Sun Allergies: How to Spot and Manage Sun Sensitivity So You Can Enjoy the Outdoors

Some people can’t wait to get out into the sunshine and soak up vitamin D, especially after a long winter. But for people with sun allergies or photosensitivity, a sunny day isn’t always a cause for celebration. These conditions can be debilitating. Painful, itchy rashes can start within minutes of sun exposure and can last for days. 

Here’s what you should know about sun allergies and how to manage them so you can still enjoy bright days. 

What is a sun allergy?  

People who are sensitive to sunlight may either have a sun allergy or photosensitivity.

Sun allergy (solar urticaria)

A sun allergy is a condition that causes someone to develop hives when they’re exposed to the sun or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light. A sun allergy, or solar urticaria, is a type of chronic urticaria (hives). 

When someone with a sun allergy comes into contact with UV light, the immune system views the UV light as an attack. The immune system tells mast cells in the skin to release histamine. This leads to itchy, red hives, and sometimes painful skin rashes.

Sun allergies tend to start off in late childhood and peak during the teenage years.

Photosensitivity (photodermatoses)

People with photosensitivity —– or photodermatoses —–  also develop red, painful, and sometimes itchy rashes when they come in contact with sunlight or UV light. 

Some people are born with medical conditions that make them sensitive to UV light. These conditions are rare but can lead to painful rashes that can scar.

People can also develop photosensitivity from medical conditions like:

• Lupus

• Dermatomyositis

• Porphyria

• Psoriasis

Medications can also trigger photosensitivity. Common medications that make people sensitive to light include:

• Tetracyclines 

• Sulfonamides

• Fluoroquinolones 

• Hydrochlorothiazide

• Metformin

• Griseofulvin

• Retinoids

• St John’s wort

Certain plants and fruits can also trigger photosensitivity if the extracts or juices are in direct contact with your skin. 

What does a sun allergy look like?

Solar urticaria causes a skin rash. The rash looks red, raised, or swollen, and forms on skin that’s exposed to the sun. People can also develop a rash on parts of the skin that are covered by thin or white clothing because sunlight can pass easily through this type of material. 

People may also notice:

• A burning sensation

• Itching over the rash

• Swelling of the eyes and mouth

• Nausea

• Feeling faint

• Trouble breathing

Even though it’s an allergy, most people don’t develop anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.  

People with photosensitivity may notice different skin changes depending on what’s causing it. Some skin changes include:

• Hard, painful red bumps

• Small, nonpainful red bumps

• Raised, red skin patches (sometimes with crusting)

• Skin redness that’s thickened or dry

The changes usually appear on parts of the skin that are exposed to sunlight. The rash can also spread to other parts of the body, depending on what’s causing the photosensitivity. 

How do you diagnose sun allergies?

Most people can tell they have a sun allergy or photosensitivity because they develop a rash within a few minutes of being in sunlight. 

A healthcare provider can confirm an allergy or sensitivity to the sun with phototesting. This is a type of allergy test. 

Your provider will shine a light source that gives off UVA and UVB light on a small patch of your skin. If you have a sun allergy or photosensitivity, you will develop a rash on that part of your skin. 

The test can also tell if you’re sensitive only to a specific wavelength of light. It can also help figure out how long you can stay in sunlight before developing a rash. This information can be very helpful as you plan outings. 

If it’s not clear whether your rash is from sunlight exposure, your healthcare provider may recommend a skin biopsy. This lets a pathologist look at a piece of your skin under a microscope to confirm whether your rash is from sun sensitivity or another medical condition. 

How do you treat sun allergies?

Sunlight avoidance is the best way to treat a sun allergy or photosensitivity. But, of course, that’s impossible. 

Instead, focus on avoiding too much sun exposure. You can follow these practices:

• Spend less time outdoors on sunny days.

• Wear broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB light.

• Wear a wide brim hat to protect your face, ears, and neck.

• Cover your skin with clothing as much as possible when outside. 

• Add UV filters or shades to windows.

If you have a sun allergy (solar urticaria), you can try phototherapy, which may help you develop tolerance to sunlight. Some studies have shown that medications like cyclosporine and omalizumab can help, too.

If you have photosensitivity from a medical condition, you may also benefit from phototherapy or other prescription medications. 

If you have photosensitivity because of a medication, talk with your healthcare provider about whether there are other medications you can try.   

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Written by:

Jennifer Sample, MD

After a fellowship, Dr. Sample worked as the medical director at the University of Kansas Hospital Poison Center (The University Of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center), which served the state of Kansas for poison exposures. In 2007, she returned to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, as a consultant in clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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