Polymorphous light eruption

Description

Polymorphous light eruption is a rash caused by sun exposure in people who are sensitive to sunlight. Polymorphous means that the rash can take many forms, such as small bumps, raised areas or blisters. The condition is also called sun allergy, allergy solar and polymorphic light eruption.

The reaction generally occurs during the spring and early summer, when exposure to sunlight increases. It is less likely to be repeated as the summer progresses. But the rash often it happens again every year after the first time. If you are going to develop this sensitivity, in the first instance, it is likely that in your teens or 20 years.

Polymorphous light eruption usually disappears spontaneously without scarring within 10 days. People with severe or persistent rashes may need medication.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the rash in polymorphous light eruption may include:

  • Dense clusters of small bumps and blisters.
  • Inflamed, raised rough.
  • Itching or burning.

People rarely can have other symptoms, such as fever and chills.

In the polymorphous light eruption, the eruption refers to the rash, which usually appears from 30 minutes to several hours after exposure to the sun. The rash usually appears on areas of the body that are covered during the winter, but exposed in summer, such as the upper part of the chest, the front of the neck and the arms.

When to see a doctor

Consult your health care professional if you have any skin rash with no obvious cause, such as a known allergy or recent contact with poison ivy.

Polymorphous light eruption rashes look similar to those caused by other diseases, some of which are serious. So it is important to get a timely diagnosis and treatment.

Seek medical attention right away if your rash:

  • Is widespread.
  • It is painful.
  • Comes with a fever.

Causes

The exact cause of the polymorphous light eruption has not understood. The rash appears in people who have developed sensitivity to sunlight, especially ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun or from other sources, such as tanning beds. This is called photosensitivity. This leads to immune system activity that causes a rash.

UV radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a wavelength of sunlight in a range too short for the human eye can see. The UV light that reaches the earth is divided into two wavelength bands of ultraviolet a (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB).

A person with photosensitivity can react to both types of UV radiation. Ultraviolet B (UVB) does not penetrate the glass. Ultraviolet a (UVA) do not. Exposure to sunlight through windows or even sunscreen-protected skin can cause a reaction in some peopleand with photosensitivity.

Photosensitivity

With the polymorphous light eruption, sensitivity to sunlight decreases with repeated exposure. Features of polymorphous light eruption are somewhat predictable:

  • An episode is more likely to occur after the first one or two times exposure to the sun after a long period of absence of exposure, as in the spring or early summer.
  • The episodes are less likely to occur as the summer progresses.
  • After the first episode, it is likely that occur each year. Some people gradually become less sensitive over a period of several years and eventually, you will no longer experience the annual gala of the eruption.

Risk factors

Any person can develop, polymorphous light eruption, but several factors can increase your risk of the disease:

  • The fact of being a woman.
  • Skin burns easily.
  • Living in the regions of the north.
  • Having a family history of the disease.

Polymorphous light eruption

Diagnosis

Your health care professional that probably you can make a diagnosis of polymorphous light eruption based on a physical exam and your answers to the searchof the ions. You may be subjected to laboratory tests to confirm a diagnosis or rule out other conditions. Tests may include:

  • Skin biopsy. You may need a biopsy of the rash. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab.
  • Blood tests. A member of your care team draws blood for testing in a lab.
  • Phototesting. A specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist) exposed to small areas of the skin to measure amounts of ultraviolet a (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) to try to reproduce the problem. If your skin reacts to ultraviolet radiation (UV), it is considered that you are sensitive to sunlight (photosensitive), and there may be polymorphous light eruption or other light-induced disorder.

Other induced by the light of the conditions of

Your health care professional might need to rule out other disorders that are characterized by light-induced reactions of the skin. These conditions include:

  • Chemical photosensitivity. A number of chemicals, drugs, medicated lotions, fragrances, plant products — can induce photosensitivity. When this occurs, the skin reacts each time that it is exposed to sunlight after the ingestion or contact with a particular chemical.
  • Urticaria Solar. Urticaria Solar is a sun-induced allergic reaction that causes hives — raised, swollen, itchy welts that appear and disappear in the skin. The hives may appear within a few minutes of exposure to the sun and last for a couple of minutes to hours. Solar urticaria is a chronic condition that can last for years.
  • Lupus rash. Lupus is an inflammatory disorder that affects a number of body systems. A symptom is the appearance of bumpy rash on skin exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neck or upper chest.

Treatment

The treatment of polymorphous light eruption is often not necessarydue to the rash usually goes away on its own within 10 days. If your symptoms are severe, your healthcare provider may prescribe anti-itch medicine (a corticosteroid cream or tablet).

Phototherapy

Your health care professional may suggest that phototherapy to prevent the season episodes of polymorphous light eruption if you have disabling symptoms. This exposes the skin to small doses of UVA or UVB light that helps the skin to be less sensitive to light. Mimics the increase of the exposure that I was going to experience during the summer.

Self-care

Try these self-care measures to help relieve your symptoms:

  • Apply anti-itch cream. Try over-the-counter anti-itch cream, which can include products that contain at least 1% hydrocortisone.
  • Take antihistamines. If itching is a problem, orthe antihistamines can help.
  • The use of cold compresses. Apply a towel moistened with cold tap water to the affected skin. Or take a cold water bath.
  • Leave blisters alone. To speed up the healing and prevent infection, to leave blisters intact. If needed, you can lightly cover the blisters with gauze.
  • Take a pain reliever. Over-the-counter pain medication can help reduce the inflammation and pain.
  • Protect the eruption of greater exposure to the sun. When you go outside, cover the area where the rash developed.

To reduce the likelihood of recurrence of episodes of polymorphous light eruption, take the following precautions:

  • Avoid the sun between 10 am and 2 pm Because the sun's rays are most intense during this time, try to schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day.
  • The use of sunscreen. Fifteen minutes before going outdoors, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides protection against UVA and UVB rays. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours or more often if you're swimming or perspiring. If you are using a spray sunscreen, make sure you cover the entire area completely.
  • The cover-up.For protection from the sun, wear tightly woven clothing that covers the arms and legs. Consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat, which provides more protection than a baseball cap or visor. Consider the use of clothing designed to provide protection against the sun. Look for clothes labeled with a ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 40 to 50. Follow the instructions on the care label of UV-blocking clothes to maintain its function of protection.

The cover-up. For protection from the sun, wear tightly woven clothing that covers the arms and legs. Consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat, which provides more protection than a baseball cap or visor.

Consider the use of clothing designed to provide protection against the sun. Look for clothes labeled with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 40 to 50. Follow the instructions on the care label of UV-blocking clothes to maintain its function of protection.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary care physician. You may be referred to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist).

Here is some information for help to prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time of making the appointment, ask if you need to do anything in advance.
  • List of the symptoms that you are experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • The list of personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • List of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking, including dosage.
  • List of questions to ask your healthhcare team.

For polymorphous light eruption, some basic questions to ask your health care team include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need? Does not require special preparation?
  • Is this condition temporary or long-term?
  • It is possible that this condition is associated with a more severe disease?
  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
  • What side effects can I expect from treatment?
  • I need to follow any kind of restrictions?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
  • Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care team will ask a series of questions about your symptoms and your medical history, such as:

  • When did the rash appear?
  • What cause itching or pain?
  • Have you had a fever associated with rash?
  • Do you have any other symptom?
  • Did you recently start a new medication?
  • We have recently used a cosmetic or fragrance in the area of the rash?
  • Has had a rash like this before? When?
  • You have the duration of their exposure to sunlight has increased recently?
  • We have recently used a tanning bed or lamp?
  • Do you use sunscreen?

What you can do in the meantime

Avoid sun exposure whenever possible. If you can't avoid the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 in areas that cannot be protected by clothing. Apply generously 15 minutes before sun exposure. Re-apply every two hours or more often if you're swimming or perspiring. This does not fully protect against a reaction, such as the ultraviolet radiation can penetrate through most of the sunscreens.

Symptoms and treatment of Polymorphous light eruption