Suddenly allergic to the sun?

[AyahuascaTrip]

I’m quite old and spend a lot of time outdoors so don’t understand why I’ve recently developed this reaction to strong sunlight - it’s a little dotted rash on the back of my hands and big oozy bumps on my forearms. First happened earlier this year, when I was attacking lots of brambles so thought it was plant related, and has left scars. Now it’s coming back 😕 obviously I will be brave next week and go to my gp but in the meantime just wondering if anyone has any ideas about this?

I'm allergic to the lanolin in sun cream - could this be the case? I used to think it was the sun

It could aggravate it but I wasn’t wearing suncream the first time - it was April, in the UK, and I’d just pushed my sleeves back to do some gardening when it started. Then I was in Mallorca for a while and it got really really really bad, it wasn’t hot but v sunny so I had the factor 50 slathered everywhere. After that I was in Rome and it wasn’t sunny at all, I think I had a coat on outside the whole time. It didn’t start getting better until May :(

If it's itchy try Eurax anti itch cream to help. It's the only thing that helped when I had prickly heat.

Mine doesn't leave scars.

Just an update to say Piz Buin Allergy was a big help, thank you for the suggestion, then came across some Neutrogena factor 100 which is even better - it’s on amazon. The scars sometimes go a bit bonkers - like growing dry crusts?! and I noticed a couple of weird lesions too so maybe it’s some more autoimmune stuff?

That does look like PLE, I’ve had it since childhood, it’s a reaction to uva and for me the rash can last a long time , sunscreen with 5 star UVA protection helps, I like the Soltan sensitive

I developed PLE in my 30s. Like most sufferers I am a fair skinned female. I get it horrendously on my feet once in sandals unless I cover them in factor 50. Also prone to it on my arms and chest

Are you on any medication, or do you take supplements or anything? I might be wrong, but I think that you need to avoid being in the sun if you are taking certain drugs. Could it possibly be that?

Or are you using any toiletries containing lime or other citrus?

My daughter gets this. She is- touch wood- otherwise healthy. GP prescribed antihysthemines.

I’ve been on lithium for over 20 years (with a two year break when I developed Graves’ disease, went back on it last year once thyroid had settled down). I don’t think it causes sun sensitivity but it can make psoriasis worse so it’s not great for skin. The only other prescription med I take daily is colchicine, for familial Mediterranean fever (joint problems). Really careful with soaps etc (history of eczema psoriasis) mostly just use melt and pour goats milk soap that I make myself.

Oh I’m taking antihistamines too, over the counter ones - chlorphen something

I developed this in my late twenties. It took me a while to join the dots and work out that my strange skin breakouts would always start around the same time each year. Until I made the link with the weather I thought it was stress.

A lot of people have mentioned antihistamines but I was actually prescribed steroid cream which works well for me. I don't love the sun so very happy to have an excuse to stay out of it!

Just started some oral steroids - one week into a three week sort of working holiday in Spain. It’s like the piz buin stuff had stopped working, millions of new blisters popped up while I was driving yesterday. Even under my dress :( bit scared of steroids but my skin already feels better after only the second dose.

Did your Dr check your bloods? I had something similar and they checked me for some sort of arthritis as it can be a symptom.

Oh! No I’m away at the moment but should follow it up with my GP when I get back. The person I saw said it looked very lupus-y, which could explain a lot. (Alopecia as a teen, raynauds syndrome.)

I’ve already got some sort of arthritis from Mediterranean fever, hopefully no new joint diseases 🤞

Funnily enough I also have Raynauds, I wonder if there is some kind of link? In my case I think it was a weird for of prickly heat because I only get it now if I'm in the sun for a prolonged period rather than immediately.

I have started to get this too. I'm in my mid-40s and post menopause so I thought maybe it was to do with hormones (or lack thereof). But I just googled and it seems it is linked with various autoimmune conditions, which it sounds like you have?

I have had this for years. It seems to affect only my arms. I take antihistamines and wear long sleeves in very light fabrics like silk or thin cotton or linen, as it seems to be exposure to the sun that causes the problem. High spf such as p20 or p50 also helps.

blackink I wondered that too (am around 8 years post menopause) or some autoimmune thing but it seems most people who get this are not ill at all so that’s encouraging! The first time it happened was in April and those still haven’t completely disappeared, they just keep making more scar tissue. So not sure how normal that is but these steroids are helping I’m sure.

fozzleyplum I really like neutrogena factor 100 too, and I’m going to try this heliocare gel stuff that dries dry if you see what I mean. Getting bored of the slimy feel of creams!

www.heliocare.es/protector-solar-facial/heliocare-360-water-gel-spf-50/ can’t find it in English but Amazon might have it. I’m not used to reapplying cream every ten minutes and feeling so oily! Apparently this just dries nice and lightly

Anyone ever wake up to find lots of their blisters had turned into moles overnight? 😮