Which sun allergy treatment methods you choose really boils down to the severity of your symptoms. For mild to moderate cases, you can use OTC medication remedies; possibly even home remedies. But for more severe cases, you should seek medical care, either through an urgent care, primary doctor visit, or even an emergency room visit if needed. Below is general information on treating adults with sun allergy.
The information in this article is general, and should not be construed to be personalized medical advise with guaranteed safety and efficacy outcomes. It is for informational purposes only. Only by visiting a healthcare provider can you get personal medical advice that is tailored to you.
Over the counter medications for sun allergy
OTC medication treatments for sun allergy include both oral medication, and creams or ointments to be applied directly to the rash.
Over the counter oral medication for sun allergy treatment
Oral antihistamines are the treatment of choice regarding oral OTC medication for sun allergy.
Of the later generations of antihistamines, Zyrtec (cetirizine) is the drug of choice, as it gets into the skin in higher concentrations than its main competitor, Claritin (loratidine). You could also try Allegra (fexofenadine) as an alternative to Zyrtec, or use the Claritin if that’s all you have.
If after a few days of trying Zyrtec, Allergra or Claritin, the allergy seems as though it’s not responding, the strongest antihistamine on the market is Benadryl (diphenhydramine). However for Benadryl to work you need to take it every 4 to 6 hours around the clock, which is hard to do because it causes significant drowsiness, and can cause anticholenergic side effects (dry mouth, dry eyes that cause blurry vision, slowed GI tract movement and constipation, decreased ability for the bladder to contract when urinating, decreased sweating, etc.).
For more moderate or severe cases, you can even add an H2 antihistamine blocker to help mitigate your sun allergy symptoms. The one H2 blocker that usually doesn’t have side effects, or drug interactions with other medication is Pepcid (famotidine). Adults with healthy kidneys can take 20mg twice daily as needed for sun allergy symptoms, alongside their Zyrtec (or other primary antihistamine medication). When you buy Pepcid at the store it will be in the antacid section, as it’s marketed as a stomach acid reflux drug.
Prophylactic treatment for sun allergy
If you have a history of sun allergy and know you’ll be out in the sun enough to trigger it, you may want to start taking an antihistamine beforehand. Antihistamines block histamine from getting on histamine receptors during an allergic reaction. And they’re much better at doing so if they are already in place on the receptor, as opposed to waiting for histamine to detach from such, before they can jump on.
For most of the once daily antihistamine tablets, you’ll likely have to start taking them around 6 days in advance of your sun exposure to make sure they build up in the skin and blood stream enough to be fully effective. But even if you start a day or two beforehand, it’s still more helpful than not. For Benadryl, because of its short half-life, you need only take it one day in advance, around the clock, for it to be fully ready to block histamine.
Sun allergy treatment creams and topicals for rash
Topical treatment for sun allergy includes hydrocortisone, antihistamine creams/lotions, and colloidal oatmeal for those looking for a home remedy.
Hydrocortisone cream
Hydrocortisone cream should be your first choice for topical OTC treatment of sun allergy rash. It also can help with an underlying sunburn. It usually comes as a 1% strength cream, but on rare occasion you may also see a 0.5% cream. If you’re 12 years or older, just get the 1% strength for rashes on your body.
The 0.5% can be used on the face, or a very thin layer of the 1% can be used there as well. However you don’t want to apply hydrocortisone to the face more than a week as it can thin the skin, discolor the skin, or increase the risk of skin infection.
Use of hydrocortisone cream on the body should be for no more than 2 weeks consecutively, then you’ll need to take a week off from using it to avoid skin thinning, discoloration, and increased risk of infection.
Topical antihistimine creams & lotions
Topical antihistimines may temporarily relief itchiness from the sun allergy rash, but should only be used as a secondary treatment, after hydrocortisone. In some people, they themselves can cause a skin rash, so you may want to test a small amount out on your skin before covering your rash with such cream or lotion.
Also they are not as reliable, in terms of efficacy, regarding sun rashes and hives, as hydrocortisone. All they do is stop the itch and numb the skin a little bit, compared to hydrocortisone, which stops the itch, reduces the redness and stops your body’s allergic response in general.
Typical brand products that have topical antihistimines include Benadryl cream, Caladryl lotion, and Ivarest cream. These however are paired up with either zinc or calamine which can cause a colored shadow where applied, and rub off and discolor clothing.
Topical home remedy for sun allergy rash
You could also try an oatmeal bath for a sun allergy rash. Take a cup of oatmeal and blend it in a blender, food processor or coffee grinder, pour it in your bath, and soak for 15 to 20 minutes, rubbing on some of the hydrated clumps onto your rash.
Or if you don’t want to make your own, there’s also Aveeno Oatmeal Baths that are pre-made packets of colloidal oatmeal.
Prescription treatment for sun allergy rash
If over the counter products aren’t working for you, and you’re itching like crazy, especially at night, and it’s disrupting your sleep, then it may be time to opt for prescription treatment from a provider. Here are common options a provider might try:
Oral medication
Oral steroid medication may help a moderate to severe case of sun allergy rash. The Medrol dose pack (methylprednisolone) or tapered prednisone tablets are common options. Just remember to take them with food, and preferably in the morning, or at least not too close to bedtime as they can keep you awake. The first few days of a Medrol dose pack may actually have instructions that involve doses near bedtime, but you can just modify the day’s dosage at even intervals closer to the morning and noon time, to avoid steroid related insomnia.
Steroid creams
Higher potency steroid creams (relative to OTC hydrocortisone) are also available. As long as you do not use higher potency steroid creams on your face, in skin fold areas, armpits, groin, open sores, or other places where they could get occluded and absorbed to a higher degree into your body, they can be used for itchy rashes.
Triamcinolone cream, or even higher potency creams like betamethasone or fluocinonide are options.
Steroid injections
When at an urgent care, or emergency room, your provider may opt to give you a steroid shot in your glute area, if they deem your allergic reaction is severe enough. Make sure to wait around for 15 or 20 minutes in a chair, after the injection, to avoid passing out while standing.
Other conditions that may be similar to a sun allergy
There are other conditions that may mimic a sun allergy, so be aware of these, as they all have their own treatment plans that work best for them.
A sun allergy is just an allergic reaction to the chemicals produced in the skin after it has been stimulated by sunlight. It can be anywhere your body was exposed to the sunlight. And it can also be surprisingly under clothes, in areas that didn’t get sun exposure, if the allergy is pronounced enough.
Heat rash
Heat rash occurs when sweat gland pores get clogged and the sweat cannot escape onto the surface of your skin. It tends to happen in areas where you’re wearing tight clothes on a hot day, or where an occlusive ointment has been applied, clogging the pores.
For more information, check out my article on hiking in the heat, under the health concerns section.
Hell’s itch
Hell’s itch is when you get a sunburn bad enough that it compromises the nerve endings in your skin, causing a severe, often painful itch on your skin. It’s more common at altitude, and for fairer skinned people.
Plant based dermatitis
If you’ve been outside in the sun, but also have been hiking or walking through ground vegetation, you have to decide whether or not your skin rash is from contact with grasses, weeds, or even poison ivy or oak, versus the sun. Obviously this rash may be more local, regarding where you rubbed up against some plants, versus a sun allergy which can be anywhere you were exposed to the sun.
Diaper rash
If you’ve been out all day in a wet bathing suit, or sweat soaked clothing, then you could get a bit of diaper rash in areas where your skin has been wet.
Chemical allergy to sunscreen
Some sunscreen chemicals can be irritating to the skin. Try to opt for plain zinc oxide related sunscreens with minimal excipients. You can find a list of such sunscreens on my Environmental Working Group best sunscreens on Amazon article by clicking here.
Eczema triggered by summer conditions
Eczema could rarely be triggered by sunlight, but it can also be triggered by heat, humidity, sweat or other summertime conditions.
Sun allergy prevention
Here are some tips on preventing a sun allergy, or at least diminishing its effects.
Exposure treatment
If you know your allergy is triggered by excessive quantities of sunlight that you normally don’t experience, especially because you mostly stay in doors, but are going to be in a high sun area, then you might try some exposure therapy.
Try sitting out in low intensity sunlight for say 20 or 30 minutes a day for a few weeks to a month before you’re planning on participating in your high exposure activity.
UPF rated clothing
Try to minimize your skin’s exposure to the sun when outside by wearing loose fitting, high UPF rated clothing. Long UPF rated pants that are lightweight also are a good option for summer. Also wear a wide brimmed hat.
Related: More on UPF rated clothing on my Hiking in the Heat article.
Mineral sunscreen
A zinc oxide cream, with or without titanium dioxide, is your best bet for a broad spectrum sun block to minimize sun exposure. Use a SPF 40+ rated product, and reapply it regularly, especially after swimming or high intensity activity.
Prophylactic antihistamine use
As previously mentioned, you can use antihistamines prophylactically for several days before your sun exposure is expected to occur. See my previous section above for details.
Managing stress
For whatever reason, sometimes sunlight + high stress can trigger a sun allergy. So keep your stress levels down via exercise, sleeping enough, meditation, and food choices.
Avoid high intensity parts of the day
Try to avoid being outdoors when the sun is most intense, during the noon time hours, when it’s directly overhead. If you’re at the beach all week for instance, just put your feet in the sand in the early morning, and in the late evening, and hour or so before sunset. Hang out at the cabana bar, and under an umbrella the rest of the time!
Can sun allergy be cured?
No, a sun allergy can not be cured. However, through exposure therapy, it may be diminished to the point where it only affects you during extreme solar intensity events. You may then be able to do your normal outdoor activities, like day hiking, or swimming at the pool, or visiting the beach, without it affecting you.
Usually as the summer progresses and you’re exposed more and more to the sun naturally, the condition calms down on its own.
How long does does it take for a sun allergy rash to go away?
After you’ve reduced your sun exposure back down to your normal daily levels, it can take several days to a few weeks before the sun allergy rash goes away. Continue to use your treatments of choice until the symptoms have resolved.
References
- Polymorphous light eruption – Mayo Clinic
- What the Heck Is Hell’s Itch?
- Zyrtec vs. Claritin: How to find the right allergy medication for you
Further Reading
Thanks for checking out my article on sun allergy. Next check out my main hiking, camping, and California living page.
See ya out there…