Three Ways to Combat the Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus

Three Ways to Combat the Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus Symptoms

Photo by Samson Katt: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-woman-holding-dog-near-window-5256719/

Did you know exposure to sunlight can trigger lupus flares?

Never fear here are Three Ways to Combat the Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus Symptoms

If this is your first time hearing about it, it may be shocking information. Let’s talk about it. Of course, we know Lupus is a disease that affects millions of people all over the world; it does not have a cure; it causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy tissues that are in the body, so essentially, it triggers an attack in the body in the absence of physical disease, and the disease is a result of that attack; no one knows what causes Lupus, but research has shown that prolonged exposure to sunlight is a massive trigger for flare-ups. One of the most common symptoms of exposure to the Sun for extended periods when living with Lupus is having a rash, but for some people, it looks like a butterfly rash on their face. Why does sunlight trigger Lupus flares? The main reason is that ultraviolet light penetrates the skin and causes inflammation in the immune system. It essentially activates the immune system, so it’s kind of like it gets a jolt, causing the immune system to initiate this attack process that we discussed earlier(Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus), where healthy cells begin to be attacked in the body, which

then causes the person to experience lupus symptoms. What’s worse is that if you don’t have any immediate physical symptoms from the exposure to sunlight, it could worsen some of your other existing symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain, headaches, and all sorts of autoimmune symptoms that literally will slow down the quality of your life and your daily.

 I ended up sitting by the work window and getting a lupus Flare. It wasn’t until days after that sun exposure that I had the flare. I’ve gotten so good at managing my disease that when I have a flare-up(Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus), I typically know exactly when and how I got it, and this was one of those things I wasn’t thinking about at the moment, so exposure to sunlight may not necessarily make you sick immediately. Sometimes, it may take a couple of days before you feel

it

How to Combat the Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus Symptoms

Avoid the sun

You can stay inside during peak sun, around 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you’re going to be exposed to a lot of sunlight, just be mindful of the direction of the Sun and, when possible, sit in the shade, not directly in the Sun(Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus).

How to Combat the Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus Symptoms

Wear protective clothing

It’s good to wear protective clothing. I wear a lot of protective clothing; people think it’s a fashion thing, but it’s a lupus thing. This is why I often see

wearing long sleeves and sunglasses

Always wear sun tan lotion

Sun tan lotion!  It can’t hurt you to be overly protected from the Sun, but it can certainly hurt you not to have enough protection.

Protect yourself at home.

Another way to protect yourself while you’re indoors is to use protective window film, which can be added to your windows, or sun-protective window shades, which help block UV rays so that you can enjoy being indoors without having to worry about being triggered by the Sun while you’re home.

Remember, living with Lupus requires managing triggers and symptoms. This post provides you with the necessary information and tools to do just that.

It’s not about perfection. I often do so many things that I later go, oh, that was not the smartest.

We’re only sometimes going to remember to do all of it if you’re living with other conditions or simply navigating life(Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus).

Some things fall through the cracks, and

that’s okay. The key is to remember them next time.

The key to enjoying life with Lupus is managing the disease so that we can reduce, if not eliminate, the flares by taking the necessary precautions from the sunrise; you can enjoy the sun without it feeling like it’s personally like attacking you the plan is to reduce the number of times that you get flare-ups as well as the severity of your lupus symptoms, a considerable part of enjoying life with Lupus is managing the disease so that we can reduce(Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus), if not eliminate, the flares by

taking the necessary precautions from the sunrise, you can enjoy the sun without it feeling like it’s personally like attacking and personally violating you.

How to Combat the Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus Symptoms

I go to the beach. Yes, I wear a swimming costume, and yes, I sit under an umbrella. Of course, I have fun in the water, and then I return to my seat, relax, and chill out under the umbrella shade. 

It’s about finding a balance between restriction and freedom. With Lupus, it is about managing that balance effectively; knowing your limits and responding to your body is essential(Impact of Sun Exposure on Lupus).

Listen and pay attention to what your body is feeling. If you find yourself feeling more tired, slow down. If you have a lot of energy, try to knock out some of the things you must do. It’s all about self-awareness and being in tune with your body’s signals.

In my case, housework is always housework.

You don’t need to eliminate everything overnight; test things on yourself and see how you respond.

Do you find that the sunlight affects your condition?

Please comment below

Discover more about my journey with Lupus by checking out these insightful posts:

Disclaimer:

The information and tips in this post are based on my experiences and are provided for general information and educational purposes to aid other Lupus warriors in finding their own coping mechanisms. They do not constitute medical advice for any specific medical condition or situation. This Wots Her Name Again? should not be used or relied upon to diagnose or treat a problem, disease, or medical condition.

Discover Valuable Resources for Navigating Lupus – Your Guide to More Support:

Rest assured, if you or a loved one are diagnosed with Lupus and need further assistance or information, these reliable and trusted resources can provide the help you need.

Lupus UK

Lupus UK: A Key Resource for Those Affected by SLE Lupus UK is a voluntary organization in the United Kingdom that crucially provides information and support to individuals affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Lupus Trust

The Lupus Trust (previously St Thomas Lupus Trust) is dedicated to supporting lupus research at Guy’s Hospital and raising awareness of

Hibbs Lupus Trust

A Personal Journey Turned into a Mission The Hibbs Lupus Trust, a registered charity founded in 2011 by the Hibbs family, was born from a personal journey with Lupus and a strong desire to create meaningful change.


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