What Is Polymorphous Light Eruption?
Polymorphous light eruption is a reaction which occurs in the skin of an individual as a result of coming in contact with sunlight. Oftentimes the reaction itself is due to ultraviolet light reacting with the body, but sunlight is the most common form of ultraviolet light that there is, and the U.V. rays are what sets off the allergic reaction.
While no-one can completely say what the cause of these reactions are, individuals with a sensitivity to light can experience extreme effects in their body when exposed to the sun and other U.V. rays.
Some of the most common and also most recognizable symptoms are small blisters and tiny red pimples occurring on the skin within just a few days (or even a few hours) of contact to the sun. The individuals who are affected are also likely to get blotches on their skin that appear and feel scaly.
It is highly encouraged for individuals with polymorphous light eruption to cover themselves as much as they can to protect from exposure to the U.V. rays of the sun, and they should make all efforts to avoid a lot of sunlight exposure. Many of those who are affected by exposure to the sun have worn strong levels of sunscreen or sunblock.
While some individuals are referred to have “sun poisoning” when they have polymorphous light eruption, it is actually not a poisoning at all so much as it is their body trying to fight against the exposure to the U.V. rays. The disease itself affects individuals of all types, and while it isn’t just acquired for no reason (as it is inherited), it can also range in who inherits it as well as how severe the condition is.
Some individuals who have polymorphous light eruption are aid to be affected within hours of any exposure to sunlight and will have lesions or blisters that appear and stay present for days or even weeks while others are barely affected at low levels of exposure.
Some of the infected individuals claim to be in extreme pain or experience major agitation as a result of the exposure and lesions, while others are able to almost completely ignore the condition.