Sun allergy: causes, symptoms, treatment

Most people look forward to the summer season, when they can soak up the sun and get a beautiful tan. Taking sunbaths, they activate the processes of producing vitamin D in the body. But, despite the great benefits, ultraviolet radiation can cause great harm to people, as it can provoke the development of malignant neoplasms, burns and allergic reactions.

Can people be allergic to the sun?

People may experience the first signs of a solar allergy as early as late April and early May. They should understand that the rays of the sun themselves cannot act as an allergen, since they only affect the surface of the skin. An allergic reaction in humans appears due to the production of certain substances in the cells of the epidermis. This process just triggers ultraviolet radiation upon contact with the integument of the skin. Modern medicine gives the following definition of this condition of people - a phototoxic reaction or photodermatosis.

Causes

Most often, such a problem is faced by people who have the first phototype of the skin. Many experts agree that the following agents are the main cause of the development of an allergic reaction to the sun's rays:

• photoreactive;
• photosensitizers.

In humans, phototoxic reactions can be triggered by the following factors:

• the use of low-quality hygiene products;
• the use of cosmetics that contain too much chemicals;
• eating various additives, as well as foods with dyes and preservatives;
• contact with household chemicals;
• tattooing on the skin;
• taking certain medications;
• Gunther's disease;
• a pathology called pellagra, etc.

People who are prone to sun allergies should be aware that this pathological condition can lead to the development of diseases of the adrenal glands, liver and kidneys.

Development of a pathological reaction

With the development of an allergic reaction to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, people start the process of skin pigmentation, which can have varying degrees of intensity.

The following types of pathological reactions to sunlight are known to modern medicine:

1. Sunburn, with the appearance of which inflammatory processes can develop on the skin. In recent years, cases of melanoma development against this background have become more frequent.
2. With systematic exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation, patients may develop such a pathology as geroderma. It is accompanied by symptoms characteristic of allergies.
3. Patients who come into contact with phototoxic vegetation may develop meadow photodermatitis.
4. When exposed to sunlight, patients may develop pathologies such as pruritus or eczema.
5. An allergic reaction to the sun's rays may be the result of dermatosis, for example polymorphic, in which characteristic rashes appear on the skin.

Symptoms

People who have noticed pathological changes on their skin after exposure to sunlight may suspect the development of an allergic reaction.

They should pay attention to the symptoms accompanying such a condition, which can be local and general:

1. In some areas of the skin, redness may appear even with short-term contact with ultraviolet radiation.
2. Patients may feel a burning sensation or severe itching on the epidermis.
3. Some patients develop swelling.
4. In most cases, with the development of an allergic reaction on the skin, various rashes occur, for example, blisters filled with a clear liquid or a rash.
5. Most people who are prone to pathological reactions have a fever, as toxic substances enter their bloodstream.
6. Some patients may lose consciousness as their blood pressure drops rapidly.
7. In almost all cases, nausea, dizziness, and general weakness are observed.
8. A severe headache may develop, which can be compared in intensity to a migraine.

The following categories of citizens are at risk of encountering such a pathology:

1. Women who are in position.
2. People who have light colored hair.
3. Children of younger age groups.
4. People who have recently had a tattoo or specific cosmetic procedures, such as peels, that used chemical ingredients.
5. Women and men who visit solariums.
6. People who are born with pale skin.

If a person has noticed any allergic manifestations on the skin after exposure to the sun, he needs to contact a medical institution for advice. The dermatologist, after the diagnostic measures taken, will explain what to do in this situation and how to deal with the problem with medication.

How to treat sun allergy?

Treatment of sun allergy begins only after the diagnosis and differentiation of the pathology from other skin diseases that have identical symptoms. Dermatologists individually develop a treatment regimen for each patient, which in most cases provides for a wide range of actions:

1. First of all, specialists make every effort to stop the reaction that accompanies allergic pathology.
2. Patients are given advice on how to treat this disease. Medicines are prescribed for both oral and external use.
3. In the presence of a severe form of allergy, injections of various drugs may be prescribed to patients.
4. Preventive measures are being taken.

Local hormone therapy

Specialists in the complex therapy of solar allergies in a patient usually prescribe medications that contain such a component as cortisol or its analogues. Such medicines have maximum efficiency and allow you to achieve excellent results.

People with sun allergies are prescribed the following medications:

1. Weak ointments such as hydrocortisone or prednisolone.
2. Medications with medium therapeutic activity. For example, Prednikarbat, Lokaroten, Zinocort, Lorinden, etc.
3. Medicines, after the application of which you can notice the result very quickly. For example, patients are prescribed Polcortolone, Fluorcinoid, Flucort, Apulein, etc.
4. The most effective medicines. For example, Galtsinonid, Haltsiderm, Dermovate.

Group of antihistamines

For external treatment of lesions, dermatologists recommend that patients use antihistamine ointments. The components present in them allow you to quickly eliminate the symptoms characteristic of allergic pathologies. The use of such medicines will allow patients to achieve the following results:

1. Reduce the intensity of itching.
2. Eliminate irritations on the skin.
3. Moisturize the epidermis, so that it does not oversaturate and does not crack.
4. Accelerate regeneration processes.

A group of anti-inflammatory and wound healing drugs

After the patient has been relieved of the pronounced symptoms that accompany sun allergy, the dermatologist will prescribe him medications that will eliminate inflammation and speed up the process of epidermal recovery:

1. Bepantent contains panthenol. Assists in the process of healing and restoration of skin integuments.
2. An ointment called Diclofenac, which belongs to the category of anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal medicines. Helps to eliminate skin manifestations of allergic pathology.
3. Ointment containing ibuprofen. For example, Nurofen, which helps to eliminate skin manifestations of such a pathology as photodermatitis.

sun allergy pills

If the dermatologist considers it appropriate to introduce oral medications into the solar allergy treatment regimen, he will prescribe the following drugs to the patient:

1. Diazolin tablets.
2. Dimedrol tablets.
3. Suprastin tablets, etc.

When choosing a medication, the specialist focuses primarily on the possibility of using it to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect. It also takes into account its ability to eliminate the external manifestations of allergies.

Preventive actions

For patients who want to prevent pathological reactions in the future, experts recommend prophylaxis:

1. Minimize time spent in direct sunlight.
2. Before visiting the beach, it is forbidden to apply cosmetics to the skin, except for special formulations that protect against ultraviolet radiation.
3. Dermatologists do not recommend their patients to use cosmetic products that contain fragrances. This is due to the fact that age spots may appear on their skin.
4. Patients should be constantly monitored to ensure that their skin does not dry out.
5. If a person needs to be in direct sunlight for a long period of time, then he should choose suitable clothing. It should have long sleeves and cover the epidermis as much as possible.