Allergy to tanning. What diseases can be caused by sun rays | Healthy Life

Why do some people get a beautiful tan in the sun, while others get itchy blisters and a red rash? Ultraviolet radiation can cause various allergic reactions; they must be distinguished in order to properly treat the disease.

How do solar urticaria and photodermatoses occur and how to treat them? Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases named after V. A. Rakhmanova Sechenov University, PhD (Great Britain) Elena Borzova .

From blisters to shock

Yulia Borta, AiF.ru: Elena Yuryevna, how does solar urticaria appear?

Elena Borzova : Solar urticaria occurs quite quickly, often less than 5 minutes after exposure of the skin to solar radiation. Much less often - within 20 minutes. For example, people with increased sensitivity to solar radiation (photosensitivity) may experience solar urticaria after just a few minutes in the open sun. Itchy blisters appear on the skin. However, solar urticaria resolves quickly, after 15-30 minutes, up to a maximum of 1 hour. But, once it appears, solar urticaria can occur again. Patients with solar urticaria should go out into the open sun, for example, go on a picnic, and an immediate reaction occurs. Mostly solar urticaria occurs on exposed areas of the body. And since solar urticaria is possible as a reaction to various ranges of ultraviolet radiation, in the summer sometimes thin clothing also does not protect against the occurrence of itchy blisters. It is possible for ultraviolet rays to penetrate through window glass indoors or through car windows.

Sometimes there are more severe symptoms: headache, rapid heartbeat, general deterioration in health up to fainting, and in the most severe cases anaphylactic shock is possible. Therefore, such patients should be promptly examined and diagnosed by specialists.

Solar urticaria can occur over a long period of time, chronically. For some, rashes predominate in the spring and summer, while for others they may occur throughout the year. But they are always caused by ultraviolet radiation. In some patients, the disease may resolve on its own, i.e., spontaneous remission is observed.

Scorched by the sun. Nine rules for walking with your child in the summer Read more

— How to distinguish solar urticaria from a sunburn or other types of allergies to sunlight?

— There are various photodermatoses - diseases with skin damage that occur under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. For example, photoallergic contact dermatitis is an inflammatory process of the skin that occurs at sites of combined exposure to a drug or cosmetic product and ultraviolet radiation in individuals with hypersensitivity to these drugs. Unlike solar urticaria, photoallergic contact dermatitis usually occurs over a more delayed period, several hours after intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation. And it takes much longer. A detailed differential diagnosis requires specialist consultation and further examination, including phototesting.

—Who is more likely to have reactions to solar radiation?

- People most often get sick between the ages of 20 and 40. The risk is higher if relatives have had similar reactions to solar radiation or if they are taking certain medications. Overall, this is an understudied area.

— What happens to the body during solar urticaria? Why does this reaction to the sun occur?

— It is assumed that under the influence of solar radiation the structure of some proteins in the skin changes and they become photoallergens. The altered proteins can cause the production of immunoglobulins E, which are found on the surface of mast cells in the skin. As a result of this activation of mast cells, they begin to release histamine and other mediators, which cause the formation of an itchy blister on the skin.

Signal of pathology. The doctor talks about the dangers behind “sun allergy” Read more

A little about sea water and salt

Sea water and salt have a beneficial effect on human skin and treat diseases of the respiratory system, musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and gastrointestinal tract. Sea water has a beneficial effect on skin diseases; it heals scratches and deep wounds. Sea water is 92-95% identical in composition to blood plasma, and salt contains many useful elements and is more suitable for us than ordinary table salt. Sea salt is used to treat many diseases; it is added to medicinal baths. Salt water is suitable for compresses, hand and foot baths, it is used to make lotions, applications, inhalations and is included in natural cosmetics, both on an industrial scale and at home.

After swimming in the sea or estuary, the salt dries and remains on the skin. It turns into a million magnifying crystals that attract ultraviolet rays. Therefore, after such water procedures, a shower with fresh water is simply necessary. If there are a large crowd of people on the beach and stray dogs are running around, then people with sensitive skin can get acne from contaminated sand and sea water. If there are many ships in the roadstead, then they also pollute the water, since they wash away all the “excess ballast” into the sea. Most of the dirty water from washing ships soon reaches the shore.

You can quickly remove or prevent acne by rubbing it with the following: add vodka to water in a ratio of 2:1, 20 drops of iodine and 2-3 tbsp. l. sea salt, provided that there are no burns on the skin. It turned out to be an excellent disinfecting body scrub. All that remains is to scrub the skin with a scrub using a hard brush on a natural basis. We do not wash off the product, but wipe the body with a soft towel. You can wash yourself with warm fresh water from the shower only in the morning after swimming in the sea.

Sea water contains a lot of debris and microorganisms that adversely affect the quality of the skin. And ultraviolet rays with prolonged exposure reduce the immunity of the skin, which loses its ability to withstand the negative influence of external factors. These conditions lead to the formation of acne and other dermatological problems.

When are oranges dangerous?

— I heard that some cosmetics, perfumes, and medications can also provoke reactions to solar radiation.

— Cosmetics and medications can trigger photoallergic contact dermatitis. The most common allergic reactions occur to sunscreens and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It can be triggered by a number of drugs in cardiology, for the treatment of diabetes, some diuretics, antibiotics, especially doxycycline, tetracycline, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, some oral contraceptives and even some antihistamines. In addition, perfumes based on musk and essential oils, for example, bergamot, orange. Therefore, it is recommended not to use perfume if you plan to sunbathe or visit the beach.

- How so? Sunscreens are designed to protect against the sun, but can cause problems when tanning.

“Some of them really can.” After all, such products are a composition of many ingredients, some of which cause reactions in people with hypersensitivity to these components. Therefore, it is important, if a reaction to photoprotective agents occurs, to consult a specialist, rule out contact dermatitis and choose a safe drug.

By the way, some vegetables and fruits and plants can also cause photoallergic reactions. These are angelica, hogweed, and products include celery, parsley, fennel, figs, and some citrus fruits. Moreover, in people with high sensitivity, even touching the face can cause a reaction if trace amounts remain on the fingertips after contact with, say, celery or parsley.

Photosensitivity can be accompanied by some diseases, such as lupus erythematosus, porphyria and pellagra.

— Is solar urticaria possible in our mid-latitudes or does it only appear in southern resorts?

— Solar urticaria is a rare variant of urticaria, provoked by ultraviolet radiation of various ranges: ultraviolet rays of the A and B spectrum, as well as the visible spectrum. Of course, it is also possible in mid-latitudes. A study was conducted in Scotland that showed that even in northern latitudes the disease, although rare, does occur.

I went to Thailand and brought back cancer? Oncologist about the dangers of the sun and myths about melanoma Read more

Protective factor: which one to choose?

This is the name given to the degree of gradual increase in time spent under ultraviolet rays before a reaction appears - hyperemia or red skin. An index of 15 SPF on a protective product will mean that after applying it you can be exposed to the rays 15 times longer than without the protective product.

If you buy an American product that says “made in USA,” then it is important to know that American manufacturers take other standards for the protective factor that are 1/3 higher than those adopted by Europeans. In practice, we have been convinced that milk of American origin with a protective factor of 15 corresponds to a product from Europe with a protection factor of 10.

Tanning oils only partially protect the skin. They are more suitable for low-problem epidermis that quickly tans. Tropical oils do not have sunscreen filters, so the beautiful packaging may hide ordinary oil, which in bright sunshine should not be used at all by children and white-skinned people.

Jelly, which also does not contain fatty or emulsifying additives, can protect against acne minora in the form of small, itchy redness with pustules. Along with tanning jelly, you should use preparations that do not contain emulsifiers or fatty additives.

Sand and sea water increase the impact of ultraviolet rays. Therefore, unpleasant consequences and acne breakouts can occur even in cloudy weather. When choosing a sunscreen, pay attention to the SPF level, take into account your skin type and the expected time of exposure to the sun.

Selfie for the doctor

— How are solar urticaria and photodermatoses treated?

— If symptoms occur, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible for differential diagnosis. To confirm solar urticaria and other photodermatoses, phototesting is mandatory. Phototesting is used to determine the range of solar radiation that causes the disease. For photoallergic contact dermatitis, photopatch tests are used with drugs that are suspected of causing this reaction.

Many patients come to an allergist-immunologist or dermatologist when they return from vacation, several weeks after the occurrence of an allergic reaction. In such a situation, it is quite difficult to interpret the symptoms. Therefore, it is advisable to photograph changes in the skin if they occur while relaxing on the beach and contact a specialist in a timely manner.

Treatment also has fundamental differences. For urticaria, use non-sedating antihistamines; for chronic cases, more specialized approaches are possible. Phototherapy is successfully carried out in our clinic; it is an effective method and involves exposure to increasing doses of ultraviolet radiation to develop tolerance. With solar urticaria, severe variants are also possible, including systemic reactions of the body, which may require emergency care. In the case of photoallergic contact dermatitis, it is necessary to exclude the culprit photoallergen, and topical glucocorticosteroids and other drugs are used.

Useful video

Watch the video about acne from SPF creams:

Sun safety rules

Try not to sunbathe during the most active solar radiation, from 10-11 to 16 hours.
Before going to the beach, it is advisable not to use deodorants, creams, or perfumes.
Be sure to use sunscreens with a high protection factor.
Before sunbathing, avoid foods that may cause photoallergic reactions.
If possible, wear clothing that protects from active solar radiation. If a person is confirmed to have solar urticaria, they are advised to avoid exposure to sunlight and wear clothing and hats that protect from sunlight.
If skin manifestations occur, contact a specialist.