Help - skin condition in the sun

[aibuhellno]

Hi, posting here for traffic, my last two holidays abroad i have come out with an awful skin condition, i wasnt sure if i was allergic to my sun cream or it was prickly heat made worse by sun cream. I go on my honey moon soon so have been looking into it online and think i have polymorphic light eruption. It is advising to avoid the sun however i wont be able to avoid the sun. The condition is really itchy and painful and i was wondering if anybody had any tips or advise re sun cream or treatments?

Thanks

I also get itchy skin reactions in the sun. Here's what works (to some extent) for me.

Take antihistamines during your holiday every day to help minimise any break outs. I take piriton which is great but can cause some drowsiness in some people so a newer one like cetirizine might suit you better.

Ultrasun sun cream is great as my skin is very allergic and reactive even without sun. I use the family 30 one or the 50.

Also a cream like Aveeno lotion to apply liberally a couple of times a day to help relive itching. It is made with oatmeal and I find it soothing.

But yes avoiding the sun is the best thing :)

Having googled the images it looks like what I used to get when younger. I have grown out of it which is no help to your current predicament! However I remember the doctor giving me antihistamines and steroid cream. Why not pop to your doctor's for advice?

Thank you so much, this is exactly the advise i need. i will be making a doctors appointment (when i can fit one in) The first time i got it i thought it was a sun cream allergy and the second time it was much worse and i was away for 3 weeks, the pharmarcy abroad gave me hydrocortisone but it didnt do much.

Cakes - i will look into ultra sun cream, does this not make the itching worse? Do you mean applying the aveeno over the sun cream?

Thanks so much

15mg of beta carotene once a day for 2 weeks before you go and whilst away really helps. Lessens the effect of mine and takes the itch away too. Double base gel helps alleviate any itch also but an antihistamine cream can work. The ultra sun sunscreen is light and good for allergies. Piz buin also have an allergy option that works for me.

My DH suffers from this what works for him is taking antihistamines he starts 7-10 days before going away he also sits on the shade and doesn't spend long periods sitting in the sun.
This sun cream has also helped.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003E6OI96/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503389293&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ultrasun&psc=1&smid=AJJYKYQ6V1H&tag=mumsnetforum-21

I use daily nonsedating antihistamines and pizbuin sensitive. It works for me.

I apply the Aveeno a couple of times in the early morning and then in the evening after I'm out of the sun. Sun cream goes on top. Aveeno is just a really soothing moisturiser. Ultrasun is a once a day formula (although I would reapply after being in water) and I find only rubbing cream on once or twice a day helps minimise aggravation of the skin.

A steroid cream is also great to spot trea flare ups. 1% hydrocortisone is easily available over the counter and works fairly well for me in conjunction with the antihistamines. But your dr may prescribe something a bit stronger.

I first came across Ultrasun when it was recommended to us by a consultant dermatologist we saw in relation to one of the DC's eczema. It's very non allergenic. We are a family of people with dodgy skin

I get a potent steroid prescribed for prickly hest. M8ght help?

I have PLE. I take anti histamines and use a minimum factor 30 with no oxy benzone. I also wear a rash guard on the beach as for some reason it is worse on a beach than by a pool.

Didn't have any at all this holiday which was such a relief.

This thread is a revelation - I thought I was getting prickly heat in weird places! So glad I've read this. Am making notes of your useful tips!

This is what works so me: 1) try and get your skin used to the sun exposure gradually. Mine is always worst if we go away in spring as its been a long time since the last exposure. 2) I take two different antihistamines (benadryl 3 x day and cetirizine 3) Eurax HC on the worst patches and just eurax elsewhere. Eurax is amazing for the itching.

Oh yes a pizbuin anti allergy sun cream

For me* on my phone

Anti histamines and gradual exposure work for me. I used to be worse if it was suddenly hot.

I seem to have grown out of it as I got older.

I get this too. You need a sun lotion with very good UVA protection (nothing to do with SPF). On many sun lotions, it is given as a star rating on the bottle, you're aiming for 5 stars. The Boots sensitive Soltan lotion is very good. Likewise, the Aveeno is very calming for once you get out of the sun. I would second taking a course of antihistamines before and during your honeymoon. Can't offer an opinion on steroid treatment, as I've been breastfeeding which it's a no-go with, but it is the standard treatment once the rash is there. My doctor also recommended very slowly increasing my exposure to UV, by very carefully using a UV/tanning bed. Some tanning shops can offer a tailored course, in prep for a holiday. Best of luck!

Ultrasun shimmer factor 20 is the only thing to use if you suffer from prickly heat. Its amazing honestly...get some!

I have PLE @aibuhellno , I've had it my whole life and have been formally diagnosed. I take steroids when abroad but they are very strong so I can only take them for 10 days at full strength before I have to start lowering the dose to wean myself off. I've found La Roche Posay and Vichy allergy suncream to be the best, but I use the Piz Buin allergy one in the UK and that's been good too.
Get your doctor to refer you to a dermatologist for proper testing - I was also offered a treatment on the NHS to have weekly light therapy every spring to help prepare my skin for summer (I didn't have it as I can't have time off work every week) but might be an option for you. Good luck ☀️

I react after not being exposed to sun for a while so the first few hot days in spring/summer I always get it. I go to a tanning salon for a few sunbeds before a holiday if I haven't been exposed to sun for a while. Usually I'll have 3or 4 minutes on a sunbed twice then 4 or 5 mins a couple more times (every 2/3 days) before a holiday. This usually brings on a bit of prickly heat but no way near as bad as when in the sun . I also use boots soltan sun lotion as it's 5 star uva protection. I always pit it on at least 10 mins before I go out in the sun. Good luck

Agree with cakes cakes cakes, I use aveeno which is a great moisturiser and ultra sun, which is also fantastic.