the body activates its immune defenses against these components. As a result, it produces an allergic reaction which takes the form of a rash, small blisters, or, more rarely, other forms of skin lesions.
The sun allergy occurs only in certain sensitive people may be activated by brief exposure to sunlight. Scientists do not know exactly why some people develop allergies to the sun and others do not, although there is evidence that some forms of photosensitivity are hereditary.
Here are some of the most common types of photosensitivity reactions:
• Polymorphic eruption Actinic? The eruption Actinic polymorphic, consisting of a itchy rash on the skin exposed to the sun, is the second most common cause of skin problems related to the sun, soon after sunburn. It affects more women than men and usually occur in young adults. In temperate climates, the actinic polymorphic eruption is rare in winter but common during the months of spring and summer. In many cases, the rash recurs every spring. But, as the spring advances and enters the summer, repeated exposure to the sun will make the person less sensitive to sunlight and intensity of the actinic polymorphic eruption diminishes the severity and sometimes disappears. While this process of desensitization lasts until the end of summer, the eruption Actinic polymorphic return frequently next spring with all its intensity.
• Actinic prurigo (hereditary polymorphic eruption Actinic)? This inherited form of actinic polymorphic eruption occurs in some people with a genetic tendency for it. The symptoms are usually more intense than those of the classical form and begin earlier, during childhood or adolescence. Several generations of the same family can be affected by the problem.
• Rash photoallergic? In this form of allergy to sunlight, a skin reaction is triggered by a chemical that has been applied on skin (often a suntan lotion, a component of a perfume, a cosmetic or ointment antibiotic) or ingested in a drug (often subject to prescription). Antibiotics (tetracyclines, and particularly the sulfonamides), phenothiazines (used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders), diuretics (used for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure) and some oral contraceptives are drugs which cause common photoallergic reactions. There are also described, some cases of rash photoallergic using ibuprofen and naproxen, substances used for the relief of pain.
• Solar Urticaria? This form of reaction in the sun produces urticaria (hives large, itchy and red) on sun-exposed skin. It is a rare condition that affects more often young women.

Treatment
If a person has an allergy solar, treatment should always begin by the strategies described in the section on prevention. These will reduce sun exposure and prevent worsening of symptoms. Other treatments depend on the type of sun allergy which the patient presents.
• Polymorphic eruption Actinic? For very intense symptomatology, the application of cold packs (e.g., towels soaked in cold water and twisted) or spraying with cold water affected areas will improve symptoms. The patient may also take an antihistamine sold over the counter - such as diphenhydramine and dimethindene? or apply a cream containing cortisone to relieve itching. For more severe symptoms, your doctor will prescribe antihistamines and corticosteroid creams more potent. If the medication fails, phototherapy can be prescribed, in which one tries to produce resistance induced by repeated exposure to the sun. Usually this is done at the doctor's office and 5 are used weekly exposures to ultraviolet light for three weeks. If that therapy fails, can be used a combination of a drug called psoralen and exposure to ultraviolet called PUVA, are also used antimalarial drugs and beta-carotenes.
• Actinic prurigo? Treatment options include steroids, PUVA, anti-malarials and beta-carotenes.
• Rash photoallergic? The main objective is the identification and removal of the substance causing, whether medicinal or cosmetic product. Symptoms can be controlled with corticosteroid creams.
• Solar Urticaria - For a solar urticaria may be experienced mild antihistamine or an OTC anti-itch cream that contains cortisone. In more severe cases are used antihistamines and corticosteroid creams more potent, subject to medical prescription. In extreme cases, your doctor may prescribe phototherapy, PUVA or antimalarial drugs.
Prevention
To help prevent the onset of symptoms of sun allergy, a person should protect the skin from exposure to sunlight. Can be experienced the following suggestions:
• Before going out, apply a sunscreen with factor 30 or higher and broad spectrum of activity against ultraviolet A and B.
• Use full screen on the lips. There are specially designed for protecting the lips with protection factors of 30 or higher.
• Limit sun exposure when the sun is at its peak? usually between 12 and 16:30 hours.
• Wear sunglasses with UV protection.
• Wear pants, long-sleeved shirts and wide-brimmed hat.
• Beware with cosmetics and medicines that can cause fotoalergias. Included are some antibiotics, some oral contraceptives and psychiatric medications for hypertension and heart failure. If you are taking any medication and spends much time abroad, ask your doctor if you should take some precaution and in particular should avoid sun exposure while you are medicated.