Can anyone help me with Polymorphic Light Eruption?

Question

My friend has this skin complant. Which is a red and itchy rash. She has tried all the usual things creams and keeping out of the sun as much as she can. Does anyone have any home remodies that could help, it is very itchy and feels like a burn.

Answer 1

What is polymorphic light eruption?

Polymorphic light eruption (PLE), otherwise termed polymorphous light eruption (PMLE), is a skin complaint caused by sunlight.

Typically, those affected by it will have been exposed to the sun for two to three days while on holiday, although the complaint does occur between the spring and autumn months in the UK, and sometimes as little as 15 minutes' exposure to sunshine can induce the condition. It can even be brought on by sunlight penetrating through a window or thin clothing.

A delayed-onset, spotty, itchy eruption appears on the skin, and may take between 5 to 10 days to clear.

The rash usually consists of small red spots or blisters and can appear on any part of the body that has been exposed to sunshine, although commonly the face and the backs of the hands will be spared. It tends to heal without scarring.

Who suffers from PLE?

About 10 to 20 per cent of the northern European population is affected by PLE, which is more common in females than in males.

The condition can affect all ethnic groups, and research suggests that 20 per cent of patients have a family history of the complaint. Those suffering from PLE usually do so by the age of 30.

Is it the same as prickly heat?

No, prickly heat, which occurs during warm weather, generally affects the trunk (ie, not the head, neck or limbs) and is related to overheating, particularly in areas where there is friction due to clothing.

What is the cause of PLE?

This is not completely understood. It's thought by some experts that PLE may be an allergic reaction following the interaction of sunlight with proteins in the skin.

Is it serious?

No, but it has a nuisance value and may restrict lifestyle in the summer months, particularly during holidays. If severe, it may cause significant problems that require more active therapy than simply keeping the affected area out of the sun. Most patients learn to know their skin and can judge how much sunlight exposure they can tolerate.

How can I tell if I have the condition?

PLE can normally be diagnosed from a patient's story. Investigations are frequently performed to rule out other causes of abnormal skin sensitivity to light (photosensitivity). These include blood tests and phototesting.

Phototesting is a procedure conducted with light test equipment in which small areas of the skin are given different doses of ultraviolet and visible light in order to try and reproduce the problem.

How can PLE be prevented?

Many patients find that they can prevent the condition by wearing protective clothing, avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm, and frequently applying broad-spectrum, high-protective-factor sun barrier preparations - a line of action that, although effective, restricts one's lifestyle during the summer months.

Another way to prevent PLE is to undergo a course of desensitisation treatment. The patient goes into a phototherapy cubicle where those parts of the body that are normally kept covered become exposed to ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet exposure is gradually increased, thereby increasing the skin's natural sunlight protection. Desensitisation is normally conducted early in springtime and the effect is usually completely lost during the subsequent winter, so it needs to be repeated annually.

Can I treat the eruption when it occurs?

Anti-itch preparations, such as calamine lotion, may produce some temporary improvement. Moderate or potent topical steroid creams may help suppress the condition when it arises. Occasionally, a doctor may prescribe a course of steroid tablets, although this is usually avoided because of possible side effects.

Can it go away of its own accord?

Yes, many patients find that the complaint clears up spontaneously.

Is it infectious?

There is no risk of other people catching the condition from you, or vice versa.

If I get an eruption, does that increase my chances of getting skin cancer?

No - getting an eruption does not increase your chances of getting skin cancer.

If I suffer from PLE, should I avoid going to hot countries?

This depends upon the severity of the state of your skin. Many sufferers can manage well with simple precautions such as controlled sunlight exposure, wearing photoprotective clothing and using a high-factor, broad-spectrum sun barrier. Others may require desensitisation treatment.

If I have a desensitisation course are there points worth bearing in mind?


When you have completed a desensitisation course, the outer layer of your skin will have thickened and gone darker. These changes increase your natural sunlight protection, but a tan is not essential for that protection.


It is important during the summertime to keep your artificial protection topped up. So, far from carefully avoiding sunlight, it is sensible for you to spend increasing amounts of time in spring/summer sunlight, carefully avoiding the amount of sunlight that would induce your rash, but having enough to maintain your enhanced protection against sunlight.


When going outside for long periods, remember to limit your sunlight exposure by using clothing and high-protection, broad-spectrum sun barrier creams.


It's worth keeping a record of the degree of your problem so that when your doctor next sees you, you can report any change in your condition.

Answer 2

Polymorphous Light Eruption

Answer 3

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Answer 4

My husband also suffers from PLE, has a type which runs in families, so he has had it all his life. Really, the only thing to do is avoid sun exposure. My hubby wears long sleeved shirts and pants year round. Once she is no longer being exposed to the sun, the rash should go away within a week or so.

Is this a confirmed diagnosis, or self diagnosis? PLE is the most common cause of a sun-induced rash, so that is the most likely cause of her rash. However, there are two other two possibilities: cholinergic urticaria (hives due to heat) and solar urticaria (hives due to sun).

Most sufferers of PLE are female, but it can run in families, which type seems to affect more men. The lesions occur several hours to days following sun exposure and subside within 7-10 days if there is no further exposure. Lesions are small, itchy, and occur only on areas exposed to the sun. Luckily, for some reason PLE often does not affect the face. Learn more at http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/diseases...

Cholinergic urticaria is hives caused by a rise in core body temperature. Most new sufferers are young men, but it can strike women as well. Hives are small, itchy, and appear soon after exposure to something which raises temperature - being out in the sun, getting into a hot car, taking a hot shower, strong emotions such as embarrassment or anger, sweating, exercise, etc.... The hives resolve once the core body temperature is cooled back to normal levels.

Solar urticaria is very rare and is caused by exposure to certain ultraviolet rays. Hives develop minutes after exposure, and resolve quickly (less than an hour).

Answer 5

I think Raven et al have given good answers. Basically, put a barrier cream on when in the sunlight, stay in the shade a lot, and take an anti-histamine tablet to stop the itching. There are many different tablets on the market. When I had a skin allergy I discovered that the itching was the worst thing, and found that Zyrtek was the best.

Answer 6

Apart from something which will soothe the skin - calamine lotion or nappy rash cream - a New Zealand site recommends beta Carotene (a colouring in many orange squashes, etc) and Hydroxychloroquine, which is also used to treat malaria.

I am not going to advise rubbing neat orange squash on it or making a compress of grated carrot (though you might try the latter) but one could drink orange squash and eat carrots.

The standard treatment is light therapy in the spring or steroids.

http://www.emedicine.com/DERM/topic342.htm

Answer 7

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Answer 8

have her try tea tree oil