Basically, what experts call “polymorphic light dermatosis” (PLD) is not a real allergy at all. Rather, the skin reacts to too much sun exposure: redness, swelling, hives, scales, spots or blisters on the affected parts of the body (usually on the face and shoulders) are the result. Similar to a severe sunburn, except that the skin does not “burn” due to the radiation, but rather overreacts due to the special sensitivity to light in the UVA range – the UV light spectrum that does not necessarily lead to sunburn. In addition, sun allergies are usually triggered by external factors, such as high-fat sunscreen. What both skin reactions have in common is that they can be very painful. This makes it all the more important to treat the symptoms quickly and effectively. How you can best proceed and avoid a sun allergy in the future is explained below.
Since sun allergy is an overreaction of the skin to too much light, UV radiation is the primary cause. The immune system reacts accordingly by triggering a type of allergic reaction – and with it typical symptoms, which, however, can vary in severity and appearance in each child. Hence the term “polymorphic”, which means diverse. It is important to treat the affected areas of the body quickly, such as the décolleté, shoulders, neck, arms and legs. Even if the sun allergy only becomes noticeable a few days later and your child’s skin shows any of the following symptoms:
First and foremost, you need to relieve the itching, as children quickly run the risk of scratching the affected areas – and causing small skin injuries. This makes it easy for pathogens to penetrate the skin and cause inflammation. How to best treat the symptoms is explained in the next paragraph.
Note: If the skin is red or swollen over large areas and your child also gets a fever, you should see a doctor immediately! He uses antiseptic ointments.
In the first instance, your child needs to avoid the sun for a few days, then the symptoms will usually go away on their own. To relieve the itching, you can cool the affected areas of the body with wet compresses (the cold causes the blood vessels to contract and the skin to swell) or smear them with some Bepanthen. If the skin is severely irritated, you can also use a cortisone spray (only from the age of six!) or Fenistil to curb the skin irritation. However, apply both very sparingly and only thinly to your child’s skin.
If you want to avoid medical aids completely, you can use the following home remedies: chamomile or green tea, yoghurt or quark (never flour, powder or oil). You can spread the dairy products on a towel as thick as a finger and wrap it around your skin for at least 30 minutes. If the cooling effect wears off, you can renew the envelope if necessary. Also make sure that your child drinks enough. Sunburn literally dries out the skin and requires a lot of fluid.
Note: If small blisters form on the skin, do not open them under any circumstances, otherwise infection may occur.
Basically, it’s best not to expose your baby to the sun in the first year of life – and if you do, then only with appropriate sun protection. You can protect your face with a wide-brimmed sun hat, your arms and legs with long, opaque clothing, and your skin with sunscreen. It’s best to use a high sun protection factor (ideally 50) and apply water to your child 30 minutes before exposure to the sun and after any contact with water so that it has enough time to take effect. On the beach, a parasol with special UV protection also helps, providing shade and protecting the skin from strong radiation. For example, you can find a suitable model here.
If your child already suffers from a sun allergy, the chances are very high that they will suffer from it every year. In order to permanently alleviate the symptoms, it makes sense to accustom your child to exposure to light step by step. The best way to do this is to use spring, especially, to expose your child’s skin to the sun – but only for a short period of time. Over time, you increase your time outdoors so that the skin can produce more melanin (dyes or pigments) to protect itself from dangerous UV radiation. You can support this process by taking carotene and calcium. Please discuss this with your pediatrician in advance.
Other preventive measures include:
Not only is the skin particularly sensitive at a young age, but also the eyes. That’s why proper UV protection is essential for sunglasses as well as everyday glasses. “The lens and cornea of the eye can filter out a large part of UV radiation. Additional protection is still important! This means: For children with ametropia, make sure to wear glasses with certified UV protection,” explains Dr. Michael Petrak, specialist in ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Bonn. Even if there are no proven eye diseases that are clearly triggered by UV radiation (such as skin cancer), Petrak still points out: “It cannot be ruled out that UV exposure in childhood can have an impact on you Eye diseases in old age, such as cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD).”
For this reason, the Zeiss brand has been offering standard UVProtect protection of up to 400 nanometers in clear plastic lenses since 2018. Sunglasses for children should also offer the same protection – you can recognize it by the correct marking, the UV 400 label. You can find suitable models for boys and girls at any ZEISS optician or, for example, here.
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