How to realize that you are allergic to the sun, explained the doctor

MD, pediatrician, nutritionist, co-founder of UniProf Academy of Physicians

How to determine allergy to the sun? What to do if you are allergic to the sun?

On vacation during sunbathing, your skin turned red or covered with rashes and blisters, itching? People call photodermatitis “allergy to the sun”. But the sun rays themselves do not carry an allergic component, and such manifestations are associated with substances in the skin or on its surface.

What allergies to the sun can be

Distinguish between exogenous and endogenous photodermatitis. Exogenous occurs under the influence of external factors: cosmetics, care products. It is more common, and for its development is enough only exposure to sunlight and some cosmetics. Cosmetics contain a large number of components-provocateurs of allergic reaction: retinols, salicylic acid, musk, phenol, sandalwood and others.

Endogenous dermatitis occurs under the influence of internal factors: taking medications, diseases of the endocrine and circulatory systems, consumption of certain foods. It occurs less frequently.

Because of what causes allergies to the sun

Allergy to the sun can cause even pollen. Drugs can provoke the development of photodermatitis: antibiotics, drugs with sulfonamide in the composition, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, drugs for the treatment of heart disease, oral contraceptives and others.

In general, the mechanism of development of photodermatitis has an allergic or toxic character. In the allergic pathway, the chemical composition of the substance under or on the skin changes, it has the ability to provoke allergic reactions. In this case, the reaction can spread as quickly as possible and affect even those parts of the body that were closed from the sun.

In the toxic variant, skin cells can not resist UV rays. Burns that penetrate the inner layers of the skin, provoke severe inflammation. In this case, some cells die off, there is itching and irritation, blisters. All this spreads to places that have not been covered from the sun.

How to properly care for skin and hair in the summer, told in our article.

How to understand that you are allergic to the sun

Symptoms of photodermatitis:

• redness of the skin, swelling;
• redness of the lips, mucous membranes of the eyes;
• itching and flaking;
• rash, blistering;
• pigmentation, which becomes visible after other symptoms disappear.

Most often with allergies to the sun affect the hands, face, neck, inflammation can spread to the areas of the body closed from the sun. In this case, the intensity of manifestations directly depends on the state of health, skin type, immunity.

What to do if you are allergic to the sun

When signs of photodermatitis appear, it is necessary to contact a specialist who will be able to identify the cause of the disease. If it is not provoked by internal diseases, general treatment with antihistamines, restorative and inflammation-reducing ointments, antioxidants is carried out.

With allergies to the sun, caused by taking medications or using cosmetics, refusal of them will help to avoid unpleasant sensations. Repeated photodermatitis can provoke the transition of the disease into a chronic form. If you have bronchial asthma or pollen allergy, the probability of photodermatitis is higher.

To avoid negative manifestations of being under the sun, you can adjust your diet. Add to it products rich in antioxidants, B vitamins. Which ones, told in the material.

The optimal time to stay in the sun – from 6:00 to 10:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. In this case, be sure to use a cream with a high protection factor, sunglasses, wear a hat with wide brim.

If you are planning a trip on vacation, it is necessary to refuse aggressive cosmetic procedures (resurfacing, mesotherapy, chemical peels), as well as from taking medications that can provoke the development of photodermatitis.

People with allergies to the sun in the summer period should remove from the diet of citrus fruits, seafood, chocolate, it is necessary to carefully study the composition of laundry and cleaning products.