Allergy to the Sun, do I switch meds?

Hi

Not sure what is going on but It has been suggested by a Dermatologist that I have sun allergy. He suggested it and asked for a follow up appointment in July (when sun is hottest.)

I’m really at a loss. I have stopped eating fish, shellfish, crustaceans, milk, soya, wheat, eggs, etc. in case it is simple enough undiagnosed food allergy.
I am not even sure if this is clutching at straws.

If it is sun allergy then I have it quite severely, i spent an hour in the garden and an hour in the car yesterday. With sunblock, with a hat on, covered up with sunglasses, it wasn’t even full sun all day here - about half and half (a lot of the time in truth i think i took the hat off when it was not direct sunlight etc.

My face was swollen and red first think in the morning.

I have heard that it can be managed. I talked to my care co ordinator and it’s possible to have less of an effect with gradual exposure treatment.

It’s this or a med change which by my history of Schiz could end my life or someone else’s if I’m not re admitted to hospital long enough term to get me back on meds

I suggested switching to a combo of 2 anti psychotics… Which has helped when i was just out of hospital.

The facial swelling was ridiculous, i looked like a punching bag. after very minimal exposure, an hour or two, covered in sunblock, with a hat on most of the time or in the shade.

That was on the morning after the hottest day maybe 20 C, in 15 / 16 i get milder reactions…

hoping beyond hope it is something that will not make me have to move a long way north…

hot days ahead and a walking holiday being booked for summer.

I think I’ll get dramatic if it is the meds AND it doesn’t go away for 20 years despite med change - which i have read is a worst scenario possibility.

I’ve been well for 10 years… bit shaky lately but nothing i can’t handle (Haha)

I would ask for polypharmacological treatment with 2 antipsychotics if they would consider it to cope with the transition.
i have put on 2 stone each time i started Risperidone (twice) and lost it (once), so i know a med change could have me firmly obese and no better off.

this was the first day i get a chance to outside and enjoy the weather since September last year.

I’m not sure how to cope with the situation

A friend of mine also has a sun allergy and she doesn’t take any meds, so I’m sure it’s not related Chrystal.

Thanks mini, it can be, it has so many different possibilities of the precise dx…

There is urticaria type and Polymorphous Light thingy and lots of other different ones. It can be caused by meds…
I need to find out in July what they recommend.

I guess with a few more hot days i will begin to know for certain.

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I know chlorpromazine (Thorazine?) makes people sensitive to sunlight. I had to carry factor 50 with me in the summer. Not sure if any other APs do this though. I hope you get things relieved soon.

Hi
i’m in the U.K. - i take Clopixol…

What sort of symptoms were you getting? from the sun? how did it go away, did you change meds?

Hey @Thanna - I’m in the uk too.

I just got sunburn real easy. I think chlorpromazine effects melanin in the skin meaning you burn in strong sun. Doesn’t sound as bad as your reactions. I stayed on the med and just used sunblock.

To my lay persons brain it sounds like you may have more of an allergy type thing. Sorry I am not much use.

Ps I am on depixol depot and I have no skin problems

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Cool, thanks.

Depots are great really helpful, i was on clopixol depot, but now changed to the tablet form

The dermatologist said it was from the sun he thought and to come bak in July, (by which time I would work this out for myself and agree with him i’m thinking.)

It does seem like an allergy. I guess i have to work out if it is the sun on Wednesday the UV index is higher than usual… i’ll go and sunbathe and not eat any potential allergens - keeping that up for a few weeks anyway.

I’ll do this with my mum and we can keep her epi pen nearby

Yeah you sound like the overworked and unbelievably overstretched uk NHS :slight_smile:

they said allergy. not much use. i mean the out of hours doc i went to

said definitely an allergy