The Sun Became My Enemy: Sun Sensitivity and Psoriatic Arthritis

Before psoriatic arthritis (PsA) barged into my life, I was a sun worshipper. I lived in the desert and often compared my love of sunbathing to a lizard lying on a rock.

The sun felt so good on my skin. I never burnt and was always tanned. I could spend hours soaking up the rays without a care in the world.

But all that changed after my autoimmune diagnosis. Little did I know that PsA would give me a new "gift": sun sensitivity.

It started slowly. At first, I noticed a strange sensation whenever the humidity was high. Despite never having an issue with being in the sun, it began to feel like the sun was searing my skin. It wasn't the pleasant warmth I was used to.

Then, approximately two decades later, came the visual signs. One day, I noticed a patch on my arm that looked burnt. But it wasn't actually burnt, and after being out of the sun for a while, the color would return to normal.

That was the beginning. Over time, more patches began appearing on different areas of my body.

Now, if I spend even a little time in the sun, my arms and chest (basically any exposed skin) break out into a blistering rash. It looks and feels like a sunburn, but there's more to it. The area turns red and angry, and blisters form. Thankfully, Benadryl and some time away from the sun helps my skin return to normal, but the frustration remains.

At first, I thought one of my medications might be the cause. It seemed logical. Many medications have side effects that include increased sun sensitivity.

So, I did a deep dive into every prescription, over-the-counter medicine, and alternative remedy I was using. I scoured the side effects, hoping to find the culprit. But to my surprise, none of them were to blame. I was stumped.

I dug deeper into the root cause. I learned that autoimmune diseases, like inflammatory arthritis, can cause sun sensitivity.

This wasn't just any sensitivity. It matched exactly what I was experiencing, right down to the blistering rash! Just when I thought PsA couldn't get any more annoying, it seemed to laugh in my face and say, "Take this!"

I really hoped my sun sensitivity was due to a medication. That would have been the easiest to replace or remove.

But discovering that my unruly autoimmune disease was responsible leaves me with no other option than to protect my skin and hide from the sun as best as I can.

Now, I'm researching arm protection sleeves, hoping they will work for me. I've had problems in the past with compression socks because I'm allergic to elastic. I'm crossing my fingers that the arm sleeves won't trigger a reaction.

If they don't work, I'll have to overhaul my entire wardrobe to include shirts that don't reveal any skin. Ugh! Hiding from the sun is new to me, and it's frustrating since my instinct is to soak it up.

But this is my new reality with PsA. I'm learning to adapt, even though changing old habits is hard.

I never imagined that the sun I once adored would become something I needed to avoid. It's another adjustment, another challenge in this ongoing journey with psoriatic arthritis.

How about you? Do you suffer from sun sensitivity, too?

If so, please share your best tips for protecting your skin outdoors. Let's help each other out and find ways to enjoy the sunshine safely, even with this "gift" from PsA!