Sun allergies are very common, especially among young women and people with fair skin. The most common form of sun allergy is Polymorphus Light Eruption (often abbreviated to PLE). Typical symptoms include a bumpy and irritating rash and skin redness but you may also get blisters and pustules. Symptoms tend to develop a day or two after being in the sun and are normally on the underside of the arms and the chest − facial skin can be affected, but this is less common.

Other sun allergies include Acne Aestevalis (more commonly known as Mallorca acne). The symptoms of Acne Aestevalis closely resemble those of PLE. It typically effects women between 25 and 40 who experienced acne during puberty.

You can read about these allergies as well as how to care for allergy-prone skin in sun allergies: PLE and others.

Sun, in moderation, is good for our overall wellbeing, but unprotected and excessive exposure to the sun’s rays can have both short- and long-term consequences which include sunburn, photoaging (premature skin aging caused by the sun) and even skin cancer.

Limiting your and your child’s exposure, and always wearing adequate protection, are essential steps in caring for skin in the sun. And facial sun protection should be considered part of your daily skincare routine, because it’s not just holiday sun that can damage skin.

Here are some of the golden rules of sun protection:

• Choose a product that has been specially formulated for your sun allergy-prone skin and that offers the level of protection that you need
• Apply generously before sun exposure and reapply frequently− especially after swimming, perspiring or toweling − to maintain the original protection
• Be careful not to miss any areas that will be exposed
• Remember that reducing the quantity you use will significantly lower the level of protection
• Don`t stay in the sun for too long, even when using a sunscreen product − remember that skin damage can occur well before sunburn is visible
• Over-exposure to the sun is a serious health threat
• Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight

You can find out more about how to care for skin in the sun in the effect of sun on skin: prevention and protection and the effect of sun on children’s skin. If you are in any doubt about how your skin is likely to react to the sun, or what level of protection you should be using, ask a dermatologist for advice.

Like sensitive skin, allergy-prone skin has a weakened protective barrier making it more vulnerable to external irritants. One of those external irritants is the sun. Certain chemicals − such as perfumes − can also trigger a reaction in sensitive, allergy-prone skin.Eucerin Sun Creme-Gel Sun Allergy Protect SPF 50 gives skin prone to sun allergies the high level of protection it needs. It also contains antioxidants that soothe skin and strengthen skin´s own protection system against UVA-induced free radicals, helping to prevent the formation of sun allergies.