Dr. Gaurang Gupta
Dermatology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Eight years ago, my family and I went on a vacation. When my mother got out of one of the outdoor pools, she started feeling a sting on her arms and all of her legs below the knees. She has been to the doctor for this condition and she has gotten numerous ointments. The only ointment that does help the uncontrollable itching and stinging has been Zyrtec. But, she still continues to have itchy and stinging skin. She cannot take any exposure to the sunlight, which is why she wears long sleeves and pants during summer days, along with an umbrella. I recently looked online and I found some symptoms of solar urticaria. When I read them to my mother, she confirmed to have all the symptoms. She does not have any noticeable rashes, but she does say that her skin is extremely stingy and itchy which really impacts her days and some of the sleepless nights that come with this itching. Would it be possible that she has solar urticaria? Would you recommend her to take a photo test to see if it is solar urticaria?
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
As you explained that your mother has developed solar urticaria. Here I explain a few other importance of solar urticaria. Intense itching, swelling, and rashes develop in sunlight. You can correlate it. Whenever she goes in the sun, she gets these things. If you are able to notice this then undoubtedly it is something related to the sun. Many times only itching is the main symptom that your mother has. Now, once it has started, avoiding the cause is the best way to treat it. Once you are sure that it is happening due to the sun just avoid going out in the sun. A photo test is not a treatment. It is a test to know whether your mother has a sunlight allergy or not and it can get noticed by symptoms. So, no need to get tested if you are already sure about the cause.
Regarding treatment, sunscreen is a must.Use sunscreen without fail. It does not matter whether you are going in sunlight or not. You have to use it. It should be thrice in a day. It could be like 9 AM, 12 PM and 3 PM. Anti-allergic tablets like Levocetirizine, Avil (Pheniramine maleate), Teczine, etc. Continue it for three to five months. These have totally no side effects and subside the allergy and itching. Consult a specialist doctor, discuss with him or her, and take the medicine with consent. Continue using your ointment with a good moisturizer too. Avoid sweats. Sometimes, sweating itself increase allergy.
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Dermatology
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