National Allergy Week highlights sun sensitive skin

It's not just hayfever that stops women enjoying the summer - sun sensitive skin causes misery for hundreds of women in the UK...

Although hayfever tops many people's lists of summer annoyances, with National Allergy Week in full swing (10th-14th May), a new survey has found that large numbers of women will unwillingly stay indoors due to sun sensitive skin.

The Piz Buin survey questioned 1000 women who had experienced an undesirable skin reaction which they believed to be caused by exposure to the sun: 57% claimed they felt an itchy, prickly sensation, 45% had

redness, while 35% had raised bumps and 27% blotchiness.

The term ‘allergy' is used to describe a response, within the body, to a substance, which is not necessarily harmful in itself, but results in an immune response and a reaction that causes symptoms and disease in a predisposed person.

Allergy is widespread and affects approximately one in four of the population in the UK at some time in their lives. Each year the numbers are increasing by 5% with as many as half of all those affected being children.

Almost half of women surveyed (46%) with sun sensitive skin said they feel envious of other people who can enjoy the sunshine for longer.

Dr Sarah Wakelin, a consultant dermatologist added: ‘You may have been on an exotic summer holiday and experienced a rash around the neck or shoulders and not understood what it was. If you do suffer from sun sensitive skin, it's important to follow a daily sun care regime and choose products that offer an advance level of protection.'

The new Piz Buin Allergy range has been specifically developed to help protect those with sun sensitive skin - it combines advanced UVA/UVB sun filters and Calmanelle - a unique shield complex proven to help strengthen the skin's resilience.

For more information on National Allergy Week visit www.allergyuk.org.

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