Is sunburn an allergy to ultraviolet rays? What is the difference between ultraviolet allergy and sunburn?

Sunburn, solar dermatitis, also known as sunburn or sun spots, is an acute inflammatory reaction of normal skin after exposure to the sun, manifested by erythema, edema, blisters, pigmentation and desquamation. So, is sunburn an allergy to UV rays?

Is sunburn an allergy to UV rays?

Sunburn is not an allergy to UV rays. Sunburn and UV allergy are two different concepts. Sunburn is caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. For sunburn, the first thing to do is to avoid prolonged direct sunlight. When engaging in outdoor activities, you need to bring sun protection tools, such as a parasol, sunscreen, etc. Ultraviolet allergy means that the skin is sensitive to ultraviolet rays, and even a little outdoor activity can cause local rashes.

What is the difference between UV allergy and sunburn?

1. Ultraviolet allergy only occurs in a small number of people with specific physical conditions, while ordinary people do not respond to normal doses of ultraviolet radiation. Sunburn usually occurs after excessive exposure to the sun, such as when the sun is particularly strong at the beach, or when you stay outdoors at noon when the sun is strong. At this time, everyone will have a sunburn reaction, which is similar to a burn.

2. Patients who are allergic to ultraviolet rays will have symptoms such as rashes and itching on the local skin, while the reaction to sunburn is that all exposed skin will become evenly red or swollen. For example, after getting sunburned at the beach, only the areas covered by your clothes will have obvious marks, which is a sunburn reaction.

How to take care of the skin for patients with UV allergies

1. Pay attention to basic skin care. When you know you are allergic to ultraviolet rays, the most important thing is prevention. In daily skin care, pay attention to moisturizing and sun protection, and try not to wear makeup. Because cosmetics contain a lot of fragrances, preservatives and even pigments, these things themselves may cause allergies, and the makeup remover oil used when removing makeup is also an irritant to the skin and may aggravate allergic symptoms.

2. Physical sun protection. For example, holding an umbrella, wearing a hat, wearing sun-protective clothing, etc. Many clothes have the function of directly isolating light. Generally speaking, the higher the fabric density of the clothes, the better the sun protection effect. Since ultraviolet rays can be refracted through the ground, walls, water surface, etc., it is best to apply sunscreen while taking these physical sun protection measures.

The difference between UV allergy and UV burn

Prolonged exposure to strong sunlight may cause skin damage, which is ultraviolet burns, not allergies.