Polymorphic Light Eruption

There's no cure for polymorphic light eruption, but careful avoidance of the sun and using sunscreens will help you manage the rash.

Generally, avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm, and wear protective clothing when outdoors (unless you're hardening your skin; see below). Introduce your skin to sunlight gradually in the spring.

Sunscreen

You may beprescribed sunscreens, which may prevent the rash developing.

Use a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or above with a good UVA rating. Apply it thickly and evenly, reapplying often. Watch a video on how to apply sunscreen .

Steroid creams and ointments

Your GP can prescribe corticosteroid (steroid) cream or ointment , to be applied only when the rash appears. You should apply this sparingly, as often as your GP advises, and never when there's no rash.

Desensitisation or UV treatment

Sometimes you can increase the resistance of your skin to the sun. This involves visiting a hospital department three times a week for four to six weeks in the spring.

Your skin is gradually exposed to a little more UV light every visit, to try to build up your skin's resistance. The effects of desensitisation are lost in the winter, so you'll have to build up your resistance again in the spring.

Hardening or toughening

You may be able to increase the resistance of your skin at home, which is known as "hardening". This involves going outside for short periods in the spring to build up your resistance.

You might find the time is as short as a few minutes at first, but you may be able to gradually build up to longer times. You'll have to be careful not to overdo it, but as you understand more about how much light triggers your rash, you'll be able to judge how long to stay out.

The effects of hardening are lost in the winter, so you'll have to build up your resistance again in the spring.

Vitamin D

People with polymorphic light eruption are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency, as a certain amount of sun exposure is needed to make your own vitamin D . Your GP will advise whether you need treatment with vitamin D supplements.