When the sun shines, you suffer from itching, bumps and spots:sun allergy! What can you do if you have a cupboard of this. Santé has 4 solutions.
With a sun allergy you suffer from itchy skin rash with bumps, blisters and/or spots. Especially if your skin is not yet used to a lot of sunlight, the chance of sun allergy is high. At the beginning of summer, or if you go on holiday to a sunny destination in winter. Therefore, build up the number of hours of sunshine slowly, so that you can prevent sun allergies.
Allow your skin to get used to sunlight by sitting in the sun for a maximum of twenty minutes during the first sunny days and rubbing your skin with a sunscreen with a factor of 50. You can gradually increase this and possibly lower the factor to 30. sunscreen also offers UVA protection:sun allergies are mainly caused by UVA radiation.
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Sun allergy will go away on its own within a few days, provided you stay out of the sun. If you suffer a lot from the itchy bumps, your doctor can prescribe a cream
. Corticosteroid cream has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces itching.
This cream is only available by prescription. Lidocaine-levomenthol gel can also help and you can get it at the pharmacy without a prescription. It has a cooling effect on the skin. Or try cetirizine tablets – these block the action of histamine (the substance released in the body during an allergic reaction), which reduces the symptoms.
Your skin is like your armor or your shield. If your skin is in poor condition, it is vulnerable to 'outside attacks'. External influences, such as sunlight (but also hormonal fluctuations or bacteria) can then cause skin problems. So help your skin to stay healthy.
Avoid harsh soaps and make sure your skin is well hydrated. According to some studies, antioxidants in nourishing skin creams may reduce the risk of sun allergies. Taking vitamin D could also improve the skin condition and thus reduce the risk of sun allergy.
In case of serious complaints and extreme hypersensitivity, the GP can refer you to a dermatologist for light therapy. This therapy exposes your skin to a gradually increasing dose of UV light, making it more resistant to UV radiation. This process is called skin hardening.
Light therapy takes about four to six weeks, often in the hospital. The disadvantage is that the treatment is quite intensive and the result is not equally good for everyone. There are also light therapy installations for use at home, such as Dermasun.
Heat rash is not the same as sun allergy. Heat bumps arise because the sweat glands in your skin become clogged and mainly occur in places where your clothing irritates or where your skin rubs against each other.
For example, in the back of your knees, under your breasts and between your buttocks.
