My symptoms are similar to both. After exposure to the sun, it takes about 48 hours for my skin to react. I look like I have a severe sunburn, but it is like one big hive, skin is swollen and red and usually affects the chest and back mostly, but sometimes my arms as well. I can get sun on my face without the itch, just a sunburn. The itch is so intense that that nothing seems to relieve it; it is totally intolerable. I have tried creams, cold baths, steroids, antihistamines, with limited or no results. In fact, sometimes these things make the itch so much worse. The only way to get through it is to take sleeping pills and sleep for 24 hours. After that, the skin is still itchy for a day or more, but it is tolerable. I have resorted to using sunscreen every hour when I have to be in the sun, wearing long-sleeves even in the awful heat, a hat, and sunglasses. This began to happen after I fell asleep in the sun and got a severe burn over 40 years ago. It has never gotten any better. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?
Posted by maggiemae88
My symptoms are similar to both. After exposure to the sun, it takes about 48 hours for my skin to react. I look like I have a severe sunburn, but it is like one big hive, skin is swollen and red and usually affects the chest and back mostly, but sometimes my arms as well. I can get sun on my face without the itch, just a sunburn. The itch is so intense that that nothing seems to relieve it; it is totally intolerable. I have tried creams, cold baths, steroids, antihistamines, with limited or no results. In fact, sometimes these things make the itch so much worse. The only way to get through it is to take sleeping pills and sleep for 24 hours. After that, the skin is still itchy for a day or more, but it is tolerable. I have resorted to using sunscreen every hour when I have to be in the sun, wearing long-sleeves even in the awful heat, a hat, and sunglasses. This began to happen after I fell asleep in the sun and got a severe burn over 40 years ago. It has never gotten any better. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?