PMLE - tips, support etc please

[Mykittensmittens]

For many years I assumed I got horrible prickly heat, but last year I discovered it’s actually PMLE. I seem to have it quite badly and the intense needling itch is enough to drive me insane. I was seeing a dermatologist for another matter last summer and discussed this at the same time (even though I didn’t have a flare up, I did show him photos) and he said PMLE but there is little medical that can be done. He asked my GP to prescribe fexofenadine which I now take daily in the summer but it only reduces the itch by about 10%.

I also use 1% hydrocortisone twice daily and last week I started taking the heliocare supplement.

Suncreams, even the allergy one (piz buin, eucerin and rona ross) make it a million times worse.

I can’t totally avoid - I spend an hour a day walking on school runs - I keep my arms covered but it still breaks out. My hobby is gardening. It’s horrendous at the moment it’s so distracting and I’m finding it hard to sleep or focus on work.

I’m so peed off with it and refuse to be defeated. Has anyone else got any other tips I can try? Photos are my arms today

@Mykittensmittens did you ever get anywhere with this? From a fellow miserable sufferer.

Yes I did actually - this summer has been much better.

• taking heliocare every day from May


• no standard sunscreen - only Rona Ross which you can get on amazon


• shower every day and NO lotions or creams during or after. I use a dettol soap bar


• snake powder


• fexofenadine if I do get any itch - which you now don’t need a prescription for


• ice cubes on any bumps


• NO tight clothes on arms or legs. I wore leggings one day and the subsequent day was in agony!

and the most significant thing of all is small but frequent exposure to UV starting as early as possible in the year. Any time the sun is out i expose my arms and legs if I can for just a few minutes, maybe 15. The dermatologist I saw offered a UV therapy - which I didn’t take due to distance and work - but it’s sometimes also offered for psoriasis. It’s basically a type of sun bed which gives small amounts of UV exposure to build resistance.
We had a hot sunny holiday a couple of weeks ago and beforehand I had a couple of sunbeds (I know they are awful, but we are talking about once in many years and 4 minutes twice a week) and that made a massive difference. You need to stop PMLE before it even starts, once you have it you’re doomed for the season I’m afraid.

good luck!