Photodermatosis or sun allergy: treatment, causes, warning

An allergy to the sun ... Behind this phrase is quite an unpleasant disease, also called photodermatosis or photodermatitis. These terms are used to refer to the increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. It should be understood that the sun's rays alone can not cause allergies - they can only provoke its manifestation. The problem lies in substances that are found on the surface of the skin or in the general state of human health.

An allergy to the sun, the treatment of which can be quite long, manifests itself in the same way as most allergic diseases: skin itching and burning, redness and rash.

Rashes usually appear on open areas of the body. Rash with small-sized photodermatosis remotely resembling a nettle burn. On the skin, bubbles filled with liquid can also form. Solar allergy can make itself felt even in early spring, but more often it happens in the summer and sometimes at the most inopportune moment - the long-awaited vacation because of it is often spoiled.

There are several types of causes of photodermatosis: internal and external. The first, also called endogenous, include the administration of certain drugs (ibuprofen, tetracycline, sulfonamides, antidepressants, oral contraceptives, etc.), hormonal and immune disorders, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Photodermatosis usually accompanies porphyria - a serious hereditary disease, in which the pigment metabolism is disturbed. An allergy to the sun, the treatment of which should be complex, is more often manifested on the skin, in the recent past subjected to grinding, chemical peeling, depilation, tattooing. She is more exposed to people with blond hair and skin, small children, pregnant women.

External (exogenous) factors of the emergence of symptoms of solar allergy imply irritation of the skin with substances that are normally carried by the body calmly, but when exposed to them the rays of the bright sun have an aggressive effect. They can be contained, for example, in caring products, juice or pollen of plants. The most dangerous in terms of such reactions are cow-grass, buttercup, quinoa, clover, angelica officinalis and, oddly enough, edible and useful sorrel.

An allergy to the sun, which should be treated under the supervision of a doctor, is often provoked by the presence in the cosmetics of natural essential oils - for example, sandalwood or bergamot, amber or musk, as well as salicylic and boric acids.

Dangerous in this respect and means containing mercury: this toxic ingredient is still found in cheap whitening cosmetics (mainly - counterfeit). Solar allergy, the treatment of which involves the use of anti-inflammatory and soothing stimulants, can be triggered by excessive consumption of citrus fruits, as well as the ingestion of their juice on the skin.

Photodermatosis, like any disease, is easier to prevent than treat. First of all, avoid excessive sun exposure - especially for those with thin and sensitive skin. In the first days at the resort, use sunscreen. It is advisable not to take medications before the trip to rest, which can provoke photodermatitis.

Carefully study the makeup that you intend to take with you. These recommendations are particularly relevant to those who have at least once had an allergy to the sun. Treatment of repeated photodermatosis can be more prolonged and serious: often, in addition to using local remedies that soothe the skin, it is recommended to take enterosorbents, probiotics, antihistamines, and anti-inflammatory drugs - for example, indomethacin.