Heat Allergy
Hi all.
It has just occurred to me that there is a family skin allergy that may have some connection to Degos Disease. My father (when he was alive) and both my sons get very bad heat rash (prickly heat) when exposed to the sun, however my late mother and myself can sit in the sun all day and not burn. Indeed I never really lose my tan on my body from year to year, although now I have many round, white spots from my now gone Degos lesions which really show up when I am tanned.
I seem to remember that it was soon after I had sunbathed in Italy and some heat rash spots had come up on my arms (very unusual for me) that the Degos lesions started to appear.
I wonder if any other family members of Degos Disease patients have similar histories – could DD have something to do with the sun on certain skins?
Pearl
It’s an interesting thought, Pearl – I first noticed my lesions after a holiday in the sun in Antigua, and thought they were sandfly bites. On the other hand, I have fair skin and can burn easily – all this history, for what it’s worth, has been relayed to the various consultants I’ve seen over the years, and none has said if there’s anything significant in it.
I don’t know enough about my immune system, which is highly active when the Degos disease is in an active stage – I wonder if the “stress” of being in very hot sunshine triggers some immune reaction?
On the other hand, take a look at Nick’s story (http://www.degosdisease.com/patients/stories/nick-london-uk) – he describes have strong sunbed TREATMENT for his lesions!
Judith