But it doesn’t have to come to that. There are a number of very effective measures that can prevent them. Why it predominantly affects women between the ages of 20 and 40 and occasionally children is still a mystery to science. It is not just the very intense itching that characterizes this condition. Red, raised or blistered skin changes are visible signs of this skin reaction, which only begins hours later.
The face, neck and décolleté are most commonly affected, but the extensor sides of the arms and the backs of the hands are also often affected. Estimates suggest that more than 20% of the population suffers from it. The cause of sun allergy is still unclear. An immune reaction is suspected in which so-called free radicals occur due to UV radiation. The skin reactions are triggered just 15 minutes after exposure to the sun, predominantly by UVA and, to a lesser extent, by UVB rays.
In the event of a recurrence, the same areas of the body are affected again and again, but new ones can appear. If the skin gets used to sunlight over the course of the summer, the sun allergy goes away completely.
Treatment of sun allergy
If you first suspect a sun allergy, treatment should be carried out by a dermatologist. Finally, there are a number of other light-related skin diseases that need to be ruled out. Antihistamine tablets help against the very severe itching, and a strong cortisone cream helps against the skin changes. If you are planning a vacation in the sun, these medications should also be in your first aid kit.
Once it has occurred, the sun should be strictly avoided in the following days. A sunscreen with high UVA light protection can prevent recurrence. Normal light stabilizers or calcium tablets are ineffective.
Prevention for the sun
The best therapeutic measure is prevention. There are two effective therapies to choose from. The skin gets used to the light by slowly increasing doses of UVA light, preferably daily. In order to avoid triggering the sun allergy through overdose, this “hardening up” should best be started in a dermatologist’s office four weeks before the start of sun exposure. The months of April and May are ideal for this.
Another therapy that can also be carried out in addition to light therapy is taking beta-carotene capsules. Here, too, you should start early, as it takes several weeks for this plant dye to be stored protectively in the epidermis. The daily dose of 100 mg cannot be achieved by eating vegetables.
An Australian study showed that when 100 mg of beta-carotene was taken daily, 15% of those affected completely disappeared from the sun allergy and 50% experienced an improvement.
Sun allergy is very distressing for those affected. In most cases it can be prevented through effective prevention. Even if UVA and beta-carotene therapy are not sufficient in stubborn cases, the PUVA bath therapy available in some dermatological practices offers very good prevention.
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