In some people with Sjogren's and other autoimmune diseases exposure to UV rays from sunlight or artificial light causes a 'flare-up', meaning our symptoms increase. This is explained in an article from The Lupus Foundation of America “We have antibodies in our immune systems that typically are used to fight infection. But in people with lupus, the antibodies wrongly target proteins within normal cells and cause an immune reaction,” explains Benjamin Chong, MD, associate professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. This is probably the same in Sjogren's syndrome.
The following extract How to protect yourself and help prevent flare-ups is from the British Sjögren's Syndrome Association (BSSA).
If UV light "flares up" your condition, create a barrier between you and it:
- Apply a liberal layer of a 30 SPF (Factor 30) or higher sunscreen, one that provides broad-spectrum- protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Wear tightly woven clothing that covers your skin, a wide-brimmed hat, and wraparound sunglasses to protect you from head to toe.
- Choose light bulbs that have the lowest possible irradiance (intensity).
- Cover fluorescent and halogen bulbs with light shields or glass that filters out UV rays. Look for shields with readings of 380 to 400 nanometers, which filters all types of ultraviolet light.
- Use UV-blocking shades to cover windows and prevent sunlight from streaming in.
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