I used to tan with the best of them. I spent summers running around with no sunscreen, peeling off my sunburned skin, and enjoying the tan underneath. Let's be honest, I was pretty much skin cancer in the making. Anyway, I was generally baked a nice golden-brown. And I never even had to use a tanning bed. And then I turned 20.
While in St. George this weekend (a wedding, some family time, and a baby blessing. Oh my!) I spent a little time relaxing on the patio between events. I plugged in my ipod headphones, grabbed a book, and basked in the warmth.
That's when the trouble always starts. Every year I forget that the sun and I no longer get along. That lovely golden, glowing orb was my best friend all spring, summer, and fall. Now it's my worst enemy. If I spend more than about 5 minutes in direct sunlight I break out in a lovely allergic rash.
My upper arms and my chest turn red, bust out in little bumps, and itch like mad for days on end. I began to wonder if there was any respite from my ailment. I did a little research, and lo and behold, it actually is a real condition. It's called Polymorphous Light Eruption, or PMLE for short. (You can read about it here if you're curious).
So, back to my original story: somewhere in the midst of white weddings, lots of food, and seeing baby Jenna blessed, I got attacked by the sun.
I guess it could be worse... it hit my mom for the first time on her honeymoon in Mazatlan.
4 comments:
Oh, I hope you feel better soon, Annie!
hmm, i didn't think to ever look it up, i've had this since i was maybe 10 or so. I usually stop getting the rash after a little bit each summer. fun fun fun!
I used to be allergic to the sun. Between the time I was about five until about 12, I couldn't go out in the sun without wearing like 70 spf sunscreen or I would break out in a rash. I outgrew it though, and have not had any problems with it for a while. It's no fun though, that's for sure.
Oh my, I didn't know that was something you could develop. Wow, its a good thing we live in utah and wearing long sleeves in the summer is not a strange thing! I remember you were always tan...
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