Sun Poisoning Rash
If you're experiencing red, itchy or painful skin following sun exposure, you may be experiencing a sun poisoning rash. Sun poisoning is a severe form of sunburn, while the rash that sometimes follows is an allergic reaction to the sun known as photo dermatitis.
Symptoms of a Sun Poisoning Rash
Like sun poisoning, the rash that may accompany it is actually a type of severe sunburn. Unlike traditional sunburn, which can be characterized by red, swollen, hot and painful skin that will later blister or peel, the rash that accompanies sun poisoning has its own characteristics.
- Small, red itchy bumps on the skin
- Blisters
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Dizziness
All or some of these symptoms may be present, depending on the severity of the rash. Some rashes may appear to look more like traditional sunburn, while others will have raised bumps. People with fair skin are more likely to experience the rash than others.
What Causes the Rash
Like sunburn and sun poisoning, the rash is caused by exposure to the sun. It is an allergic reaction to the sun's ultraviolet rays, the same rays which produce the skin damage of sunburn.
Depending on your sensitivity levels and whether you have experienced sun poisoning in the past, the rash may appear after as little as 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. Some drugs, which heighten the skin's sensitivity to UV rays may increase the chances of developing a rash after sun exposure. Experiencing sun exposure in elevated areas may also increase the chances of your developing the rash.
People often get a rash when on certain medications that cause photosensitivity and mistake that for sun poisoning. Often a rash or severe burn excacerbated by the medication can happen and all those same symptoms occur. Medical evaluation is the best choice to get the proper treatment. People often interchange the terms thinking that photosensitivity and sun poisoning are the same thing.
Treating the Rash
There is no one treatment that is used to counteract or remove the rash. There are, however, several things you can do to help alleviate the pain and itching and speed recovery.
- Take cool showers to lower the body's temperature. This will help stop the rash from coming back.
- Apply Calamine lotion to patches of itchy skin.
- Take baths in baking soda to help soothe the skin.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil or Tylenol to help relieve some of the pain and inflammation.
- Apply a topical anesthetic such as benzocaine.
- Apply Aloe Vera gel.
- Stay out of the sun or wear protective clothing while the rash heals.
Most sun poisoning rashes heal within two weeks, although some may take longer depending on the length of exposure and the severity of the rash. If you are not seeing improvement within two weeks, speak to your doctor about other treatment options.
Prevention Is Key
The only way to really prevent a recurrence of a sun-related rash is unfortunately to live through it and try your best to determine what caused it. Common sense prevention, such as avoiding excessive amounts of time in the sun, avoiding skin-damaging activities such as tanning beds and avoiding sun bathing may help prevent a recurrence of sun poisoning.
Use lip balms and sun protectants, especially if you have fair skin or have experienced sun poisoning and the related rash before and need some extra shielding from the sun's radiation. As much of a fashion faux pas as it may be, zinc oxide paste is also an excellent choice for those who need the ultimate in protection.
Remember, cloudy days can cause as much of an issue as hot summer ones; be aware and on guard year round if this sort of irritation is an issue for you. Unfortunately many people suffer a relapse due to the fact that they forget damage can occur in the winter as well. So be sun smart year round - you just might save your skin in the process.
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