Avoid direct sunlight, wear light clothing or high SPF sunscreen. Sun rash can be caused by sunlight, chemicals, or prescription drugs. Protect skin with clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Gradual exposure to sunlight can build resistance. Treat mild cases with aloe vera, cold packs, or hydrocortisone creams. Consult a doctor for severe cases.
Avoiding exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the early afternoon hours, is one of the most effective ways to avoid breakouts, although it may not always be possible to do so. Wearing light clothing to cover your skin or using a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) can also protect you. In addition to natural sunlight, tanning beds or sunlamps can cause sunburn and can be avoided to avoid the problem.
Once you have a sun rash — an allergic reaction that appears as itchy red spots, inflammation, or small blisters on skin that’s been exposed to sunlight — you’ll likely develop it again. Sometimes it is the body’s reaction to sunlight. Skin products or exposure to chemicals and prescription drugs can also cause rashes.
Sun rash can appear within an hour of sun exposure. How long it takes for a rash to appear depends on your level of sensitivity to the sun. Areas of the body not normally exposed to sunlight are especially vulnerable to developing rashes.
You can protect your skin from sun exposure by wearing clothing that keeps most of your body covered. When it’s very hot, you can wear light clothing. Extremely light or sheer clothing, however, may not be enough to prevent sun rash, because the sun’s rays may be able to penetrate the light fabric. A large hat and sunglasses can help protect your face from the sun.
A sunscreen with at least an SPF 15 can protect your skin while you’re outdoors. An SPF of 15 means you should be able to be in the sun up to 15 times as long as you would without sunscreen before having an adverse reaction. You can reduce your SPF over time if you are able to build up your resistance to the sun.
Sometimes resistance to the sun can be developed through gradual exposure to sunlight over a period of time. This is often done under the guidance of a dermatologist or other medical professional. After long periods without sun exposure, the desensitization process may need to be repeated.
If preventing sun flare doesn’t work, there are treatments to reduce symptoms. Home treatment is often sufficient for milder cases of sunburn. Aloe vera gel, cold packs, or hydrocortisone creams can be used to reduce swelling and redness. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also reduce the discomfort.
Unless you have a severe reaction to sunlight, there’s usually no need to avoid the sun completely. For extreme cases, it is best to consult a doctor. For milder cases, some trial and error with various preventative measures is usually all that is needed to determine what works best for you.
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