Sunburn sucks, and if it can be avoided then it should be. However, some of us are a little more sensitive to the sun's rays than others. One woman in Colorado is so allergic to the sun that she has to walk around in an outfit akin to a space suit, and she's sick of the jokes.
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For most of us, a simple sunhat and a bit of suncream will be enough to protect us from the worst of the rays. But, Izabella Phillips is hyper-sensitive to UV rays and breaks out in a rash in minutes. It isn't only during the summer either, it's whenever the sun is out. She's a regular vampire.
The allergic reaction she suffers whenever the sun hits her skin is called Polymorphic Light Eruption. The condition, also referred to as PMLE, causes a rash to break out in the sun. The condition isn't so uncommon, but most people can manage it. However, Phillips is more allergic than others, and her condition in the sun is significantly worse.
Ground Control To Major Phillips
So, not wanting to live in total darkness, Phillips and her family looked for a solution. The answer came in the form of a rather fetching outfit. What she now heads outside wearing looks like a combination of a beekeeper outfit, and a retro space suit.
Her body, of course, is covered with a gown and gloves. But, the real pièce de résistance is the glass bowl she has over her face. A cloaked hood is fronted by a bubble of UV protective glass. This allows her to move around in the sun without fear of an allergic reaction.
But, she gets quite a few looks and comments for her sun-safe attire. "I don't want people to make nasty comments or just assume that I'm in a costume or just being a fool or whatever they call it," said Phillips. "I want them to understand that this gives me freedom and that it's the only way I can stay outside."
Another valid solution is to move to the UK. I've spent whole years there and not seen the sun.
