PMLE- Polymorphous Light Eruption (sun allergy)

I just wondered if anyone else out there suffered from PMLE? Polymorphous Light Eruption is an allergy to UV rays, where suffererers are extremely sensitive to the sun. It effects most people on their hands,arms, legs and chest and a bumpy red itchy rash forms about 2 days after exposure. On me it looks like chickenpox, raised red bumps that look like blisters. It takes weeks for these to go down and stop itching.

I live in the UK where the climate is quite mild- we are experiencing a heatwave at the moment and I'm covered in this rash- it's driving me crazy and there's not much you can do but keep covered and use the highest factor sunblock and steroid cream.

Any other sufferers out there? Any tips?

Hi - not a sufferer myself, but my daughter has a mild form - every year after her first major sun exposure she'll break out pretty bad, it's inevitable.  Even wearing an 80 spf doesn't help.    But after the first couple of exposures, she's over it for the year. 

The only tip I have is that taking a double dose of Bendryl before exposure and after seems to help a little bit. 

I don't have PMLE, but I do have Solar Urticaria, which means I can be out in sun for maybe 15 minutes before I break out into a red itchy rash that takes about 2 hours to fade.  There is no lasting effect or damage, but it is quite annoying.

Sunscreen does nothing to help...I have seriously tried SPF 100 with no luck.

As I become more accustomed to the sun during the summer season my symptoms get better, so I can't pretend to know what you're going through, but you're not the only one that tends to fear sunny days.

Other than covering up and investing in some awesome summer hats, I'd reccomend getting some self tanner or lotion that give you a "sun-kissed glow" so when your rash does go away you can fake the whole "I just spent a day at the beach" look.

I hope you can find someone else who can relate a bit more!

Speaking of benadryl, be careful.  Some people who take antihystamines (sp?) can have increased sensitivity to the sun.  I, for one, have prolonged symtpoms when I take it.

I do take antihisthamines to control the itching, but I am careful because I know they can have the opposite effect.

I suppose the flipside is I love being pale, rocking the dita look! Plus the higher the spf the younger my skin will look in the long term- I get mistaken for a 19 year old when I'm nearly 26 :o)