Sun allergy in children

Definition

In children, exposure to sunlight can cause skin symptoms known as sun allergy. The term is used to describe various clinical pictures. The word sun allergy is a colloquial term, as there is no allergic reaction to sunlight in the medical sense. The most common form of sun allergy in children is redness, itching and blisters on skin exposed to sunlight. Most often, the symptoms appear in spring with increasing exposure to sunlight.

Typical symptoms of sun allergy in children

A child’s allergy to the sun can be diagnosed when, after spending time in the sun or being exposed to sunlight, for example while driving a car, typical symptoms occur in areas exposed to light. The individual appearance of each child can be different. Typical symptoms are: Often, the child’s allergy to the sun is first noticed because he or she often has to scratch the affected areas.

If the skin symptoms are related to exposure to the sun, especially in spring, a sun allergy is very likely to occur with the symptoms described above. However, if there are uncertainties or the child suffers from other symptoms such as fever, it may also be a different disease, so that in such a case a medical clarification may be useful.

  • Redness
  • Nodules
  • Bubbles
  • Strong itching
  • Burning

If a child is allergic to the sun, the symptoms and skin appear typically only on those parts of the body that are directly exposed to sunlight.

Depending on how the child is dressed, the face, neck, cleavage and hands are particularly affected. If these are not covered by clothing, the sun allergy can also occur on the arms and legs. If the redness and blisters also affect skin areas that have been protected from sunlight, a disease other than a sun allergy may also be the cause.

What is the course of the disease?

The typical course of a sun allergy in children is that a few hours after the child has been playing outside in the sunshine, the typical itchy blisters appear on the skin areas that have been exposed to the sun. In this case, even what is perceived as low solar radiation in mild spring temperatures may be sufficient to trigger the symptoms. By protecting the child from further exposure to sunlight and taking soothing measures against itching, the symptoms of the sun allergy usually heal within a few days. In very rare cases, the course of the disease is more pronounced, with swelling of the skin. In such severe cases, the child should be examined by a doctor for safety reasons.