About Sun Rashes

Sun rashes are caused by exposure to the sun. This itchy, blotchy rash is also called solar dermatitis, and it affects mostly young women and children with sensitive skin. While a sun rash is not a sunburn, it can be painful and cause the same skin issues later in life that sunburn does. If you are prone to sun rashes, you need to understand exactly how to deal with this skin condition so that you do not spend all summer with itchy red blotches all over you.

Identification

• Sun rash occurs only in areas that have been exposed to sunlight. It is formed of small, reddish blisters that may be filled with a clear liquid. These blisters form in patches and are extremely itchy.

Function

• Sun rash occurs minutes to hours after exposure to the sun. It is an indication of your skin's sensitivity to solar light. Literally, sun rash is an allergic reaction. As a result, if you get sun rash once, you will probably get it repeatedly if you do not take steps to protect yourself from the sunlight, just as people with a peanut allergy have a reaction every time they eat peanuts.

Effects

• Sun rash does not usually have any serious effects other than notable, constant itching. However, scratching and breaking the blisters can lead to serious infections and open sores, so it is important to cover the sun rash and try to avoid scratching or otherwise irritating the affected area. In rare cases, sun rash may be accompanied by sun poisoning, so if you do not usually get sun rash but have developed it anyway and are feeling nauseous, dizzy or weak, you may need to consult your doctor.

Misconceptions

• Many people think that you only get sun rash if you engage in serious overexposure to sunlight. In fact, sun rash is an allergic reaction to the sun, and it has very little to do with the length of time that you are exposed to the sun. If you are prone to sun rash, you can get it just as easily from being in direct sun for five minutes as from laying out all day, though your symptoms may be more severe in the latter case.

Features

• Young women and children are the most susceptible to sun rash. Also, people with fair skin and red hair are prone to getting this skin inflammation. While sun rash is an allergic reaction, many people eventually outgrow it in their forties and fifties.

Prevention/Solution

• There is little that can be done to treat sun rash. The best way to deal with it is to prevent it. If you must be in the sun, wear a high SPF sunscreen that will not wash or wear off. Also, wear a hat to protect your face and avoid the sun completely during midday and early afternoon. If you do get sun rash, consult your doctor about the best way to alleviate the pain and itching. Doctors may recommend cool baths or aloe vera gel.

Warning

• Drugs and medications that induce sun sensitivity can also cause sun rash. If you are taking this type of medication, then you must protect yourself thoroughly from the sun. If you do not, sun rash will be the least of your problems as many of these drugs make you so sensitive that extensive sun exposure can cause serious burns.