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Severe Alergic Reaction to Something?

Question

Hi.I hope you reply back to my question.I have tanned before and every spring I go for few times to get some tan before I go out on the beach and I get little red and tiny bit itchy but it goes away pretty quickly and after second or third time,i don't get it anymore.Well, last 3 times I went I had bad reaction to something...First two times I did lay down and used same lotion(as last year)and had pretty bad reaction for about 5-6 hours but nothing as bad as the 3rd time when I did stand up bed for only 5 minutes using same lotion. Symptoms were: Extreme itching, redness all over my body(there was especially huge/red/itchy part on my neck...there is still dry patch after two weeks of this incident), pain, nausea, dizziness,dehydration,BAD CHILLS.I almost went to ER, nothing I was doing was helping but then I took Ibuprofen and Benadryl and drank a lot of fluids!!! It helped but it took about 45 minutes for it to "kick in" and that night was long and difficult. I had chills entire night, itching calmed down after the meds and by morning I was ok. Redness had gone and itching almost completely. Felt weak and exhausted for days after this ordeal. Not sure if this is from tanning, the lotion or what? I will never go tanning again but I only hope I am not allergic to SUN...I had similar reactions after being exposed to sun, but never like this and never so much. Please help. thank you!

Answer

Unfortunately this reaction could be due to a number of things - the tanning, the lotion, both or you could actually be allergic to sun exposure, heat or sweat if you do so while tanning/in the sun. Unfortunately there is not much for you to do except wait it out and see or see an allergen-immunologist to identify allergies you have. Best skin care wishes.

Meagan, Esthetician

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2009-11-29