Imagine that it’s a beautiful summer day and you are headed out to the beach. You are enjoying the sunshine, swimming in the ocean, maybe even building a sand castle with your children. Now imagine two hours later, you begin to develop a rash. You’re thinking you have sunburn, but did you know that there are certain sun allergy rashes? If this sounds like you, you could be the 10 – 20% of the population that has a photosensitivity?

What is skin allergy rash? There are several types of skin allergies, and they all may look a little different. But a sun allergy in itself is a reaction of the immune system that occurs when skin is exposed to sunlight, and in extreme cases even fluorescent lighting. Sunlight causes small changes in the skin, and for some individuals a rash develops as the immune system tries to fight off these foreign changes. Medical experts aren’t sure why this occurs in some individuals and not others, but they believe it could be a passed down through heredity. Photosensitivity occurs in all races and ethnicities, but is more common in women and young children.

There are different types of sun rash, but the most common is Polymorphous Light Eruption or PMLE. This photosensitivity generally is dormant during the winter months and then emerges in the early spring, as individuals begin to stay outdoors more. The rash develops within two hours of being exposed to sunlight. Sometimes as the individual spends more and more time outside, they begin to build up a tolerance to the sunlight. This is called hardening and at this point the rash will begin to lessen or disappear. Polymorphic means that the rash can look different ways. For instance, on some individuals the skin allergy rash will be an itchy or burning red skin rash that emerges on the neck, arms, and legs and other exposed areas of the body. In severe cases raised red blotchy plateaus can form or bleeding underneath the skin can occur.

Treatment options for PMLE are fairly simple, and as with most allergic reaction most are geared towards prevention. Avoid sun exposure when the sun is most intense, this would be between 10am and 3pm; Stay indoors as much as possible during this time. When you are outside, wear protective clothing, long sleeves and long pants and a wide brim hat. And don’t forget to use sunscreen even on cloudy days. For dark skinned individuals an SPF of 15 or higher is recommended, for very fair skin, go with an SPF of 30 or above. Apply sun block 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply every two hours or after water activities. When the sun allergy rash does occur, use cold compresses or try lightly spraying the affected areas with cool water. You can also take an antihistamine and in severe cases your doctor can prescribe a corticosteroid. Your doctor can also prescribe phototherapy, which basically builds up your immune system by exposing your skin to ultraviolet light.

Remember that you can also get a rash due to other factors such as an allergic response to your sunscreen or a product you brought to the beach for your skin. Some people also get a reaction and a nickel allergy rash which can be from jewelry worn to the beach or having one’s cell phone against the face and ear in the sun.

A sun allergy rash does not mean that you cannot enjoy the outdoors. It just means that you have to be a little more cautious then other individuals. You can still live a fulfilling life, just make sure to take preventive measures and stay indoors when the sun’s rays are strongest. Always wear sunscreen and get any severe rashes or hives rash symptoms treated by a doctor.