Urticaria Solaris  

Here, too, the name says it all. The light, the sunlight is here the trigger for the wheals. Affected persons can no longer expose themselves to sunlight. Each affected person reacts to a different wavelength of light. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants as protection helps some to keep the wheal formation at bay. The sun still shines through clothing and it only helps to a limited extent. For some sufferers, sunscreens, with a very high SPF, help. However, this only affects those who react to ultraviolet light with urticaria.

Most people cannot expose themselves to direct sunlight. Many have to forgo summer vacations and spend the most beautiful time of the year indoors to also protect themselves from (severe) systemic reactions.

Treatment options are rather limited for this form. One possibility is light therapy. Here, an attempt is made to accustom the skin to light by irradiation. There are various procedures to choose from. However, this therapy unfortunately does not last permanently.

Light urticaria or also called urticaria solaris can be easily confused with heat urticaria. It can also indicate two other diseases: Porphyria or Lupus Erythematosus.

Medications known as triggers for light urticaria:
Tetracycline
Chlorpromazine
Ointments containing tar

If the urticaria was triggered by these medications, it is called secondary light urticaria and disappears on its own.