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Allergies are never fun. They can be inconvenient or painful, and oftentimes, they can prohibit you from enjoying some of the most simple pleasures in life — think petting dogs or eating chocolate chip cookies. Luckily, we have progressed (somewhat) as a society to find some workarounds for many of them. If you're allergic to a food item, for instance, while it may be annoying to miss out on some delicious dishes, you eventually learn to deal or find a substitute for it. But what happens when you're allergic to something unavoidable, like the sun?
Yes, you can, in fact, be allergic to the sun: it's called solar urticaria. But before you panic about the possibility of never going for hikes or hitting the pool, know that the allergy is fairly uncommon. According to the Cleveland Clinic, only about 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population is affected by this type of allergy.
As always, it's best to understand what a sun allergy actually is in order to be prepared. Read on more info on the rare allergy, how to know if you have it, and how to treat it.
- Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City.
- Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at the Shafer Clinic in New York City.
- Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist at NYU Langone Health in New York City with the Allergy & Asthma Network.
How can you be allergic to the sun?
Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist with the Allergy & Asthma Network tells Allure that a sun allergy is a group of itchy rashes that can occur in response to the sun by your immune system. Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at the Shafer Clinic in New York City, adds that this happens as a result of the immune system treating the sun-altered skin as foreign cells, which then leads to bodily reactions.
There are many different types of sun allergies, according to Dr. Parikh. She lists photoallergic rashes, solar urticaria, and actinic prurigo. Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City, adds that a sun allergy can also refer to a skin reaction that develops when it is exposed to the sun. It is a condition formally known as polymorphous light eruption (PMLE), which is the most common type of sun allergy that affects 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population, which Dr. Garshick says can result in a rash or hives.
A sun allergy can happen to anyone. Dr. Engelman says that the condition can be hereditary, or a reaction can be triggered by medication, pre-existing medical conditions, or other skin conditions. She adds that sun allergies do tend to occur more prominently in women than men and start to develop in their teens and twenties. While those with lighter skin tones are usually more sensitive to sun exposure and more likely prone to get sun allergies, Dr. Garshick says it can still affect those with a darker skin tone as well.
But that doesn't mean that all hope is lost. Unlike some allergies, being allergic to the sun doesn't mean you have to completely avoid the trigger. Dr. Garshick and Dr. Engelman both say it's still possible to still enjoy the outdoors with a sun allergy.
How do you know if you're allergic to the sun?
There are a couple of ways to tell if you have a sun allergy. Dr. Engelman says that if your skin becomes red, itchy, or painful after being exposed to sunlight, that's generally a sign you may be allergic. While this might sound similar to sunburn, other telltale signs that can help you decipher if it's actually an allergic reaction include bumps, blisters, or hives. She says this typically happens within minutes to hours after sun exposure ends and that these symptoms normally occur around the neck, back of the hands, arms, and legs.
Dr. Grashick agrees and adds that it may even take several days for the reaction to appear. To be 100 percent sure that you do in fact have a sun allergy, it's best to go to a dermatologist or an allergist for an official sunlight allergy diagnosis.
How can you prevent and treat reactions?
One of the best — and most obvious — ways to prevent a sun allergy, says Dr. Garshick, is to protect the skin from the sun when you're outside. This can include seeking shade as much as you can, wearing ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) clothing, and wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day.
She recommends sunscreens like EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 or Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50. can you make these product tiles? She also notes that some doctors may recommend a supplement like Heliocare or polypodium leucotomos to individuals with a sun allergy history to help provide extra protection.
Dr. Parikh also recommends avoiding being outdoors during peak sunlight hours, which is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the day. Peak sunlight hours, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are when the sun's harmful UV rays are the strongest.
When it comes to treating an allergy that's already occurred, Dr. Garshick says that treatments will differ depending on the severity of the sun allergy. If your reaction is mild, she says you can simply avoid the sun for a few days and the reaction should clear up in a few days.
For more severe reactions, she says that over-the-counter creams with corticosteroids are useful or a topical or oral prescription may be needed to help calm inflammation, redness, and itching. If there are sun allergy hives, she suggests taking an antihistamine to help.
Dr. Engelman warns that some medications can make sun burn skin more quickly and should be avoided if you're prone to sun allergies. She lists a number of antibiotics like tetracycline, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, or levofloxacin, antifungals, sulfa-based drugs, and pain relievers as some of the medications to be wary of when exposing your skin to the sun. She adds that other skin conditions can also increase your risk or worse an already existing sun allergy.
In some cases, Dr. Engelman says you can make sun exposure work in your favor. "Desensitization can also be used as a long-term treatment for sun allergies," she says. "This involves treating the skin with UV light exposure, called phototherapy, to try to desensitize the skin."
This is done by gradually increasing the amount of time you spend outdoors, which will allow the skin to slowly adapt to the sunlight and eventually stop a sun allergy from developing. If you do have a diagnosed allergy to sunlight, consult your doctor first and see if this treatment is right for you.
Is it OK to go outside if you're allergic?
Don't worry, a sun allergy is not the end of all your beach days or outdoor adventures. You can still go outside! Dr. Garshick says you just need to make sure your skin is properly protected.
As with anything, it's always best to speak with a dermatologist regarding treatment plan or changes involving your skin. Check in with a trusted professional to see what's best for you if you suspect that you have a sun allergy.
Read more about sun protection:
- The 29 Very Best Sunscreens to Protect Your Complexion All Year Long
- 15 Sunscreens for Your Body That'll Provide SPF Protection Without Breakouts
- 13 Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin That Dermatologists and Allure Staffers Love
Now, watch Hailey Rhode Bieber's beauty commandments:
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