Advice for managing PMLE and sun rash when abroad

[LittleAm]

Hello! The last few times I’ve been abroad, I’ve suffered terribly from PMLE. It’s been so bad I’ve spent so much money on visiting pharmacies to try various creams etc. when I returned home from Spain last year, my GP advised there is no point taking antihistamine as it’s not an allergy as such, more auto immune? Regardless, I carried on taking a high dose of antihistamine anyway. This year, I read about various sun creams and invested in eucerin. Useless! My rash was bad if not worse, and this time spread all up my face. I’ve tried piz buin allergy too. It feels like a hopeless situation and is putting me off going abroad. I’ve tried various topical steroids, cooling creams, bepanthan, but nothing works at all. I end up covered in wet sores, a huge rash and in so much pain it’s not worth it. My son is only 2 and I know I can still holiday at home, but would love to be able to go away and enjoy it. This year we went to spain in May thinking the cooler weather would help. But no! Any advice?

I have an auto immune reaction to sunlight and I wear UV protective clothing - Solbari or Coolibar mostly with a properly big hat and tinted zinc sunblock on my face as that blocks the most light. In the pool I wear a long sleeved UV top and leggings, so basically total skin coverage until the evening (its the same in the UK, though if its not sunny I can get away with spf 50 on my face and just a baseball cap on my head).
If people comment on my clothing I just tell them that 'the sun and me aren't friends' and that shuts it down nicely

Why do they say not an allergy, my son used to get hives (solar urticaria) and he was prescribed fexofenadine for it, I’ve just checked and that one is now also available OTC by the looks of it.

He doesn’t have as big an issue now so no hives and just a bit of nausea, previously he would vomit so also had an anti sickness med (don’t remember the name sorry), and had to have prescribed suncream because he would get rashes from the ones we bought.

The one that worked for him and was prescribed (before it became possible for me to buy online myself) was La Roche Posay Anthelios. Using this cream was the only time his skin was soothed, I would highly recommend buying that - they have it on Amazon

I had a reaction to the sun for years after reacting badly
to St John Wort.I used allergy sensitive sun creams -and took antihistamines and was v careful to shower morning and night. Now I still use allergy friendly creams but haven’t had a reaction in years. I use Ultrasun sensitive and I stay out of the sun, always sunbathe in the shade. Before Ultrasun I used a mousse which you could
only order online - it changed names several
times and I’m afraid I can't recall
the old name and don’t know the new one.

We used boots soltan sun allergy factor 50 cream this year in Egypt in August (never again .!) and it’s the first year I can remember my 23yr old hasn’t had it !

Piz Buin sensitive and antihistamines did work for me.

I haven't had it for a few years now, I seems to have gone away. Started on my neck and over the years seemed to moved to the back of my arms and now I didn't seem to get it.

Sorry, just read youve already tired Piz Buin

I used to really suffer with this but have been so much better since menopause and it can often improve then. I always found boots soltan sensitive was the best , a lot of sensitive sun creams don’t have 5 star UVA protection but this one does. You have my sympathy it is miserable

I use Altruist. I also avoid alcohol

Yes I have suffered for years with this. I tried all the usual suggestions over the years. I have just been away and not had a single patch or even the dreaded itchy/pin signs it’s coming out. I think it’s called heliocare vit D supplements.

Hi @LittleAMthis is me. I have tried EVERYTHING. Antihistamines, all
manner of sun creams, stuff ordered from the U.S., heliocare tablets, HD cream, trying to get sun exposure early in the year to build up my tolerance. Honestly everything. Nothing worked. Then I had an utterly miserable holiday, I probably had about an hour’s sleep every night as I was so itchy I couldn’t sleep. It was awful, I get it everywhere and I scratched so much I was bruised and bleeding and honestly thought I’d never had a sunny holiday ever again. About 3 years ago I got a short course of oral steroids on prescription - prednisolone - and I’ve finally found something that works. I’ve had them prescribed every year since. I start taking them on day 2 or 3, as soon as I start itching and it sorts it completely.

Thank you SO much everyone for replying ♥️ I’m going to try all the things suggested that I’ve not done before 😁 much appreciated 😘

Found it! It’s now called EVY.