As soon as the sun comes out, some people experience itchy, red bumps on their ears. This could be a form of sun allergy.
Spring ears?
Sun rays can feel wonderfully warm, but the skin is often less happy with it. Especially in the spring, because then the skin has to get used to all that UV radiation again. In people who are sensitive to the sun and do not apply it properly, this can lead to sun allergies. These are itchy, red bumps or blisters that develop in places that have seen the sun, even if you normally can tolerate the sun well. Sun allergy can really occur anywhere on the body, including on the ears.
In the medical world, sun allergy on this part of the body is also often described as spring ears. They are so called because it mainly occurs in the spring, after the first sun.
This is what sun allergy can look like.
Also in the elderly
It is true that spring ears actually only occur in children. Anyone who is older and suffers from sun allergy on the ears has actually seen ‘just’ sun allergy and no spring ears.
What to do?
Do you have a sun allergy on the ears, or any other place on the body? Then it is often a matter of waiting. After all, the blisters or bumps usually go away on their own. To make this process go as smoothly as possible, it is a good idea to stay out of the sun until the spots are gone. Then they get time to heal.
Are the spots very itchy? Then you can use a menthol cream to soften this. According to Thuisarts.nl, 1 or 2 times a day should be sufficient, but more often is allowed. You can use the ointment for as long as needed. On Thuisarts.nl, an initiative of the Dutch College of General Practitioners, you can read that a corticosteroid cream can also help. “Spread the cream thinly on the spots 2 times a day. You should not apply the cream in body folds. Use the cream for a maximum of 1 week”, is the explanation.
Prevent sun allergy
Of course, prevention of sun allergies on the ears, or other place, is still better than a cure. You can do this by not sitting in the sun for a long time. Better build this up. In addition, avoid UV rays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest. Always use sunscreen with a factor of 30 or higher and wear a cap or hat if you know that your head or ears are extra sensitive to the sun.
(Source: Thuisarts.nl, libelle, Trouw, Healthline. Photo: Shutterstock)