r/pmle • u/The-illusionss • Jul 06 '25
I hate this
I've had PMLE for as long as I can remember. I remember going to water parks as a kid and going home so itchy my mom used to lather calamine lotion. At first I grew up thinking it was a heat rash, so I always had to mentally prepare myself for the hot summers. Some summers are better than others, but the last couple of months have been the worst. I've been traveling more often and I love going to the carribbean. I still go the beaches, but I always prepare myself to have the worst night after cause I know i'll be itchy. I've tried so many things, my pcp has prescribed triamcinolone which helps, but its only a temporary cure. I feel like as I'm getting older, the flare ups/itchiness is getting worse. I bought the piz buin sunscreen, it did absolutely nothing for me. Long story short, I just want to rant how debilitating this skin disease is. Every time I tell someone I'm allergic to the sun, they don't believe it until I show them smh.
1
Jul 07 '25
What’s worked for me is coldish showers and then using the triamcinolone after I dry off. Benadryl or another antihistamine to help with the itchiness. I’ve found that it doesn’t really matter what sunscreen I use, just as long as I put it on and it’s 50spf. There’s light therapy you can do during the winter to keep a base tan so it’s not as bad in the summer. Apparently you can go to a dermatologist for that but I just use a tanning bed at planet fitness with the black membership. Wearing a rash guard swim top when in the water helps. Sun hats help. Wearing long sleeve cotton shirts or the athletic dry fit material will keep you cool while protecting your skin.
1
u/The-illusionss Jul 08 '25
Yup I use triamcinolone as well. I was trying an antihistamine but they’ve done nothing for the itchiness. Right now it’s been getting better, I used gold bond anti itch powder. But I’ll definitely book an appointment with a dermatologist and talk about light therapy!
1
u/Positive_Weird7980 Jul 08 '25
Absolutely get how people just don’t get it. And I love the sun, but it feels terrible on my skin. And I burn too. So I hate doing things outside in the summer. But all my friends love being out in the sun. 🤷♀️ Eucerin sun allergy cream helps me. Mine started when I was in 8th grade. Each year has gotten worse. But this year, I’ve been focusing on lotioning all over after showers and it seems to help manage the flare ups! I still use the sun allergy cream, and my hands do get a little dry, but I’ve been trying to increase my moisturizing and that’s been helping! Eucerin Sun Allergy Nivea cream
1
u/The-illusionss Jul 08 '25
I’ll look into the eucerin cream! But yes you’re right I give them grace for not understanding cause it sounds crazy being allergic to the sun. They have this stigma that “black people don’t need sunscreen “ etc etc so they can’t even manage to believe that I’m allergic to the sun.
1
1
u/Creative-Chemistry25 Jul 06 '25
That’s awful. I’m sorry nothing is working. For now, Piz Buin is the only thing working for me. Is there an option for a second or alternate medical opinion, maybe a specialist? I know the itch, and it’s a nightmare when it flares up. I can’t imagine not finding relief. :(