If there were no sun, there would be no life on our planet. The rays of the heavenly luminary bring a lot of benefits. They give joy in winter, and in spring and summer provide people with warmth and play an important role in strengthening immunity. But it should be noted that the sun can be harmful. For example, some people may be allergic to it while in the sun.
What is photodermatitis?
Doctors call sun allergies photodermatitis. This disease occurs mainly with increased sensitivity of the skin to bright sunlight. This phenomenon cannot be called rare, since almost 20% of the population of the whole world is faced with it. Photodermatitis most often occurs in countries where solar activity is increased, but its manifestation is not excluded during normal rest on the coast of the sea.
Types of photodermatitis
In medicine, solar dermatitis is divided into two types, based on the specifics of which doctors prescribe the treatment of photodermatitis. The first type is endogenous. It depends on the metabolism and the functioning of the body's immune system. This type of disease includes such manifestations as porphyria, solar eczema, sunny pruritus, polymorphic photodermatosis, and xeroderma pigmentosa. The second type is exogenous dermatitis, the occurrence of which is facilitated solely by external factors. It appears due to the collision of sunlight with deodorants or creams on human skin.
External risk factors
The treatment of photodermatitis most often depends on the cause of its occurrence, therefore, first of all, you need to get rid of the allergen. Various substances that are part of many perfumes or cosmetics can cause allergies when they react with ultraviolet light. If you use ointment, cream, cologne or perfume before going out in the sun, solar dermatitis may occur. The photo below clearly shows how this disease manifests itself on the skin of the face.
Very often, an allergy to the sun appears when a person is resting in nature. A large number of field plants during their flowering period secrete a special substance - furocoumarin, which settles on the surface of the epidermis. The simultaneous exposure to furocoumarin and ultraviolet light leads to reddening of the skin and the appearance of vesicles on it. This rash is accompanied by severe itching, and after some time, the affected areas are filled with pigmentation.
Photodermatitis can be beat caused by drugs. Some antibiotics, such as Tetracycline and Doxycycline, have this effect. Also, the cause of the disease can be funds for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as Trazikor and Amiodaron. In addition, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin or Ibuprofen can cause allergies to the sun. Most often, the development of this allergy, however, is facilitated by barbiturates, sulfonamides and oral contraceptives.
Internal risk factors
Also, the type of human skin affects the likelihood of this disease. People with dark skin tan quickly and practically do not face allergies to the sun. A completely different situation with fair-skinned people. They sunbathe much more difficult, often get sunburns or face an allergic reaction to the sun. Photodermatitis in children develops more often than in adults. This is due not only to the fair skin of babies, but also to their weak immunity.
Various disorders in the functioning of the body can provoke solar dermatitis. The main ones are renal and liver failure, problems with the endocrine system or vitamin deficiency.
How is photodermatitis manifested?
Symptoms of this disease are skin rashes. They can be of a different nature. Solar dermatitis can occur in the form of red spots or small pimples and blisters, which are accompanied by itching. Also, this disease can be expressed in dry peeling or swelling. Often photodermatitis appears on the face. But it also happens that a rash occurs in some parts of the body, and very rarely it can manifest itself on the limbs. Such an allergy develops, as a rule, after exposure to the sun for a long time. After the symptoms disappear, age spots may remain on the skin.
Solar dermatitis does not develop instantly. Symptoms can manifest themselves some time after leaving the beach, and sometimes after a few days.
A complication of photodermatitis is conjunctivitis and cheilitis. In addition, the patient may be pursued by general weakness and fatigue if he has complicated solar dermatitis. The photo below shows how this allergy can look.
Diagnosis of the disease
To diagnose an allergy to the sun, you will need to consult three specialists. They are a dermatologist, immunologist and allergist. Initially, the doctor asks how the disease began, what the first manifestations were, then he wonders if there are people in the patient’s family who have increased sensitivity to the sun, and also how harmful his profession is. When diagnosing, a mandatory test is carried out - a test that determines the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Then, the presence of this type of allergy in the patient is proved or disproved.
Treatment
The disease is treated topically. The doctor prescribes an ointment for photodermatitis, which contains methyluracil or zinc. If the rash is accompanied by inflammation, an ointment containing glucocorticoids is prescribed. In order to improve skin regeneration, “Panthenol” is prescribed.
To improve immunity, a special complex of vitamins for internal use is prescribed. These are representatives of group B, nicotinic acid, as well as vitamins C, E, A.
If allergy to the sun is manifested by peeling, various moisturizers are recommended. The treatment of photodermatitis is sometimes possible with the help of folk remedies. For example, to dry pimples and moisturize the skin, you can use lotions with a decoction of celandine, chamomile or a string.
With the endogenous form of photodermatitis, the very cause of the disease is treated. For example, with renal failure or liver pathology, the doctor prescribes a drug that improves the performance of a particular organ.
If the vesicles contain a large amount of exudate, they open. It is advisable that this is done by a specialist, since you yourself can do it inaccurately or introduce an infection. Sometimes the symptoms go away quickly, but basically the treatment of photodermatitis lasts several days, and with complications it can drag on for weeks.
Prevention
Methods of preventing this disease are quite simple, in addition, there are not very many of them. A person with sensitive skin should sunbathe under an umbrella or under an awning. It is undesirable to be under the sun during the period from 11.00 to 16.00 hours, at this time the celestial body is most active. It is necessary to protect the face with a hat, and the body - with the help of loose clothing, which is sewn from natural fabric, such as cotton or linen. Kids under the age of three should not be exposed to bright sunshine at all. People with sensitive skin should use special protective equipment.
Before going to the beach, do not use perfumes, deodorants or moisturizers. Such things often contain alcohol, which can cause a burn. Do not use a waterproof sunscreen, it clogs the pores, after which the appearance of ulcers is not ruled out.
Treatment without doctors
Often in the resorts there is no way to get to the doctor. In this case, you need to know how to treat photodermatitis yourself. Acute allergic manifestations can be removed with the help of various cold lotions. To do this, you can use just ice, or you can use chilled tea leaves or dairy products. If the rash is localized in a specific place, you need to cover it from sunlight. Antihistamines can be used to minimize itching.
Do not drown out the manifestations of allergies to the sun only by external means, most often this treatment will not be enough. It should be noted that the disease cannot be ignored, even if after a couple of days it itself has passed. If possible, be sure to consult a doctor. Adhering to the recommendations of specialists, getting rid of photodermatosis will be easy.