Izabella Philips says people have mistaken her for an astronaut because of the space-style helmet she has to wear every time she leaves her house.
The 21-year-old from Colorado suffers from a condition that makes her allergic to the sun, forcing her to cover up completely to avoid outbreaks of hives and a painful rash.
Ms Phillips first noticed red itching and burning sensation all over her body when her skin was exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays outdoors when she was 14 years old.
After years of unanswered appointments, Ms. Phillips was finally diagnosed with Polymorphic Light Eruption (PMLE) last year.
PMLE, a relatively common skin condition thought to affect approximately 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population, primarily women. Ms. Phillips just has extreme sensitivity.
Ms Phillips’ diagnosis now means she must wear a $1,300 face shield and helmet, as well as gloves, long sleeves and long pants to cover every part of her body.
The content creator even has to cover up completely in winter, because any exposure to the sun, no matter how strong, can cause a flare-up of PMLE, sometimes also called sun poisoning.
Despite her struggles, Ms Phillips says her new face mask has changed her life and wearing it means she can enjoy time outside with her family safely for the first time in years.
Izabella Philips, who is allergic to the sun, is pictured above with a $1,300 face shield and purple gloves she wears to cover her skin.
Ms. Philips suffers from PMLE, a relatively common skin rash caused by sunlight. She is pictured above suffering a flare-up in her health.
Ms Philips said: “People really look at me when I wear the mask and I have been asked different questions.
“One guy jokingly asked me if I was an astronaut because he didn’t know it was because of sun allergies. Others asked if it was a mask to avoid Covid -19.
“I agree that it looks a bit like an astronaut helmet and I laughed at that comment. When I tell people I’m allergic to the sun, they seem really surprised.
Today, Ms Philips is using her social media platform to raise awareness of her condition, as she says people are surprised when she tells them she is allergic to light.
She and her family first noticed her rashes after being exposed to the sun when she was younger, and she had “rashes and burning” all over her body.
Ms Philips said: “The rashes would develop where my skin was not covered and burn. It was an itchy red spot rash.
However, Ms Philips struggled to get an accurate diagnosis. It wasn’t until she was 21 that she finally found her answer.
Ms. Philips goes out with her mask on to avoid exposure to the sun’s rays, which would cause a PMLE flare-up.
The image above shows Ms Philips’ rash after being exposed to the sun. She said it could get itchy and painful
She said: “I was relieved when I received the diagnosis because we finally had answers as to why sunlight was doing this.”
“I was 21 when I received my diagnosis. We’ve been looking around for years to see what could happen.
His diagnosis initially made life difficult for him, as his family loves going to the park, but due to his condition, “the sunlight makes it very difficult to go out with them without risking burns, rashes and get sick.”
However, Ms Philips said: “(Before receiving my mask) I could not play outside or enjoy my time with my family outside.
“This mask changed my life and made a huge difference. It allows me to go out a lot more now.
“When I first put it on and went to the park for a few hours, I was really happy (because I didn’t get any burning or rash).
“It is recommended to wear it every time I leave the house (to protect myself) and I wear it as much as possible.”
The image above shows Ms Philips’ PMLE rash after being exposed to the sun.
According to the Mayo Clinic, polymorphous light rash is a fairly common rash triggered by exposure to the sun or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light.
It is said to affect more women than men and usually develops in the teens or 20s.
Doctors don’t know what the cause is. The Mayo Clinic states that the rash appears in people who have developed sensitivity to the sun — called photosensitivity — which leads to an immune response that causes the rash.
This can occur in people exposed to any type of UV light, including that from the sun or other sources such as tanning beds.
This disease affects people year-round because UV rays can still be present during the winter months, but it is more common in the summer, when skin usually covered in cold weather, such as the arms, hands, and chest, is exposed.
Ms Philips said: “Ultraviolet light (is what causes it). Surprisingly, even during winter, when the weather is cloudy, I can still get rashes and burns, so I have to cover my whole body.
“The weather is so unpredictable here in Colorado.
“You don’t know if it’s going to be very hot or very cold, but my allergy is a year-round problem because I can also get it in the winter.”
With her new $1,300 mask, the 21-year-old can now safely go out and spend time with family and friends.
The rash usually goes away on its own without complications, such as scarring, within 10 days.
PMLE is thought to affect between 10 and 15 percent of people and there is no cure. Reducing UV exposure and avoiding UV rays will help minimize symptoms.
Using sunscreen, avoiding the sun during peak hours, covering the skin, and slowly exposing your skin to the sun as temperatures gradually rise throughout spring can help.
Additionally, anti-itch medications and topical steroids may be used to relieve any discomfort caused by PMLE.
In addition to her coverings, Ms. Phillips also uses two ointments on her face and body to soothe her rashes if she is exposed to the sun.
She said: “There is no cure for this allergy and it is something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life.
“It was quite sad at first, but now I realize that it makes me different and it’s okay to be different. I just have to adapt and live with it.
