Home > Ailments > Polymorphous Light Eruption > Polymorphous Light Eruption Q&A > Sun allergy polymorphous light eruption
Sun allergy polymorphous light eruptionPosted By Cvw (Abbotsford, Bc, Canada) on 07/11/2010
Replied by Davo (Stawell, Victoria, Australia) on 07/29/2010
Replied by Valerie (PA) on 06/01/2022
My heart goes out to you as I too have the same sun allergy. I will pray for you and all of us who suffer from this condition.Replied by Davo (Stawell, Victoria, Australia) on 07/30/2010
Ccw, I suffer from a Sun Allergy as well, the reaction comes on several hours after exposure, in the form of intense itching and huge eczema flare-up in all of my skin creases (neck, behind my knees, crease of elbow etc, even though these areas haven't been exposed to the sun). Worst of all, the skin on my forehead and face flakes off for up to several weeks afterwards. I suspect I am getting burnt to the core, as a result of fragile skin due to years of using cortisone creams for eczema. The only thing that helps is prevention, i.e., staying out of the sun, covering up and using loads of sun screen. But once the reaction kicks all is left is to wait out the reaction and wait several weeks for the skin to heal. In the past six months I've thrown out all of my prescription medication and had amazing results with a alkalizing diet and using natural remedies from Earthclinic for my other ailments, including GERD, High Blood Pressure, dust mite allergies and eczema. Apple Cider Vinegar is amazing! You might find the page on Photosensitivity (in the ailments section) useful. But I don't think my Sun Allergy is chemical related. And a solution to my Sun Allergy remains elusive. I hope others can offer some thoughts on this.... I am pretty desperate, being the father of two young kids, well, it's soul destroying not being able to enjoy the outdoors with them.Replied by Kay (In The Valley, Ca) on 07/31/2010
I know that people with auto-immune diseases usually have a sensitivity to the sun. Even though you may not test positive for lupus (at this time), there are other less severe forms of auto-immune disease. I would get tested when you are suffering from a reaction, because that is probably when your body is going to give you the most informative test results. Good luck.Replied by Brittany (Grove City, Oh, Usa) on 09/18/2011
I have PMLE (sun allergy as you guys have called it). I've had it since I was a young child (when I was in the sun more as I got a little older). I avoid the sun now which isn't a big deal usually for me since I'm a homebody. But if I am going to be in the sun I use high SPF sunscreen. It mostly affects my arms and hands but can affect my face, nose, ears, neck, legs, feet and chest if exposed. It's really frustrating. I have not found a cure, though I did go vegetarian for 2 years and the second summer I was veggie my PMLE never surfaced... I went veggie again not long ago and it didn't help so I don't know what I did that fixed it for that one summer... I wish I knew.Replied by Onyx (Doha, Qatar) on 02/29/2012
I used to suffer from something similar although not as severe. My cheeks would become inflamed and swollen when out in the sun, it happened nowhere else on my body but I'm also very prone to sunburn. I noticed after taking 2000-4000mg of vitimin C in a crystal form every day, after a week so my skin improved. Vitimin C was also great for my other allergies and sensitive skin.Replied by (Dallas, Tx) on 04/16/2012
I have Polymorphous Light Eruption (Sun Allergy) on my hands each spring or any time I'm in the sun for a while. This home remedy has worked like a charm: Mash half a banana to a paste, add 1 tsp honey (ideally organic) and mix well. Apply the paste over the affected area and let it air dry for 30 min before rinsing off with water (no soap). The rash usually clears up within a day or so.Replied by Rajat619 (Bangalore, India) on 05/04/2012
I am suffering from photosenstivity very smilar to ple (polymorphic light eruption) which I acquired due to my own lifestyle.... I had acne outbreak t around 18 yrs of age and to prevent hyperpigmentation from sunlight I started avoiding sun altogether... And now I develop hives sort of things on exposure to sun after a few hours... Topical application of green tea helps a bit though... Can u suggest any home treatment for my condition?Replied by Galgoneglutenfree (Allentown, Pa) on 05/13/2012
I have had bouts of polymorphous light reactions every Spring for more than 15 years which are limited to my hands. I'll try some of the tricks in the above comments this year, but usually my doctor puts me on a short course of steroid medication and it knocks it out or at least makes it more manageable for the remainder of the season.Replied by Eloise (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 08/05/2012
Hi, I have PMLE for 22 years now and I tested a lot of treatments in the past 10 years. The most effective treatment so far is a formulation with Alpha-glucosylrutin and Vitamin E that I formulate myself with a cosmetic chemist. I tested the lotion this summer in Cape Cod and it is working very well for me. From all the preventive PMLE treatments I've tried so far, it is the only solution that has reduced 90% of my symptoms and allowed me to fully enjoy my vacation for the first time since I was 12 years old.If you look at clinical research conclusion on Medscape website you will find 80% of people who have used a formulation like this have experienced a major improvement of their PMLE and most of them had no symptoms at all. I would strongly suggest you give this a try. Lotion is available in USA and Canada only. If you google "glucosylrutin lotion" you will easyly find it.
Good luck to you all in finding a treatment for PMLE!
Replied by Lisa (Portland, Or) on 09/13/2012
I have had a sun allergy since 1997, and sunscreens also burned my face. Someone suggested I try a 50 SPF for infants, and that has successfully alleviated the problem. Figure, if it's gentle enough for an infant, it probably will be gentle on your face. Hope you'll give it a try. Good Luck.Replied by Catherine (Ca, Usa) on 05/23/2014
I have suffered with PMLE for years but was only very recently diagnosed. My situation was explained to me like this: PMLE is an autoimmune intolerance to the cumulative damage to the cells of our dermal skin layer over years. It is usually triggered by allergies, which is why people usually break out in the spring. Plus, unless you live in CA, you don't spend as much time outside in the winter and even if you do, you're generally more covered up. Topically, apply a sunscreen that says "broad spectrum" or "UVB and UVA" and apply it every two hours and after swimming/sweating heavily. There's a pretty new product available by Rit, called Sun Guard, that's supposed to give clothing a SPF of 30 and last 20 washes; I haven't found it yet, so I'm ordering from Amazon. Topically, I've found that adding vitamin E oil to any lotion and sunscreen I use helps, as well as an herbal soak of sea salt, asking soda, and aloe vera water (diluted) helps immensely. I soak in it 20 minutes and the water beads on my skin; it's awesome!Replied by Cassidy (Edmonton, Ab, Canada) on 09/22/2014
I have been suffering from Polymorphous Light Eruption for about 15 years. It all started when I took a week trip to Hawaii. It first came on my chest, upper and lower arms and my hands. Since then, the rash comes every summer. I am looking for something to stop the itch and make the rash dissapear. I have tried all the creams, lotions etc and nothing seems to help me. As we all know, it is very embarrassing because people see it and think its some sort of contagious disease!Good luck to everyone in the same fight as me!
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