Sun Allergy Relief- Symptoms, Causes and Treatment for Sun Allergy

What is sun allergy?
Sun allergy or photosensitivity is a reaction of the immune system to sunlight. The sun-exposed parts of the skin like the V of the neck, back of the hands, the outer surface of the arms and the lower legs erupt into a red, itchy rash. Severe sun allergy may cause hives or small blisters that may even spread to skin in clothed areas.


The reason for sun allergy has not yet been found. Some scientists attribute it to changes in the skin after exposure to sunrays. The immune system reacts to these changes in the skin by activating immune defenses against them. A few of the most common types of sun allergy are:

  • PolyMorphous Light Eruption (PMLE)
  • Actinic prurigo (hereditary PMLE)
  • Photo allergic eruption
  • Solar urticaria

How can sun allergy be treated?
If you have a sun allergy, your treatment should always start with prevention strategies before going out in the sun, like:

  • Applying a sunscreen lotion that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above, with a broad spectrum of protection against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays.
  • Use a sun block on your lips with an SPF of 20 or more.
  • Limit your time outdoors when the sun is at its peak (11am to 3pm)
  • Wear sunglasses with ultraviolet light protection.
  • Wear long pants, a shirt with long sleeves and a hat with a wide brim.
Allopathic treatments for sun allergy

If you have a mild rash, then apply ice compresses to the areas of itchy rash, or mist your skin with sprays of cool water.
You can also try an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (taken orally) to relieve itching, or an anti-itch skin cream containing Corticosteroid (Betametasone 0.1%) or zinc oxide, which eases the pain, redness, and itching.


Natural remedy for sun allergy
These are nontoxic treatments for sun allergies that come in handy especially when allopathic remedies augment the sun allergy. A natural remedy is also used in extreme cases where long-term treatment becomes a necessity. Some of these treatments for sun allergy are so simple, that the natural remedy can be prepared right in the house.


Home remedy for sun allergy relief
Home remedies include substances like baking soda, milk and oatmeal that are common food items. They can be used to treat sun allergy in the following ways –

  • Baking soda – Add one cup of baking soda to a tub full of luke warm water, and submerge your body in the tub for as long as you wish. Make sure that all affected areas due to sun allergy are in contact with the water. You can also splash the water on your face if it has been affected.
  • Milk – Milk contains a lot of fats that have a soothing effect on sunburned skin. For best results, soak a soft, clean cloth in fresh milk and dab it on the areas affected due to sun allergy.
  • Oatmeal – Oatmeal is a natural product for reducing itching from irritated, inflamed skin due to sun allergy. It rehydrates dry and cracking skin and is also used in conditions such as eczema.

Skin soothing herbal remedy with aloe vera
This is an herbal mixture that can be prepared at home with the following ingredients:

  • Oil from vitamin E capsules
  • A teaspoon each of apple cider vinegar and lavender oil
  • One-third cup of aloe vera gel

Aloe vera has an immediate cooling and calming effect on the skin. It also forms a layer over the skin that protects it from sun radiations. Hence, it seals the moisture, preventing dehydration, which in turn promotes faster healing.


St. John’s Wort
This is an effective herb used in the treatment of sun allergy. To prepare the medication at home, dilute an extract from St. John’s Wort with nine parts water and pat directly onto the burned skin. This cools the skin by releasing the heat trapped in its layers. Also, it soothes the nerve endings the sunburn has damaged.


PUVA therapy
Psoralen (P) and long-wave UltraViolet Radiation (UVA) therapy is a combination of herbal and long-wave ultraviolet radiation therapy. The patient is asked to ingest Psoralen, an extract from a Chinese herb (bu gu zhi) after which he is exposed to long-wave ultraviolet radiation. Psoralen enables UltraViolet Radiation (UVA) to slow down cell division in the skin, which helps to clear drug induced allergic conditions of the skin like psoriasis. Also, PUVA therapy helps to slow down the skin growth and improves the skin. However, it should be done with care as some patients may develop adverse reactions like headache, nausea and rarely, squamous cell skin cancer.


In our allergy section, we have discussed another common allergy – mold allergy and various ways to treat it.