Allergy to the sun??

Not exactly...but some patients sure think they do! These patients (or parents of patients) come to me complaining that direct sun exposure (sometimes even on cloudy days!) results in an itchy rash on sun-exposed areas after about an hour or so. Fine, small bumps, dry patches or even blisters appear that are INCREDIBLY itchy. This is believed to be due to ultraviolet rays of the sun penetrating the skin causing as yet unidentified proteins or sugars into itch-producing chemicals. Patients suffer and itch for days before it calms down. Sometimes sun block will help prevent this, but not always. Steroid-containing creams or ointments help somewhat, but they, too, are hit or miss. Usually as the summer progresses, the skin "gets used" (so-called "hardens") to the sun, only to have it return again the next spring. As this often involves pre-school or school-aged children (boys more than girls), the informal term for this is "Juvenile Springtime Eruption". A more accurate term is Polymorphous Light Eruption. Examination combined with an accurate history make the diagnosis; see an allergist to rule out contact or food allergy.