Anyone else suffering with P.L.E??

[PinkFizz]

Help!! I suffer with very severe Polymorphic Light Eruption and am in agony today.My arms are a mass of huge blisters and the usual calamine,aloe vera isnt soothing the pain.Does anyone else suffer from this and have a possible solution for the pain,and to help the blisters ease??

[shaneystar2]

. I have had this for years since I was in my twenties .Have had numerous tests at hospital seen dermatologists had bits of skin removed for analysis etc. I get it on my face and upper chest .Looks horrible .The last time I went about it to St Georges in Tooting they took photos of it !

[shaneystar2]

. Wanted to try me on drugs that they give to sufferers of leprosy but my GP said not to go there. I can't help you really ...I do find that by staying out of the direct sun and 50 factor Nivea sun cream does help. Ice cold wet flannels kept in the fridge will cool it.

[shaneystar2]

.I also have to say that as I have got older and over the menopause it is nowhere near as bad as it used to be .I sympathize ..I really do . I am convinced it is tied up with hormones.Take care

[shaneystar2]

Sorry so long winded ..AB won't let me submit one post .Grr
We'll be writing in txt spk soon !

[PinkFizz]

I too have had a skin biopsy on my arm - they wanted to do it on my face!! I get it on my arms and upper chest only - exactly the same as you!! Wierd thing is that the websites say it normally comes up on unexposed skin - ie legs and torso.

[PinkFizz]

Im very stressed Shaney - had got away with any blisters last year,got a lovely tan over the last week then yesterday - bang!! I look a right mess and am so upset.b/f has never seen it on me and is very sympathetic but it looks terrible.x

[beryllium]

Poor PinkFizz, did you see this woman...?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=377714&a mp;in_page_id=1774&in_a_source

[horselady]

I have this too, very itchy today. The only thing that eased it was when the doc prescribed steroids, but obviously I didn't want to take them for long, I'm scratching as I type and hubby has just said "stop scratching you'll make it worse" excuse me one moment while I go and find a heavy object to hit him with.

[shaneystar2]

Part 1
I know just how you feel .The funny thing is when I have been abroad on holiday I get a tan and it clears up !! I used to find that just being hot and bothered made it worse .When we lived in London I worked in a bakers and it was sooo hot and I looked as if I had the measles half the time

[shaneystar2]

part 2
Since we retired and moved back to Norfolk it has calmed down ..sea air perhaps !! I am not as stressed now so that may be a factor.
Try the Nivea factor 50 but it has to be put on religously every day .You are not alone ..try not to worry and make it worse xx

[PinkFizz]

awww,i have so many blisters I look like a dot to dot puzzle!! They aren't just itchy,they are proper blisters which I can pop,and I know I shouldnt but I do just to ease the pressure. I look a right mess.Funnily enough,again,when I go abroad I tend to not get it.xx

[shaneystar2]

Don't pop those blisters..this is naughty and you could get an infection ....Another thing you could try is good old fashioned calamine lotion dabbed on with cotton wool ..dabbed not rubbed !!
It does cool the skin ...hope you feel better soon ..take care xx

[shaneystar2]

I see you have tried calamine ..tut... I am now itching in sympathy with you !! I spent a hour in the garden gassing on the phone with the phone arm out from under the umbrella and have got a lovely crop of lumpy bits coming up on my elbow !

[Dollie]

Had this for ten years and made my holidays a misery. Finally went to dermatology and they put me on a de-sensitisation programme. Had to to go to hosp three times a week for six weeks (yes really) to stand in a booth (just like a tanning booth but you don't get a tan) for around 60 seconds a time only. It took me longer to get undressed than it did to have the treatment. FANTASTIC - no recurrence in the last four years - a total cure.

[PinkFizz]

I was offered the desensitisation probrammme a few years ago but I can't remember for the life of me why I didnt do it.Think I will have to make further enquiries - I can't go on like this.I just hope it settles down soon - I look and feel dreadful this morning.