Last update: 03/18/2020
A proper understanding of how the skin and the sun interact helps to avoid two extremes - excessive desire to tan and complete isolation from the sun's rays. Both of these options are unacceptable: in the first case, exposure to the sun on the skin can lead to early aging, wrinkles and even cancer, while excessive protection from the sun's rays can result in depression, apathy, brittle bones and other health problems. Therefore, it is so important to understand exactly what effect the sun has on the skin, and in what doses it can be beneficial and in what doses it can be harmful.
Types of solar allergies
How does sun allergy manifest in adults and children? Doctors classify the following types of allergic lesions:
Phototraumatic. It is expressed in small burns of the skin, skin pigmentation, and is also accompanied by itching and burning. It occurs even in healthy people after long exposure to the sun.
Phototoxic. Manifests itself in classic body burns with swelling, blistering and erythema, sometimes with increased body temperature. There is redness of the skin around the burn.
Changes are provoked not only by aggressive sun exposure, but also by the presence in the body of medications or certain foods taken the day before, as well as the use of skin cosmetics. In medicine, such provoking substances are called “photosensitizers.”
Photoallergic. This is a pathological manifestation of the skin in the UV rays of the sun. Protective cells under the influence of rays begin to react aggressively, mistaking them for a hostile and alien attack from which protection is required. To do this, the immune system launches antibodies designed to protect the skin from aggression, which manifests itself in the appearance of papules, bright rashes, thickening of the epidermis and pigmentation disorders.
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Without timely medical care, a patient with a photoallergic reaction can suffer seriously, including anaphylactic shock.
The 3 types of allergies have both external and internal differences. Having studied the photo of the manifestations of sun allergy symptoms, you can see that photoallergic allergies have the most severe external consequences.
Temporary or permanent?
What is better - constant use of a sunscreen with a low SPF or occasional use of a product with a high SPF?
The answer is clear: regular use of products with SPF 15.
Constant use of a product with a low SPF protects the skin more effectively than occasional use of a product with a high SPF.
Symptoms of the lesion
A rash due to sun allergy in people who are especially sensitive to UV rays can be observed even with the first sunny days of spring, and over time, other symptoms join the rash. By the end of sunny days, the intensity of the symptoms goes away.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to watch out for:
- redness of areas of skin exposed to the sun;
- swelling of the affected areas of the body;
- the appearance of blisters - over time they fill with liquid or purulent contents;
- fever, headache, weakness, general malaise;
- sometimes - fainting and a sharp drop in blood pressure.
Polymorphic light eruption
One of the most common forms of photodermatoses is polymorphic light rash, or polymorphic photodermatosis. In studies conducted in 2011 at the Center for Dermatology of the University of Witten-Herdecke (Germany), doctors found that in the USA, Scandinavia and Central Europe, 20% of the population suffers from this disease.
The disease is called polymorphic because it manifests itself differently in different people. Some scientists believe that the main cause of the disease is a failure of the immune system, since an increased content of T- and B-lymphocytes is found in the blood of patients.
With polymorphic photodermatosis, skin symptoms sometimes appear within a few hours, and sometimes several days after skin contact with the sun. Most often these are raised red spots that itch or cause a burning sensation. By its nature, this is a papular rash - raised blisters without visible liquid contents. The rash usually appears on the cheeks, upper chest, shoulders and back of the forearms, and thighs. The condition is not life-threatening.
The rash goes away within a few days, although it may last for weeks. She disappears as suddenly as she appeared, leaving no traces. With repeated manifestations of polymorphic photodermatosis, the reaction becomes less and less pronounced each time.
The disease usually affects people who rarely get exposure to the sun, mainly women and residents of northern countries, and usually in early summer, when solar radiation is most active.
Causes of sun allergies
In most cases, the symptoms of sun allergy are caused by a number of diseases that in one way or another provoke disorders and disruptions in the immune system and the normal functioning of the body. This:
- diabetes;
- excess weight;
- liver pathologies;
- dysfunction of the thyroid gland, other autoimmune lesions of the body;
- diseases of the kidneys and digestive organs;
- chronic hepatitis;
- tendency to other types of allergic reactions;
- in a number of other cases.
Sun allergies are often associated with medications. In particular, when taking antibiotics, hormonal drugs, antidepressants and contraceptives, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided.
In addition, sunbathing is undesirable for pregnant women, people with light, thin skin and light shades of hair, including red, as well as for young children under 3-4 years old.
What are sun acne?
Pimples that appear after exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin are small rashes. Typically, the area where the rash appears becomes red and itchy.
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In most cases, ultraviolet radiation has a beneficial effect on the skin, since under its influence it destroys pathogenic bacteria that are located in the tubercles and dries the skin.
Sometimes sun rays, on the contrary, provoke the appearance of acne, since there is a negative effect on the epidermis, namely:
- the sebaceous accelerates ;
- the skin becomes dry, resulting in clogged pores;
- natural defenses deteriorate.
In any situation where small pimples begin to appear after sunbathing, it is better to consult a dermatologist.
Manifestation of sun allergy symptoms in children
Sun allergies in children are very dangerous. It can manifest itself unexpectedly and often occurs in apparently healthy and strong babies. The changes that occur in childhood under the influence of aggressive sun on the beach are often irreversible. They can accumulate unnoticed and show up unexpectedly in adulthood.
Treatment of sun allergies in children requires care and compliance with certain rules. When a baby has a sun allergy, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician about what medications and traditional medicine recipes should be used.
Most often, to relieve symptoms, doctors recommend using special talkers, wet lotions, ointments and children's medicinal creams. To relieve skin irritation, you can use cucumber juice, cabbage leaves, infusions of celandine and calendula.
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As prescribed by a doctor, treatment for adults and children includes non-hormonal ointments for sun allergies or corticosteroid drugs (for severe forms of the lesion). You should also use zinc-based ointments and antihistamines.
If you neglect the treatment of sun allergies, you can provoke the appearance of such a serious disease as eczema.
