Hi, my name is Pam.
I suffer from sun poisoning. I've also heard it called solar urticaria. I've had this since I was 10 years old.
I have very fair skin (type 1; always burns) and when I go in the sun I break out in painful hives, have headaches and feel nauseous and generally unwell. When this condition first appeared, the doctors did not know what it was or how to effectively treat it.
Trying to ease the resultant pain I would cover the rash with baking soda or calamine lotion; neither was very effective. When sunscreen became available it proved to be of some relief but only for short periods in the sun. So I was that person in the heat of the summer walking around in jeans and long-sleeved shirts with my hands in my pockets. Even then, the sun would penetrate my clothing and I would 'break out'.
The only effective solutions I've found are to stay in the shade and to wear sunhats and Solbari clothing. It's so great to finally find relief after 53 years.
Thank you Pam for helping raise awareness for skin conditions by sharing your story with us and our Solbari Community.
The Solbari Team
Many of us see the ultraviolet (UV) index on weather reports and read about UV alerts at particular times of the day. But do you know what it actually means and how it affects you?