With the arrival of spring and summer, the hours of sunlight increase and the number of clothes we wear decreases. For this reason, it is important to prepare the skin so that the arrival of the sun’s rays does not damage our skin health. In the most extreme cases, there are people who suffer from sun allergies, which means that their exposure to the sun has to be much more careful. Let’s see what sun allergy is and how to prevent it.
What is sun allergy?
Sun allergy or solar allergy is a term that is often used to describe pathologies in which different alterations of the normal state of the skin occur after being exposed to sunlight. The most common form of sun allergy is called polymorphic light eruption.
How to know if you are allergic to the sun?
You may be wondering why am I allergic to the sun? If you are allergic to the sun and you are exposed to sunlight you will experience some of these symptoms: pimples due to sun allergy, solar lentigines, hives, sun spots, reddening of areas of the skin, itching and low-intensity pain, small bumps that they can lead to spots with volume, peeling, the appearance of scabs, blisters and sometimes slight bleeding from irritated areas of the skin.
But, without a doubt, the symptom that usually bothers the most are the ‘famous’ pimples due to sun allergy.
Sun allergy pimples: how to avoid them
If you perceive any of these symptoms after sun exposure, it is very possible that you are allergic to the sun. In this case, we recommend going to a dermatologist to undergo an evaluation. As always in these cases, if you have any doubts, it is best to go to your specialist for a complete analysis to rule out other allergies to products such as creams, perfumes or drugs.
Also, your doctor should review your medical history to make sure that your skin reaction is not due to metabolic disorders or autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
The causes that produce this type of reaction to light are not yet known exactly. What is known is that polymorphic light eruption (PLE) or sun allergy arises when there is excessive exposure to UVA rays. For this reason, this condition is more common between spring and summer and it especially affects people with clear skin.
What to do if you suffer from sun allergy: Remedies to prevent it
If you have a mild sun allergy, the symptoms may go away on their own without the need for you to undergo any type of treatment. On the other side, the most severe cases may require medical treatment, which should be prescribed by a dermatologist or qualified professional. If you identify yourself in this second group of patients, the first thing you should do is take action, wearing clothing that protects you from the sun.
It is imperative that we take the damaging power of sunlight very seriously. In this way, we will never sunbathe without sunscreen and we will always use a high-protection and quality sunscreen.
- Therefore, if you suffer from sun allergy, this is what you should do:
You have to avoid direct exposure to sunlight. Wear caps, hats and shirts that protect the most vulnerable areas of your body.
Use sunscreen that offers you high protection and look at the quality of its ingredients. If you have questions, consult your trusted pharmacist. Use plenty of suscreen, don’t stop smearing all parts of your body (don’t forget the soles of your feet, ears, etc.) and apply it again after bathing.
You should not sunbathe on the beach without the protection of a high-protection umbrella. Keep in mind that your skin is more sensitive than usual.
After sunbathing use after sun creams that nourish and hydrate the dermis.
Drink a lot of water. Your skin needs water both inside and out.
Reinforce skin protection by consuming Omega 7.
Do not wear makeup or perfumes when you go to sunbathe. These can enhance sun allergy.
Always follow the advice of your doctor and your trusted pharmacist, since each case of sun allergy is different. Enjoy the sun always within your possibilities.
Use oral photoprotection as a preventive treatment. In addition to taking care of our skin externally, it is advisable to use sunscreen pills as a preventive treatment.
It is important that oral photoprotection or oral sunscreen is based on 100% natural ingredients like in Oliovita Protect , a food supplement that not only protects from the sun but also hydrates your skin, nourishes it, repairs it and guarantees a totally homogeneous natural-looking tan.
It is important to know that one treatment does not replace the other in any case. In other words, it is essential to take photoprotective pills, but in no case should we dispense with the use of sunscreen.
- When sun allergy disappears
Although sun allergy symptoms can be significant and visible, fortunately they do not usually last on the skin for many days.
The lesions usually gradually reduce over the days until they completely disappear after a maximum of seven days, as long as the patient seeks to protect herself properly from the sun’s rays by adopting the measures mentioned above and taking a quality oral photoprotector .