Don’t spend too long in the sun — it can do more than burn your skin

Can you be allergic to the sun? Mayo Clinic dermatologist Dr. Dawn Davis says the sun can cause a variety of reactions when it comes into contact with your skin.

Some skin conditions prompted by sun exposure are rare. However, others happen frequently, especially in summer.

This time of year, many of us head outside to enjoy the sunshine. Now, we all know it’s important to wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn, which is linked to skin cancer. But Davis says there are other problems that can arise from being in the sun that you might not know about.

“The sun is an immune-system stimulant,” she says. “It is technically toxic to the skin and irritates the skin.”

It can trigger what’s called polymorphic light eruption, which can cause a nasty rash, like an allergic reaction. Also, sun can interact with substances on your skin, such as perfume or spilled citrus juice, and cause what looks like a burn or sting.

“Phytophoto dermatitis, which is a chemical toxic reaction to the skin, gives your skin a chemical burn,” Davis says.

She says that, in addition to polymorphic light eruption and phytophoto dermatitis, the following two other conditions may occur as a result of exposure to the sun: solar urticaria, a rare condition that causes allergy to ultraviolet light, and is most common in adults with lifelong high ultraviolet exposure, such as airline pilots or professional mountain climbers; and porphyria, a blood condition exacerbated by UV light, and often under diagnosed or misdiagnosed.