Polymorphic light eruption is a bad childhood rash caused by a virus (probably Epstein-Barr). It will not get better with time. After the rash goes away, you should take Vitamins for polymorphic light eruption.
Polymorphic light eruption is a common skin condition that affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, and it can develop at any time during life. The cause of polymorphic light eruption is unknown, but it may be related to sun exposure and/or skin disorders such as rosacea and acne.
vitamins for polymorphic light eruption
Polymorphic light eruption is a skin condition that causes small, red bumps to appear. These bumps are often concentrated on the face. The cause of polymorphic light eruption (PLR) is unknown, but it may have a hereditary basis. Treatment of PLR includes using over the counter creams and lotions to treat the rashes, as well as treating underlying causes such as rosacea or vitiligo.
Polymorphic light eruption is a skin infection that can be treated with over-the-counter prescriptions, such as Baby Aspirin and Coley’s Anemia Drops. You do not need a prescription to use these products, but doctors will ask you to come in and speak with them about any unusual symptoms, such as a rash on the face or stomach.
how do you treat polymorphic light eruption
Background: Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is a very common condition whose pathogenesis may involve immunological abnormalities. Vitamin D sufficiency is thought to be important for normal immune function.
Objective: To determine whether PLE patients are vitamin D deficient and to study how photohardening with 311 nm UVB affects the vitamin D status of PLE patients.
Methods: The vitamin D status of 23 PLE patients (21 females and 2 males; age range, 18-55 years) was analysed at four different time points (early spring, late spring, summer, and winter) by measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin-D(3) (25(OH)D) serum levels through a standardised immunoassay. Fifteen of those patients received 311 nm UVB in early spring for prevention of PLE symptoms. 25(OH)D levels of the PLE patients were compared to that of 23 sex-, age-, and body-mass-index post hoc-matched control subjects.
Results: PLE patients had low levels of 25(OH)D throughout the year compared to that of the control subjects. At baseline in early spring, the mean ± SD 25(OH)D level was 14.9 ± 3.0 ng ml(-1) in the PLE patients that would later receive 311 nm UVB and 14.4 ± 2.4 ng ml(-1) in the patients not receiving 311 nm UVB. Successful prophylactic treatment with 311 nm UVB significantly increased 25(OH)D levels to a mean of 21.0 ± 3.4 ng ml(-1) (p < 0.001; ANOVA, Tukey’s test). Heading into summer, the 25(OH)D levels in treated patients decreased again, reaching their lowest levels in winter. In contrast, the 25(OH)D levels of untreated PLE patients stayed in the low range in early and late spring but increased by trend towards summer, reaching similar levels to that of the PLE patients who had received 311 nm UVB (17.1 ± 2.3 vs. 17.3 ± 6.0 ng ml(-1)). Like the treated PLE patients, 25(OH)D levels of untreated patients significantly decreased in winter to comparable levels (12.2 ± 1.9 vs. 13.8 ± 1.8 ng ml(-1)). Taken together, the 25(OH)D levels of PLE patients were significantly lower at all time points than that observed in the matched control population (34.4 ± 12.5 ng ml(-1)) (p < 0.000003).
Conclusions: PLE patients have low 25(OH)D serum levels. 311 nm UVB phototherapy that prevented PLE symptoms increased those levels. Thus, we speculate that boosting levels of vitamin D may be important in ameliorating PLE.
Polymorphic light eruption
Polymorphic light eruption is a fairly common skin rash triggered by exposure to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light.
Symptoms of polymorphic light eruption
An itchy or burning rash appears within hours, or up to 2 to 3 days after exposure to sunlight.
It lasts for up to 2 weeks, healing without scarring.
The rash usually appears on the parts of the skin exposed to sunlight, typically the head, neck, chest and arms.
The face is not always affected.
The rash
A round patch of small, pink, raised spots that are very close together, shown on white skin.Credit:
The rash can take many different forms (polymorphic):
you may get crops of 2mm to 5mm raised, pink or red spots, but redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin
some people get blisters that turn into larger, dry patches – it looks a bit like eczema
less commonly, the patches look like a target or “bulls-eye” (it looks a bit like erythema multiforme)
Polymorphic light eruption can be easily mistaken for heat rash (prickly heat).
Prickly heat is caused by warm weather or overheating, rather than sunlight or UV light.
The skin in prickly heat does not “harden” or desensitise, as it can do in polymorphic light eruption.
Polymorphic light eruption is thought to affect about 10% to 15% of the UK population.
Sunlight exposure
The rash may be a rare occurrence or may happen every time the skin is exposed to sunlight. It ranges from mild to severe.
Sometimes as little as 20 minutes of sun exposure is enough to cause the problem, and it can even develop through thin clothing or if you’re sitting near a window.
But for most people with polymorphic light eruption, the rash develops after several hours outside on a sunny day.
If further sun is avoided, the rash may settle and disappear without a trace within a couple of weeks.
It may or may not return when skin is re-exposed to sunlight.
If the skin is exposed to more sunlight before the rash has cleared up, it’ll probably get much worse and spread.
For many people with polymorphic skin eruption, the rash appears every spring and remains a problem throughout summer before settling down by autumn.
Who’s affected
Polymorphic light eruption is more common in women than men.
It particularly affects people who have white skin, although it can also affect those with brown and black skin.
It usually starts between the ages of 20 and 40, although it sometimes affects children.
Causes of polymorphic light eruption
Polymorphic light eruption is thought to be caused by UV light altering a substance in the skin, which the immune system reacts to, resulting in the skin becoming inflamed.
It’s not passed down through families, but about 1 in 5 people with the condition have an affected relative as it’s a fairly common condition.
It’s not infectious, so there’s no risk of catching polymorphic light eruption from another person.
Treatments for polymorphic light eruption
There’s no cure for polymorphic light eruption, but using sunscreens and careful avoidance of the sun will help you manage the rash.
Avoid the sun, particularly between 11am and 3pm when the sun’s rays are at their strongest, and wear protective clothing when outdoors (unless your doctor has advised you to try hardening your skin).
Introduce your skin to sunlight gradually in the spring.
Sunscreen
You may be prescribed sunscreens to help prevent the rash developing.
Use a sunscreen that is SPF 50 or above with a UVA rating of 4 or 5 stars. Apply sunscreen thickly and evenly around 15 to 30 minutes before going out into the sun
Reapply every 2 hours and straight after you’ve dried yourself off after swimming.
Steroid creams and ointments
A GP can prescribe corticosteroid (steroid) cream or ointment that’s only applied when the rash appears.
You should apply it sparingly, as often as the GP advises. Do not apply it when there’s no rash.
Desensitisation or UV treatment
It’s sometimes possible to increase the resistance of your skin to the sun.
This involves visiting a hospital dermatology department 3 times a week for 4 to 6 weeks in the spring.
Your skin is gradually exposed to a little more UV light every visit to try to build up your skin’s resistance.
The effects of desensitisation are lost in the winter, so you’ll have to build up your resistance again in the spring.
Hardening or toughening
A GP or dermatologist may advise you to try increasing the resistance of your skin at home.
This is known as “hardening” and involves going outside for short periods in the spring to build up your resistance.
You might find the time is as short as a few minutes at first, but you may be able to gradually build up to longer times.
You’ll have to be careful not to overdo it but, as you begin to understand more about how much light triggers your rash, you’ll be able to judge how long to stay out.
Like desensitisation, the effects of hardening are lost in the winter, so you’ll have to build up your resistance again in the spring.
Vitamin D
People with polymorphic light eruption are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency, as a certain amount of sun exposure is needed to make your own vitamin D.
A GP can advise whether you need treatment with vitamin D supplements.
Outlook
Many people with polymorphic light eruption find their skin improves over the years.
Your skin may harden (become more resistant to sunlight) during the summer, which means more sun can be tolerated without your skin reacting.
The rash may even eventually clear up on its own, although this is unusual.
Hardening of the skin does not always happen, and some people with very sensitive skin may even get the rash in the winter.
For these people, it may be a long-term condition to manage with lifestyle changes and creams.
Also often referred to as sun allergy or sun sickness, Polymorphic Light Eruption (PLE) is a skin rash that’s triggered by exposure to natural or artificial UV light – that is, sunlight or sun beds and tanning lamps. It’s thought to be an allergic reaction between UV light – both UVA and UVB rays – and proteins in the skin.
Experts believe PLE affects up to 15 percent of the UK population, which makes it a fairly common problem (two to three times more women are thought to be affected than men (i)). It usually starts between the ages of 20 and 40 and can run in families – according to the NHS, around 20 percent of people with PLE have another family member affected (ii). You can also have PLE whatever your skin type, though it’s thought people with fair skin are more commonly affected.
PLE is also thought to be more common in northern countries – such as the UK – and countries that aren’t very sunny. To learn more about how the sun affects your skin, see our helpful guide.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of PLE can vary from person to person. Some, for instance, may have an itchy or burning rash with small red bumps on their head, neck, chest and arms, while others may get blisters that turn into larger eczema-like dry red patches. Usually, the rash appears on parts of the skin that are kept covered during the winter – you’ll most likely experience a rash in the same area each time – and the face and hands aren’t normally affected.
The rash can be mild and may only last for seven to 10 days, but some people may suffer more severe and long-lasting symptoms that have a serious effect on their quality of life. Thankfully, when the rash fades it doesn’t leave any scarring.
Most people who are affected by PLE find their symptoms start in the spring after going out into the sun for the first time that year or during a winter holiday in a sunny climate. It can take as little as 20 minutes of exposure to UV light to trigger the rash, though many people find the rash starts a day or two after their initial exposure to the sun’s rays.
Staying in the sun after a rash starts will almost certainly make your skin worse. But the good news is that you may have fewer PLE episodes as summer progresses, as your skin adapts to being exposed to sunlight. You may even find your skin becomes less sensitive over the years, and you may eventually stop having rashes altogether.
Polymorphous light eruption FAQs
Is PLE only a problem if you go outdoors?
No, artificial forms of UV – including sun beds and tanning lamps – can also trigger a PLE episode. According to the British Association of Dermatologists, in some people even exposure to fluorescent lighting can cause PLE (iii). Experts also advise that some people can develop it by sitting next to a window when it’s sunny outside, or if they cover up in the sun but only wear thin clothing (ii).
What other light-related skin conditions might PLE be mistaken for?
There are some other disorders that your GP may want to rule out before diagnosing PLE. For instance, you may have a conditions known as chemical photosensitivity, where ingredients in cosmetic and medicated skincare products, certain medicines and perfumes trigger light sensitivity.
Or you may be affected by another sun-induced allergic reaction called solar urticaria, where your skin breaks out in raised red itchy welts within a few minutes of sun exposure. People who have an inflammatory disorder called lupus may also be affected by a bumpy rash on areas of skin that are exposed to sunlight. A rash caused by a skin reaction called erythema multiforme – which is usually triggered by the herpes simplex virus or a bacterial infection – can also look like a PLE rash.
If your GP refers you to a dermatologist, they may also try to reproduce your rash by testing your skin with different amounts and wavelengths of UV and visible light – a process called photo testing – to exclude other rare types of sun sensitivity.
Meanwhile, another condition that’s often mistaken for PLE is prickly heat. However, this is caused by warm weather and overheating rather than a reaction to UV light. Prickly heat also tends to affect the trunk, whereas a PLE rash usually develops on the head, neck, chest and arms.
Is PLE infectious, can it lead to skin cancer?
PLE isn’t contagious, so you can’t catch PLE from someone else nor can you spread it to another person. Experts also agree that having PLE doesn’t increase your risk of having skin cancer (iv).
Can avoiding the sun because you have PLE cause other problems?
Yes, there is a substantial risk that avoiding the sun altogether will make you deficient in vitamin D, as exposure to sunlight is the main source of this nutrient. If you don’t expose your skin to any or very little sunlight, ask your GP if you can have to your vitamin D levels checked. If the results show your levels are low, your GP may recommend that you take a vitamin D supplement as well as eat more foods that are high in vitamin D, including oily fish, fortified margarines and cereals, eggs and meat.
Treatments for polymorphic light eruption
There is no cure for PLE, but most people who are affected by it find their rash normally heals within a week or so if they stay out of the sun as soon as their symptoms start. You could also apply calamine lotion or use antihistamine tablets to help relieve itching, as well as take over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve pain. Applying a cold compress – a towel dampened with cold water – or taking a cold bath may also be soothing.
Meanwhile, your GP may also recommend one or more of the following treatments:
Hydrocortisone cream
A mild corticosteroid cream that’s available without prescription, this can also help to ease itching and soreness. Your GP may also prescribe a stronger steroid cream or ointment, which should be applied sparingly (carefully follow your GP’s instructions on how to use it). In some cases, a short course of steroid tablets may be necessary – for instance, these may be prescribed when you go on holiday to a sunny climate.
Sunscreen
You may also be prescribed a high-factor sunscreen to prevent the rash from developing (use a product that has SPF30 or higher as well as a high UVA star rating).
Malaria medication
Severe cases of PLE are often treated with tablets that are usually prescribed for malaria, such as hydroxycholoroquine. These treatments can reduce PLE symptoms, but the downside is they can trigger side effects in some people.
UV desensitisation/light therapy
Some people with more severe episodes of PLE may find increasing the resistance of their skin to the sun’s UV rays can help. If your GP thinks it may be useful, you’d have a course of desensitisation treatments at a hospital for around four to six weeks during the spring. This involves sitting in a phototherapy cubicle, where your skin is treated with increasing doses of ultraviolet light. Unfortunately, the effect of this type of treatment usually wears off during the winter months, so you may need further courses of treatment every spring.
Polymorphic light eruption: how to help yourself
If you’re affected by PLE, following the same sun safety advice that’s recommended for skin cancer prevention can help you to manage your symptoms.
Choose a high-protection sunscreen that has SPF 30 or higher with a four- or five-star UVA rating, and apply generously at least 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun (you’ll need around 35ml – or 6-8 teaspoons – of lotion to protect your body in a single application). Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or straight away after swimming and towel drying or if you’ve been perspiring.
Spend as much time in the shade as possible between the hours of 11am and 3pm when it’s sunny. If you’re outdoors, look for shade under trees and foliage, and if no shade is available create your own by using umbrellas, parasols, canopies and awnings.
Cover yourself up to protect your skin from the sun. Wear clothes made from tightly woven fabric that cover your arms and legs, and a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face (hold your clothes up to the light to get an idea of how much sun they let in).
You may also be able to build up your skin’s resistance to sunlight by going outside for short periods during the spring, gradually building up the time you spend outdoors. Start with just a few minutes of sun exposure and be careful not to overdo it.
To find out more on how to protect your skin from the sun, take a look at our guide.
This process is called hardening or toughening, and like UV desensitisation, the effects wear off during the winter – which means you’ll probably have to start the process again each spring.
UV checker
Meanwhile, stay aware of how strong the sun’s rays are at any time of year – whether you’re in the UK or on holiday abroad – by downloading an app that tells you what the UV index is wherever you are.
For instance, if you have an iPhone or iPad, the UV Index Widget gives you the UV index forecast for the next seven days for any location in the world. You can download it for free from the App Store.
If yours is an Android device one of the top-rated UV apps available to you is UV Index Global. This gives you a five-day UV forecast and is free to download from the Google Play Store
Natural support for polymorphic light eruption
The following nutritional supplements may prove useful if you’re one of the many people affected by PLE:
Vitamin D
If you have PLE you may avoid sunlight during certain times of the year in order to avoid having any symptoms. However, this may make you susceptible to low vitamin D levels, since the main source of vitamin D is sunlight (your skin produces vitamin D on exposure to UV light).
If you stay out of the sun to avoid the symptoms of PLE, you may need to take a vitamin D supplement (vitamin D is thought to be needed for bone health, reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, reduced risk of asthma and allergy, reduced inflammation and more).
In fact the UK government advises everyone to take a 10-microgram vitamin D supplement between October and early March. It also recommends taking a vitamin D pill to those who don’t venture outdoors very often or people who wear clothes that cover up most of their skin when they’re out and about during the summer too (v).
If you want to take a vitamin D supplement the recommended form is vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), as this is the natural form of vitamin D our bodies make when we’re exposed to sunlight. You can get these in tablet form as well as in veggie-friendly drops. Most vitamin D3 supplements aren’t suitable for vegans, however, since they’re made from the fat of lamb’s wool. But the good news is you can get vegan vitamin D3 supplements available these days that are sourced from lichen.
Lutein
A substance found in green vegetables, lutein is also an antioxidant that many natural health practitioners believe is also a type of natural sunblock. There is, in fact, some evidence that lutein may help protect against UV-induced skin damage (vi).
Green tea extract
Containing high levels of substances called catechin polyphenols – which are powerful antioxidants – green tea is also thought to help protect the skin from sun damage when applied directly to the skin (vii). It’s thought to work by protecting cells from some of the damage caused by UV light, rather than physically blocking it.
Anthocyanidins
These are powerful antioxidants found in the pigments of dark and richly coloured fruit, such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and red grapes. They are often recommended to boost the integrity of the blood vessels, as they’re thought to help repair collagen in blood vessel walls and capillaries.
Polymorphic light eruption often goes undiagnosed, but this guide should make it easier to help to the bottom of your skin concerns. To discover more articles on a range of other common health conditions, why not visit our health library?