Sun allergy
Searching
the net for sun allergy, I noticed that none of the sites mentioned the intake
of nicotinamide or Vitamin PP (pellagra preventing vitamin, Vitamin B3) as a
treatment.
It is e.g.
freely available in the drug stores in
Here is my
experience. I suffer from sun allergy since I was some 15 years old, without
knowing what caused all this unbearable itching each spring and summer. Until
someone told me by accident – I was already 25 then - that this itching was
probably due to sun allergy. A doctor prescribed Vitamin PP. Since I take a few
tablets before or after heavy sun exposure, I had never problems. You can take
up to 10 (of each 100 mg) per day, which may be advisable when you start taking
it. Nowadays, I maybe take only some 20 per year, when itch comes up or after
heavy sun exposure.
I thought
it was a pitty that this information was not available on the web.
I am
curious to know whether it helped you. Please let me know your experience, also
in case it did not help.
Best
regards and good luck. Itch is hell, don’t tell me.
Last
update: November 11th 2011 (or 11.11.11, as you like)
PS. In the
US: ask for niacinamide (not niacin). And Jo –
one of the people who was helped - is willing to help you in this matter: Jo@Ysteboe.com
PS. I went
to the drugstore yesterday (30th July 2005) for a new load of
Vitamin PP and the pharmacist told me he had home made preps of it.
To my
surprise the label simply mentioned: ‘Sun allergy’. So, by now this should be
common knowledge.
sandrine.resler
wrote (
Hello Mario,
I've just read your web page with your request for
feedback.
I suffer from sun allergy since I was 17, and have it
on and off (not every year in the begining, but more and more as years go by).
I was told then about Ucemine PP by my uncle, a
pharmacist.
I've been taking it from then, but never seen an
improvement ! (but I've naver taken more than 4 tablets per day).
Now I'm searching the internet for a real solution,
that's how I found your page.
I found another website last week where they were
saying than Ucemine PP effect was not more than placebo (but I don't remember
the link).
This weekend I was discussing with my cousin (also a
pharmacist), who also suffers from sun allergy. She also told me that Ucemine
PP has no effect on her.
Since last year she has another solution: she asks her
doctor a cortizone injection before going on holidays, and then she's OK: the
allergy doesn't trigger.
She told me about another person who was suffering
from severe sun allergy since a few years. This person also had a cortizone
injection before going on holidays, and then she was OK.
Kind regards,
Sandrine
Dear
Sandrine
Many thanks for your reply. I had cortisone as well and yes it worked to some
degree. Problem is that cortisone has many negative side effects, especially if
you have to take it long time.
Whether it is placebo or not is difficult to say. I don't know of medical
studies where they used a double blind placebo controlled approach to check the
effect:
As long as it works. And it does for some people. I find it hard to believe
that it is placebo.
As you say, you took only 4 tablets (what is the dose), while one can take
easily - and maybe should take - the dose (i.e. 1 gram per day) as indicated on
this site, to have an effect.
Best regards and good luck
Mario
In the
meantime, some other sites mention nicotinamide in relation to sun allergy:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4393/is_8_33/ai_n28939088/
http://www.hautarzt-senger.de/en/pinfo/i_esoal.htm
Niacinamide: limited
benefit for photosensitivity is mentioned.
Niacinamide,
a form of vitamin B3, can reduce the formation of a kynurenic acid—a substance
that has been linked to photosensitivity. One trial studied the effects of
niacinamide in people who had polymorphous light eruption (Neumann et al. 1986).
While taking one gram three times per day, most people remained free of
problems, despite exposure to the sun. Because of the potential for adverse
effects, people taking this much niacinamide should do so only under medical
supervision. http://www.truestarhealth.com/Notes/1248007.html
(Remark:
here they even speak of 3 grams intake per day, yes, that might need medical
supervision …, still, it shows the substance can’t be very toxic).
Neumann R,
Rappold E, Pohl-Markl H. Treatment of polymorphous light eruption with
nicotinamide: a pilot study. Br J Dermatol 1986;115:77–80.
It even
works against Alzheimer (!!): http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081104180926.htm
And could help
in preventing skin cancer and stomach cancer.