How to Help Heal Sun Poison
Sun poison is a type of photosensitivity that goes by many other names. Some also call it "sun allergy," but the proper medical term is polymorphous light eruption (or sometimes polymorphic light eruption). Sun poison is caused by an uncharacteristic response to ultraviolet ray exposure, either from sunlight or a tanning bed. Symptoms can appear within hours after UV exposure and can last for a week or sometimes longer, notes the Mayo Clinic. An uncomfortable rash, blisters or scaly patches on the skin--usually on the front of the neck and chest--are symptoms of sun poisoning. But you may also experience headache, chills, nausea and a feeling of simply being ill. Unless extremely severe, sun poison generally heals without the need for prescription medical treatment.
Things You'll Need
- 1 percent hydrocortisone cream
- Cool, wet compresses
- Gauze (if necessary)
- Aspirin or ibuprofen
- Prescription cortisone cream (if prescribed)
Instructions
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Sun Poison Cure
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Apply over-the-counter anti-itch creams to the rash to reduce itching. The Mayo Clinic recommends using over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream.
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Take cool baths to assuage the discomfort associated with sun poison. For blisters that weep and ooze, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes that applying a cool, damp cloth is helpful. Gauze can be applied to intact blisters to prevent them from rupturing.
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Use oral over-the-counter aspirin or ibuprofen, advises the Mayo Clinic. This reduces inflammation caused by sun poison.
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See your physician if sun poisoning doesn't heal on its own. The Mayo Clinic notes that your doctor may prescribe medication to help you heal, such as a corticosteroid cream.
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Tips & Warnings
Other medical conditions look a lot like sun poison, notes the Mayo Clinic--solar urticaria, lupus rash and photoallergic reaction.
Polymorphous light eruption can be prevented and managed in many ways. The Mayo Clinic advises using sunscreen, covering up before going outside and avoiding the sun during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
Phototherapy is sometimes helpful in preventing sun poison; this technique involves exposing patients to UV gradually prior to spring or a winter vacation in a sunny region.
Females, adolescents and young adults are more prone to polymorphous light eruption, notes the National Institutes of Health.
Certain Native American groups may be genetically predisposed to sun poison.
