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Sun allergy

Protect yourself during the hot season!

Summer lures us outdoors: beautiful hours in the sunshine make us happy; no wonder, as the sun has many positive effects on people. But UV rays also pose risks to the skin… The body’s unpleasant reaction to sunlight is redness, blisters and severe itching!

Ten to 20 percent of the population are affected by polymorphic light dermatosis – commonly known as sun allergy – and an increase has been recorded in recent years.

If everything goes according to plan, our body develops strategies, i.e. protective mechanisms, to protect itself from too much sun. On the one hand, we tan, i.e. our melanocytes, which are responsible for melanin synthesis – i.e. our tanning process – are located in the second layer of skin, the so-called dermis. This protects the underlying cells. However, the skin also gradually thickens under the sun. In extreme cases, we speak of a “dermis”. These are also long-term reactions as protection from the sun.

However, if the skin responds with abnormal reactions such as itchy pustules, red spots or even blisters, this is known as a sun allergy.

The causes are still largely unknown, but according to the latest studies, it is a genetically predisposed delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction – which may explain why it only occurs a few hours after sun exposure. This is because sun exposure normally suppresses our immune system for some time – which also explains the fact that we often develop a fever blister or feel tired after too much sun.

And if you are prone to sun allergies – incidentally, this is more likely to be the case for fair skin types – then it is precisely this mechanism, i.e. the sun-induced immune deficiency, that is disturbed and this is why the sun allergy can develop in the first place.

Caution!

This is largely due to UVA radiation from the sun, which is why, paradoxically, sun allergies can also occur indoors. Or after a car journey, because UVA light penetrates glass!

How does sun allergy manifest itself?

Just a few hours after “soaking up the sun”, red spots, pustules and even blisters typically appear on the sides of the face, neck, décolleté and arms, which are known to be very itchy. Rubbing or scratching can then lead to superinfections, which can be purulent or even extensive.

What can you do to prevent sun allergies?

Here are some tips from dermatologist Barbara Franz

It is important to take precautions and use the right products. Expose yourself to the sun in moderation and avoid direct midday sun (from 10:00-15:00).

Get your body used to the sun slowly: this means letting a little more of our beloved sunlight onto your skin every day.

In any case, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist at the first sign of itching in combination with the above skin changes in order to avoid complications such as a superinfection. Depending on the severity, the dermatologist will prescribe cooling, anti-inflammatory lotions. Cortisone-containing creams are only the treatment of choice in severe cases.