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What Causes Polymorphic Light Eruption?
Question: my wife has been experiencing some weird rashes for about a week now, they started down by her wrist on her right arm and now it's up to her shoulder almost on both arms. she came into contact with an armadillo about 3 weeks ago and rescued a kitten with mange last week. we've been sitting outside allot lately under some trees. not sure if it could be sunburn or hear rash. the rashes are somewhat bumpy and are sensitive to contact. also constantly itchy. no contact with poison Ivy or any other plants that she's aware of.
Brief Answer:
Polymorphic Light Eruption
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through uour query and I have understood it. I have also looked at the Images.
I would keep a possibility of Polymorphic Light eruption (PMLE), which can manifest as itchy papules and plaques on the sun exposed sites/uncovered skin like extensor arms, neck and face. It is a sun light induced eruption in people who have developed a sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity), in particular ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
The rash usually appears on areas of the body that tend to be covered during winters and exposed in summers: the upper chest, front of the neck and the arms and also face sometimes as red, tiny bumps or slightly raised patches of skin.
I would suggest her a broad spectrum sunscreen, that which offers both UV B as well as UV A protection throughout the day. A sunscreen with minimum spf 30 would be required.
It should be applied in the following quantity:
--3ml for face and neck(a little more than 1/2 teaspoon)
--3ml for each arm(a little more than 1/2 teaspoon).
A sunscreen should be applied every 2-3 hours.
For the blotchy rash, she could apply a moderately potent topical steroid e.g fluticasone propionate cream OR Mometasone furoate cream, twice daily over the affected area.
An OTC antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10mg once daily would help her symptomatically with the itch.
regards
Polymorphic Light Eruption
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through uour query and I have understood it. I have also looked at the Images.
I would keep a possibility of Polymorphic Light eruption (PMLE), which can manifest as itchy papules and plaques on the sun exposed sites/uncovered skin like extensor arms, neck and face. It is a sun light induced eruption in people who have developed a sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity), in particular ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
The rash usually appears on areas of the body that tend to be covered during winters and exposed in summers: the upper chest, front of the neck and the arms and also face sometimes as red, tiny bumps or slightly raised patches of skin.
I would suggest her a broad spectrum sunscreen, that which offers both UV B as well as UV A protection throughout the day. A sunscreen with minimum spf 30 would be required.
It should be applied in the following quantity:
--3ml for face and neck(a little more than 1/2 teaspoon)
--3ml for each arm(a little more than 1/2 teaspoon).
A sunscreen should be applied every 2-3 hours.
For the blotchy rash, she could apply a moderately potent topical steroid e.g fluticasone propionate cream OR Mometasone furoate cream, twice daily over the affected area.
An OTC antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10mg once daily would help her symptomatically with the itch.
regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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