Thanks everyone for your replies, I will be heading for the health store this weekend to stock up on the vit B3 and Beta Carratine. The suncream I ordered from Sun Care Central (organic) has arrived so fingers crossed this holiday to Mexico should be the best yet !!!

8 sleeps to go !!

Thanks again without your advice it would have been another holiday from hell!

I also get a terrible rash in the sun, and I have found the best way to treat this is to take low dose steroids for the time I am away. You will of course need to visit the GP to get these, as they are prescription only. I have taken them for the last 2 holidays and they work like a miracle.

Hi dennyDenny52, did the GP give you 10mg a day ? I was actually at the doctors today and she did offer me steriod tablets, but as noone else has mentioned them i was unsure re taking them while going to Mexico i was going to wait until i went to Europe.

Did you have any side effects as this is what worried me, if it has made a big ? difference to you I think I will ring GP and ask for prescription afterall

Keep in touch rash buddy !!!

Hi Mich-mop,

I took just 4mg per day. No side effects at all if you are only taking them for a short time (1 or 2 weeks) They truely are like a miracle, cos as you will know, having this terrible rash makes you truely miserable and is even painful after a while!!

I start taking them the day I arrive on holiday. Ring your GP and get a script you won't regret it. Let me know how you get on and enjoy your holiday.

Denny

Hi there,

I have polymorphic light eruption which is an allergy to the UVA rays in the sun. It means that I develop a red rash that looks like prickly heat on any area exposed to sun. Prickly heat in comparison affects areas which have been covered up.

If you have PLE and it is the sun which causes the rash, it makes little difference which ingredients are in a sunscreen, the only thing you need to remember is to use one with 5 star UVA protection. It is available in all Boots Soltan and Ambre Solaire high factor.

I have to use Ambre Solaire Factor 50 sun sensitive cream which has a UVA 5 star rating (Ultra) and because they are not penetrating the skin, I do not develop the rash.

Hope this helps.

hi julie

i also use the ambre solaire factor 50 sensitive sun cream after trying many others this is the only one that works for me

Mich-Mop:

Not sure if they sell this in the UK - I am sure they do,, as it is sold just about everywhere but the US (won't be sold for another year or so here).

LaRoche-Posey Anthelios Sunblock. This is by far - the best I have found.

We are redheads and very fair skin. I bought this while on vacation with my 12 mos old in Italy and have used it ever since. I can say - I have never had a rash, burn etc. I know it is not cheap - and can usually only be found at apotheke in Europe.

Good luck - But to answer your question - I found Ocean Potion in Cancun and in Cozumel - I am sure its in PDC.

Julie - Thanks for the recs on sunscreen. I know some store in the US sell Boots - so I will try that. I also have PMLE and now both my kids are experiencing the same symptoms. Try taking a teenage girl away in the winter and have her complain about the rash - not fun! The only relief I find is pretanning, but I hate to get my kids into that habit, so I will look for those sunscreens. My dermatologist told me that light skinned Europeans have the highest incidence of PMLE - with Sweden being tops. Just an interesting fact I thought.

Hi Morgan, sorry I should have noted you were from the states.

In the UK we have a system of labelling which shows us in real terms how much UVA we are blocking with a lotion. The least protection gets one star and the best protection get's 5 stars, for those of us with PMLE, 5 stars all the way.

One suggestion and idea, I'm not sure what brands you get out there, but I would recommend if you can get your hands on some, to get an Australian made lotion with high UVA protection (this will come in a max of Factor 30 as they aren't allowed to make lotions any higher).

Australian lotions are far supreme to any other and their SPF test is conducted differently. The international standard for an SPF test is to apply the lotion and test it, but the Australians apply the lotion, immerse in water and then test, thus making their tests a bit more hardcore and the lotions a bit more supreme.

Hi,

I also suffer with the sun and my skin. I tan well but get covered in ugly welts. I use E45 factor 15 that I buy on e bay, Simple Sun factor 10 and any paba free cream I can buy in the states. I no longer have any problems,

Jane