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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment depends on the particular type of sun allergy you have. It may include:
- Corticosteroid creams. These creams are available over-the-counter and in stronger, prescription form. For example, hydrocortisone medications (Cortaid, others) are available over-the-counter and triamcinolone medications (Kenalog, others) require a prescription.
- Oral antihistamines. These medications block histamines, symptom-causing chemicals released during an allergic reaction. Your doctor may recommend you use over-the-counter antihistamine pills, or he or she may write you a prescription. Examples of over-the-counter antihistamines include loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) and cetirizine (Zyrtec). Older over-the-counter antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and clemastine (Tavist) work as well as newer ones, but can make you drowsy. Prescription antihistamines include desloratadine (Clarinex), fexofenadine (Allegra), hydroxyzine (Vistaril) and levocetirizine (Xyzal).
- Oral corticosteroids. For a severe allergic skin reaction, you may benefit from a short course of these powerful anti-inflammatory medications. In some cases, an oral corticosteroid such as prednisone is given prior to a period of sunlight exposure, such as before a summer vacation. Oral corticosteroids can cause serious side effects when used long term, so they're used to prevent and relieve severe sun allergy symptoms only on a short-term basis.
- Other medications. In some cases, drugs usually used to treat other conditions are used to treat sun allergies. For example, the malaria medication hydroxychloroquine may ease symptoms of polymorphic light eruption and other sun allergies. In some cases, antibiotics — generally used to treat infections — are used for chronic actinic dermatitis.
- Ultraviolet light therapy. This treatment is also called phototherapy. A special lamp is used to shine ultraviolet light on areas of your body that are often exposed to the sun. It's generally done a few times a week over a period of several weeks each spring. During the course of treatments, your doctor will gradually increase the dose of UV radiation. Your skin becomes accustomed to UV light, reducing symptoms caused by sun exposure. This treatment is generally available only at specialized clinics.
References
- Gambichler T, et al. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. Immunologically mediated photodermatoses diagnosis and treatment. 2009;10:169.
- Millard T, et al. Photosensitivity disorders cause, effect and management. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2002;3:239.
- Ofori AO, et al. Overview of cutaneous photosensitivity: Photobiology, patient evaluation, and photoprotection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 23, 2010.
- Ferguson J. Diagnosis and treatment of the common idiopathic photodermatoses. Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 2003;44:90.
- Ofori AO, et al. Photosensitive disorders (photodermatoses): Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 23, 2010.
- Lenane P, et al. Sunscreens and the photodermatoses. Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2001;12:53.
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