Sun poisoning: Here's what you need to know about the brutal allergy
If you didn't think sunburns could get any worse — here's what you need to know about sun poisoning.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.
If you didn't think sunburns could get worse than bright red skin and a stinging feeling — you likely haven't heard of sun poisoning.
In recent months, several videos about (what social media users believed to be) sun poisoning after careless tanning have gone viral on TikTok. The videos show a person's face swollen and red before it begins peeling, sometimes leaving behind discoloured skin.
One TikTok user, @llioeriin, shared in a March 25 post she went on holiday to Gran Canaria expecting to "get a nice tan." She said she first started seeing her forehead swell, and the next morning one of her eyes was swollen shut.
"I couldn't open my eye," the TikToker wrote over a photo of herself with a swollen face. She then continued saying it got worse, "both of my eyes were shut and I couldn't see anything." Her face started peeling the next day.
The video was viewed nearly 25 million times and got more than 2.8 million likes.
She wasn't the only one to go through this recently. TikToker Ellie Buchanan shared a similar story after her trip to Florida on spring break in April.
Buchanan wrote over a beach photo on TikTok she was "feeling sunkissed" before her skin became painful. She said she went to bed swollen, thinking "maybe it will be better." What followed was a series of photos of Buchanan's swollen, disfigured face from the next day.
In a separate video that followed, Buchanan explained she did use sunscreen, but was taking acne medication she didn't know she was supposed to stop taking before severe exposure to the sun.
An expert told Yahoo Canada the symptoms presented in these viral videos are more in line with a condition called solar urticaria, a separate rare allergy to sunlight.
However, the danger of sun poisoning is real. Read on for everything you need to know about it and how to prevent it.
What is sun poisoning?
Sun poisoning is "not a term you will find in a dermatology textbook," according to Dr. Irina Oroz, a Saskatchewan dermatologist.
"The term sun poisoning has been used on the internet to describe a type of skin reaction called polymorphic light eruption."
Polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) is a rash caused by sun exposure. It's an allergic reaction to sunlight and ultraviolet light, according to Healthline. It's the most common skin condition caused by sunlight, and it's a sensitivity that often develops during the first sun exposure of the year, especially in teens and young adults.
Oroz told Yahoo Canada in an email, PMLE develops "within minutes to hours of sun exposure in spring and early summer."
She added it goes away without leaving scarring, typically within one to 14 days.
Those symptoms can include swelling and an itchy rash, which commonly breaks out in the following areas:
décolletage (low neckline)
chest
forearms
backs of your hands
lower legs
feet
"Polymorphic means the reaction can look different in different people," Oroz explained.
"Some may get bumps or papules, while others may get scaly dry red patches that look like eczema, or little blisters, or hives, or even target-shaped patches.
"It will always, however, be in areas that have been exposed to sunlight."
The dermatologist added PMLE improves throughout the summer, when the skin "grows more resilient to reactions with repeated sun exposure."
Who is at risk of PMLE?
Polymorphous light eruption is most common in people with very light skin, but it can happen to anybody.
Women aged 20 to 40 are at higher risk compared to their counterparts. Oroz said women are four times more likely to have PMLE.
About 15 to 46 per cent of people have a family history of PMLE, meaning there is likely a genetic component to the condition too, according to Oroz.
People who easily get sunburns, and those who live in northern regions are also at higher risk of developing the sensitivity. Oroz said "it can occur in up to 20 per cent of Canadians, and is lowest near the equator."
The doctor said PMLE eventually resolves on its own with time, and "thankfully it does not result in scarring."
Those who develop it, often have it for years and get it each spring.
"There are no long-term risks of this condition but it can be distressing for people, especially if their need to avoid the sun means missing out on activities and socializing with friends," Oroz added. "This can definitely impact mental health."
How to prevent the allergy?
The best way to prevent PMLE or reduce its effects is to avoid severe sun, and most importantly: wear sunscreen.
Oroz said a broad-spectrum sunscreen is a must-have, as that covers both UVA and UVB that can lead to PMLE. She also recommends SPF of 50+.
"Reapplication is key, every 2 hours," she added.
"It’s best to layer your sun protection and throw on sun protective clothing as well as avoiding direct sunlight, choosing shade, and moving away from windows."
If you do get PMLE, Oroz advises to "get out of the sun!"
She said the reaction can worsen with repeated exposure to the sun before it's resolved.
"For anyone with a severe reaction, it’s best to see your family doctor or dermatologist, and they may give you a steroid cream to speed up healing."
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