Professor Christophe Bedane takes stock of sun allergy.
- Sun allergy develops under the influence of UV rays (UVA and UVB).
- After exposure to the rays, it manifests itself in red patches that are sometimes urticarial and responsible for intense itching.
- Sun allergy mainly affects young women and fair skin types.
As temperatures become milder and milder, Professor Christophe Bedane, dermatologist and member of the French Society of Photodermatology (SFPD)summarizes everything you need to know about sun allergy.
Sun allergy: what are the symptoms?
“Sun allergy develops under the influence of UV rays (UVA and UVB)”, begins the specialist.
The most common sun allergy is “benign summer lucite (BLE)”. “After exposure to the rays, it manifests itself in red patches that are sometimes urticarial and responsible for intense itching,” describes Christophe Bedane. “It is localized in areas not usually exposed such as the décolleté. Generally, the rash appears after the first exposures within 12 to 24 hours. It will then slowly regress and recur every year,” he specifies.
Benign summer lucite mainly affects young women and fair skin types. “A genetic predisposition is also suspected, because there are familial forms. adds the dermatologist.
Besides benign summer lucite, there are other less common types of lucite: “polymorphic lucite”, “solar urticaria” and the “juvenile spring photodermatosis”.
Sun allergy: what are the treatments?
How can sun allergies be relieved? Christophe Bedane draws up the following list:
– apply an anti-pruritus treatment several times during the day;
– use cold water compresses or ice packs to soothe itching;
– in the case of a very severe and disabling allergy, a prescription for antihistamines or anti-inflammatories may be necessary;
– benign summer light bulb can be reduced by UV sessions carried out under dermatological control in the weeks preceding the first exposures.
Sun allergy: what about prevention?
How to protect yourself from sun allergies? “You should avoid exposing yourself to the hottest hours of the day (between 11 and 4 p.m.) and seek shade as soon as possible. You should also cover yourself with light, breathable clothing,” advises the specialist.
“I also invite you to favor progressive exposure to the sun, starting with short periods then increasingly longer, starting with the first rays of spring”, underlines Christophe Bedane. Finally, he recommends “always use anti-UV protection (SPF 50)”, remembering that “the application of sunscreen should be renewed every 2 hours if exposure is prolonged”.