(copy from journal - PMLE)
Irritations
Some of you might know that I have a strange allergy. It occurs most often in women and affects about 10% of the population. And it's called "Polymorphic (or Polymorphous) Light Eruption" and it's basically a UV allergy. I usually joke and say I'm allergic to the sun because it sounds funnier. The sad thing is that it's true. For unknown reason, people with this allergy (abbreviated as "PMLE") break out in itchy, burny patches of red bumps in reaction to UV light. The skin freaks out inappropriately and causes an immuno response. It's in no way life-threatening but it's terribly annoying. It's also ugly. I get it on my forearms, from the back of my hand up towards my elbow. Some people get it in other areas, but that's the only place my rashes show up.
So last Monday - March 2nd - I was running errands and I noticed that the sunlight was exactly in the worst place possible, so that as I was driving, it was hitting right on my arms. Thing is, you can't predict when you're going to get the rash and when you're not. I can go months without so much as a bump, but then I can be in brief sunlight in my car for ten minutes and poof! there comes an attack. Anyway, sure enough, that night/into the next, I had gotten the reaction. It sucked like normal but it normally goes away after a few days so I just put some hydrocortisone cream on it and tried to not scratch.
Problem is that a few days went by. Then a week. Now we're a week and a half after and the damned thing is STILL HERE. Ugh, it's SO ANNOYING! My arms randomly itch something fierce. I keep trying to avoid more sun exposure on my arms, but there's only so much I can do and it's not helping. It's just really frustrating that it's lasting so long this time around. Because it's uncomfortable and, well, it just looks absolutely disgusting. I'm sure it looks worse to me than to other people, but still. I know it's there. I can see it. And it's just so gross having your arms and the back of your hands coated in red, angry bumps. I feel like a damned freak. It's in no way contagious or anything, but it's still nasty. And I feel like other people are looking at it and they don't know it's nothing serious or contagious.
I just wish this damned attack would go away already. I have no idea why this time around it's lasting so long. I really want my arms to stop itching and burning and looking hideous.
Some of you might know that I have a strange allergy. It occurs most often in women and affects about 10% of the population. And it's called "Polymorphic (or Polymorphous) Light Eruption" and it's basically a UV allergy. I usually joke and say I'm allergic to the sun because it sounds funnier. The sad thing is that it's true. For unknown reason, people with this allergy (abbreviated as "PMLE") break out in itchy, burny patches of red bumps in reaction to UV light. The skin freaks out inappropriately and causes an immuno response. It's in no way life-threatening but it's terribly annoying. It's also ugly. I get it on my forearms, from the back of my hand up towards my elbow. Some people get it in other areas, but that's the only place my rashes show up.
So last Monday - March 2nd - I was running errands and I noticed that the sunlight was exactly in the worst place possible, so that as I was driving, it was hitting right on my arms. Thing is, you can't predict when you're going to get the rash and when you're not. I can go months without so much as a bump, but then I can be in brief sunlight in my car for ten minutes and poof! there comes an attack. Anyway, sure enough, that night/into the next, I had gotten the reaction. It sucked like normal but it normally goes away after a few days so I just put some hydrocortisone cream on it and tried to not scratch.
Problem is that a few days went by. Then a week. Now we're a week and a half after and the damned thing is STILL HERE. Ugh, it's SO ANNOYING! My arms randomly itch something fierce. I keep trying to avoid more sun exposure on my arms, but there's only so much I can do and it's not helping. It's just really frustrating that it's lasting so long this time around. Because it's uncomfortable and, well, it just looks absolutely disgusting. I'm sure it looks worse to me than to other people, but still. I know it's there. I can see it. And it's just so gross having your arms and the back of your hands coated in red, angry bumps. I feel like a damned freak. It's in no way contagious or anything, but it's still nasty. And I feel like other people are looking at it and they don't know it's nothing serious or contagious.
I just wish this damned attack would go away already. I have no idea why this time around it's lasting so long. I really want my arms to stop itching and burning and looking hideous.