The Sun Makes Me Sick: Why I Love a Cloudy Day

I look forward to cloudy days. My chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lupus, and other conditions react to humidity and UV rays. Here’s how I manage sunny days.

It’s spring. The birds are singing, and the sun is shining. I’m not outside soaking up the rays. I’m indoors behind blackout curtains.

Multiple autoimmune illnesses, especially lupus, make the sun my enemy. It makes me sick, from rashes to nausea and headaches. Just 15 minutes in the sun can make me ill for days.

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Sunny days and COPD

There hasn’t been any scientific evidence that sunlight itself worsens COPD, but the heat and humidity most definitely do.

Higher temperatures can induce shortness of breath. Extreme temperatures can also increase ozone levels, pollutants, and allergens in the air, which can irritate my airways.

Drugs such as diuretics can be a problem in the sun. In addition, many people like me who live with COPD are also juggling other illnesses that cause sensitivity to UV rays.

Although a vitamin D deficiency with COPD is common, and a little sun may seem healthy, you need to weigh the benefits and risks. I take vitamin D supplements. 

I used to worship the sun

As a teen, I actually sat outside with baby oil baking in the summer sun. Vacations were often about how dark I could get my tan to go and how blonde my hair would get.

Even after it became clear that the sun could cause skin cancer, I would put lots of sunblock on and just enjoy the feeling of the sun. It always seemed healthy to me to be outdoors and get plenty of vitamin D.

Sun sensitivity is a real thing

Whether you call it a sensitivity or an allergy, sun issues aren’t as rare as you think. Lupus is probably the most well-known disease that causes problems with exposure. It was what caused my first bad experience with the sun.

Rashes are the most common complaint, but there’s even research that suggests too much time in the sun can cause organ damage among people like me with lupus.

UV light can affect other illnesses, including dermatomyositis (which I also have), psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and eczema.

Sun sensitivity can also be brought on by certain medications, especially chemotherapy drugs and antibiotics.

Explaining my lack of love for the sun

Few of my friends understand that I’m not making a personal decision to stay out of the sun. It’s something I must do for my health.

It’s like telling someone with celiac disease that they should just try the bread. I know the sun will get me sick.

I’ve had friends walk into my house and open my curtains, saying it was too dark and depressing. I’ve had others come in and tell me that it’s a beautiful sunny day and I should get out and enjoy it.

I’ve been guilty of not understanding how someone couldn’t love the sun. My mom, who also has lupus, would never go in the sun. I didn’t get it for a long time.

I also remember seeing a certain celebrity I happened to know pretty well at an outside event. She was in long sleeves, long pants, and a floppy hat. It was 90 degrees outside.

I remarked to a mutual friend that she looked ridiculous. Little did I know that would be me in a few years.

The advantages of avoiding sun

I have benefited from staying out of the sun beyond not getting sick. My dermatomyositis comes with a high skin cancer risk, so I have full body checks every 6 months.

Despite this increased risk, I haven’t had a single mole in the 7 years I’ve made it a point to stay out of the sun.

The other advantage I have over continual skin worshippers is fewer wrinkles. I’m often told I look younger than my 62 years.

My skin, especially my face, is smoother than many women my age. My mom always received this compliment, too.

How I deal with this

I am not a total vampire. I do go out. If it’s a cloudy day, I’m anxious to walk the dog (well, he walks, and I ride in my wheelchair). I’ll even sit outside in my lounge chair while Teddy plays in the grass.

Sunny days are different no matter what season it is. After covering my body in sunblock, I’ll put on a long-sleeve shirt and pants with a UPF filter.

I must slather my hands with a high SPF or wear gloves. Then, there’s a hat with a UPF filter. This applies if I’m outside or even driving. I even have a filter on my car windows that blocks out some sun.

Despite all of these precautions, it’s very possible I could still react to UV light. This is especially true of my eyes and face, which I obviously can’t completely cover.

It’s gotten slightly less likely since balancing my immunosuppressants, but it’s still possible.

There are always cloudy days to look forward to.