The sun's rays are a factor of the external environment that is familiar to a person, the beneficial effect of which is well known, but there are also negative consequences of being carried away by solar procedures, and one of them is an allergy to the sun.
Even the medieval physician Avicenna wrote that "one should not stay in the sun for too long, the body dries up, hardens and coarsens".
Clinical picture
WHAT DOCTORS SAY ABOUT EFFECTIVE TREATMENT METHODS FOR ALLERGIES
Vice-President of the Association of Pediatric Allergists and Immunologists of Russia. Pediatrician, allergist-immunologist. Smolkin Yuri Solomonovich
Practical medical experience: over 30 years
According to the latest WHO data, it is allergic reactions in the human body that lead to the majority of fatal diseases. And it all starts with the fact that a person has an itchy nose, sneezing, runny nose, red spots on the skin, in some cases, suffocation. Allergies cause 7 million deaths every year , and the extent of the lesion is such that the allergic enzyme is present in almost every person. Unfortunately, in Russia and the CIS countries, pharmacy corporations sell expensive drugs that only relieve symptoms, thereby putting people on this or that drug. That is why in these countries there is such a high percentage of diseases and so many people suffer from "non-working" drugs. |
In the winter, autumn and spring months, exposure to the sun is limited to transitions from home to a bus stop or a store, and the symptoms of sun allergy may not appear even with a tendency to it, intensely and purposefully people begin to "sunbathe" in the sun in summer, mainly on vacation , mainly by a body of water or the sea.
And about 20% of all people are faced with an allergic reaction to the sun, caused by increased sensitivity of the skin, which usually manifests itself starting in May. This phenomenon is described by doctors and is called photodermatosis or phototoxic reaction.
This reaction to the sun with manifestations of allergy occurs either at lightning speed (in less than half a minute), or for a longer time, from several hours to 2-3 days after exposure.
Allergy development mechanism
Sunlight is not an allergen, but the general reaction to the sun may be unwanted with allergy manifestations and 3 types of reactions:
- Phototraumatic - sunburn due to exceeding the optimal radiation dose;
- Phototoxic - caused by the interaction of ultraviolet rays from the sun with certain components of plants or medicines;
- Photoallergy itself is the body's photosensitivity to sunlight.
As a side reaction, the skin becomes pigmented over time, which we call a tan. According to the speed of exposure, photosensitizers are divided into:
- Optional - photosensitization is observed infrequently, only with prolonged exposure to sunlight and an allergic predisposition;
- Obligate - always lead to photosensitivity, which occurs after a few hours of exposure to the sun.
Types of sun allergies
A photoallergic reaction occurs with increased sensitivity to sunlight, when the skin reacts to them as toxins. The cause of the perverse reaction is impaired immunity. The following people belong to the risk group:
- With diseases of the thyroid gland, liver, kidneys, gallbladder and digestive organs;
- People with pellagra;
- With metabolic disorders and lack of production of certain enzymes;
- People with chronic illnesses;
- Allergy-prone;
- With a lack of vitamins A, E, PP;
- With impaired immunity;
- Blondes;
- Children;
- Aged people;
- Pregnant women;
- Visitors to some cosmetic procedures (chemical peeling, tattooing);
- Taking some medications.
Sun allergy symptoms
Symptoms of sun allergy vary with age and trigger, and are classified as local or general. Local allergy symptoms include:
- Itching, redness, rash from the sun, irritation, abscesses on the irradiated areas of the body, hands and face, pustules appear as a result of scratching with itching;
- The formation of inflamed lesions in the form of spots;
- Puffiness;
- Bleeding may occur with the formation of crusts and scales;
- External manifestations of urticaria and eczema.
With the passage of allergies in the form of eczema, symptoms appear in places that have not been exposed to radiation.
Common manifestations of sun allergy include:
- A feverish state as a result of the penetration of toxins into the blood;
- Dizziness;
- Headache, weakness, and nausea;
- Fainting due to low blood pressure.
These common manifestations of allergy develop only when large areas of the skin are exposed to radiation.
In some people, allergies occur at the first contact with the sun, others can withstand several daily tanning sessions, but the allergy can overtake them 3 days after the first exposure.
Allergy-causing drugs, plants and foods
Sun allergies are caused by specific photosensitizers or photoreactive agents, and the severity of allergy symptoms is directly determined by the dose of radiation (for photosensitization) or the amount of photoreactive agent.
Allergy-causing photosensitizers and photoreactive agents can be present in:
- Medicines;
- Plants;
- Food products.
Medicines with side photosensitizing properties
In the instructions for medicines, there is sometimes a mention of the possibility of photosensitization by the sun. The frequency of such occurrence is calculated in hundredths of a percent.
Sometimes an allergic reaction to the sun can occur several weeks or months after exposure (due to the accumulation of the active substance in the body and its slow elimination).
Sometimes the hypersensitivity to the sun can persist for several years.
Some contraceptives, antibiotics, cardioprotective drugs, hypnotics, pain relievers, and mercury-containing drugs are among the drugs with this “side effect”, and many others.
Photosensitizing plants
Some meadow plants (for example, hogweed) contain furocoumarins, which photosensitize the skin to the sun's rays after contact with these plants, we are not even talking about eating them. Pollen of dead plants and sedge containing chlorophyll and phycocyan also cause allergies.
Photoallergenic products
Allergenic foods affect the hands during cooking and the lips when they are eaten. Sensitivity to the ultraviolet component of sunlight is increased by:
- Carrot juice and citrus juices;
- Spicy dishes;
- Fig;
- Celery and parsley;
- Sweeteners;
- Dyes and preservatives;
- Alcohol;
- A diagnosed chocolate allergy is an additional risk factor for sun allergy.
Prevention of sun allergies and rules for exposure to the sun
Prevention of allergy to the sun requires adherence to the following rules of heliotherapy:
- The heliotherapy course consists of 20-25 daily procedures, or carried out every other day;
- Do not use cosmetics before going to the beach;
- Do not carry out heliotherapy on an empty stomach and on a full stomach, after eating an hour or two should pass;
- You should sunbathe in the morning from 8 to 11 o'clock or in the evening from 15 to 18 o'clock;
- The first exposure to the sun should last 10 minutes, with an increase for each subsequent session also by 10 minutes and bringing the duration to a maximum exposure time of 1 hour;
- If you use sunscreen, your time in the sun can be doubled;
- For children, the dosage is halved in time compared to that in adults;
- A quarter of an hour after the tanning session, you should pour water or swim, and go into the shade;
- If you find it difficult to take sunbathing, then it may be helpful for you to start taking antihistamines 2 days before leaving on vacation as directed by your doctor. You already know why they should be taken;
- If sun allergies are severe, tanning is not for you. You should cover open areas with clothes in the summer and wear a hat at all times, and protect your eyes with glasses.
When it comes to food, do not experiment with exotic cuisine, for which there are ample opportunities when vacationing abroad, and stick to your traditional diet.
Sun allergy treatment
If an allergy to the sun is detected, the cause should be established, and the agent that caused the allergy - a medicine, a dish - should be canceled, and contact with allergenic plants should be excluded.
Allergies are treated, but the treatment is always complex and carried out by a specialist. Allergy treatment, even mild to moderate, can last 1-2 weeks, and in severe cases - up to a month.
Sun allergies are treated:
- Creams and ointments;
- Antihistamines;
- Vitamin therapy;
- Enterosorbents and drinking water;
- Using folk methods.
Creams and ointments
In severe allergies, the doctor prescribes creams and ointments with corticosteroids (steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex) or non-hormonal, with an exact dosage, and for a short time, since side effects of their action in the form of skin diseases are possible.
The table below shows the creams and ointments used for treatment with an indication of the approximate price.
An already manifested sunburn is treated with Actovegin cream, Shostakovsky's balm (Vinilin), etc.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines include Suprastin in the form of tablets and Tavegil and Claritin in the form of tablets and syrup. They are prescribed by a doctor, their effect depends on the cause of the dermatosis, for some they do not help to get rid of allergies. The most effective modern drugs are Cetrin and Zodak.
Antihistamines suppress the action of the hormone histamine, which can trigger allergies.
Vitamin therapy
The prescription of vitamins accompanies the complex of treatment of allergies to the sun, usually vitamins C, E, PP and group B that help to increase immunity are prescribed.
Enterosorbents and drinking water
Sorbents Polysorb MP and Enterosgel well cleanse the body of toxins and allergens. To remove allergens, you should increase the amount of water you drink - up to 2 liters per day with good tolerance.
Traditional methods
Traditional methods will help cure skin inflammation at home, before consulting a doctor.
Cold compresses with infusion of celandine or black tea relieve the condition well, you can also apply cucumber, cabbage or watermelon juice to the foci of inflammation. You can also smear the rash with honey mixed with water.
You should increase your intake of foods with vitamins C, B, E and antioxidants - fruits, cocoa, green tea, and exclude packaged juices, carbonated and alcoholic drinks.
What to do if you are allergic to the sun and give first aid to the victim
If you suddenly become allergic to the sun, call an ambulance right away. Before your doctor arrives, do the following:
- Give the victim clean water;
- Cover it with a blanket or blanket;
- Apply a cold compress to the inflamed areas;
- If available, give the victim an antihistamine to drink;
- Lay the victim on their side to prevent vomit from entering the respiratory system if vomiting occurs.
If you are diagnosed with a sun allergy, you need to take special measures to protect the skin from hard ultraviolet radiation in the composition of solar radiation with the onset of the spring and summer seasons - wear closed clothes, use sunscreen, take a course of vitamin therapy.
Only a doctor can diagnose allergies, determine how to treat it, prescribe complex treatment and check its effectiveness.