Photosensitivity

What is Photosensitivity ?
A sun allergy is an immune-system reaction to sunlight, most often, an itchy red rash. The most common locations include the "v" of the neck, the back of the hands, the outside surface of the arms and the lower legs. In rare cases, the skin reaction may be more severe, producing hives or small blisters that may even spread to skin in clothed areas.

Causes of Photosensitivity
Sun allergies are triggered by changes that occur in sun-exposed skin. It is not clear why the body develops this reaction. However, the immune system recognizes some components of the sun-altered skin as "foreign," and the body activates its immune defenses against them. This produces an allergic reaction that takes the form of a rash, tiny blisters or (rarely) some other type of skin eruption.

Symptoms of Photosensitivity
Symptoms vary, depending on the specific type of sun allergy:

PMLE — PMLE typically produces an itchy or burning rash within the first two hours after sun exposure. The rash usually appears on sun-exposed portions of the neck, upper chest, arms and lower legs.
Actinic prurigo (hereditary PMLE) — Symptoms are similar to those of PMLE, but they usually are concentrated on the face, especially around the lips.
Photoallergic eruption — This usually causes either an itchy red rash or tiny blisters. In some cases, the skin eruption also spreads to skin that was covered by clothing. Because photoallergic eruption is a form of delayed hypersensitivity reaction, skin symptoms may not begin until one to two days after sun exposure.
Solar urticaria — Hives usually appear on uncovered skin within minutes of exposure to sunlight.

Diagnosis of Photosensitivity
If you have mild symptoms of PMLE, you may be able to diagnose the problem yourself by asking yourself the following questions:

Do I have an itchy rash that occurs only on sun-exposed skin?

Does my rash always begin within two hours of sun exposure?

Do my symptoms first appear during the early spring, and then gradually become less severe (or disappear) within the following few days or weeks?

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