Why does the sun make you sneeze?

   

    There are certain traits that you might not expect to be genetic. One of those things being sneezing when you see bright lights. Although it is harmless, it is a very interesting trait to have and also pretty common. This symptom comes from the Photic sneeze reflex which is known as ACHOO syndrome.  

    ACHOO syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This means that there only needs to be one mutated gene. If one parent has this trait, there is a 50% likely chance that their child will have this trait as well. Although it is not known what directly what causes this because sneezing as we know it is due to infections or irritants, but bright lights will not classify as either of those things. But it is a common thig. In fact, almost 15% to 30% of people sneeze due to light exposure. Studies show that this trait is mostly seen in Caucasian females. 

    If you notice that you sneeze due to light exposure or specifically if you look up at the sun, there is not needed to panic. it is a common, harmless trait to have. If you do sneeze in light, some recommend doing an experiment with your family in order to see if they will sneeze as well. It should not come as if either of your parents do this because it is inherited! 

Links:

ACHOO Syndrome - Medical Genetics Summaries - NCBI Bookshelf

Why Does the Sun Make Some People Sneeze? - FOCUS

New Drug May Treat Rare Diseases That Make Exposure To Sunlight Painful

Researchers in the article tested a new drug called Dersimelagon for patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP). These two rare diseases cause inflammation, cell damage, and severe pain when patients are exposed to the sun. EPP and XLP affect one in every 75,000 to 200,000 white people, according to the researchers' study. Based on the survey, Dersimelagon medicine is more accessible for children and for those patients who cannot easily get to medical appointments for new implants. According to adults with EPP or XLP who tested the drug, taking the medicine increased the amount of time they could spend in the sun before developing "prodromal" symptoms. However, just like other medications, the drug also has side effects, including nausea, freckles, and headaches, but they are short-lived and well-tolerated. 

                                 

I thought the main article I read was concise, where the report mainly focused on the effects of the new drug that was tested on the patients, how accessible it can be for people who do not have advanced medical treatment, and how it can lessen the pain of patients' exposure to sunlight. The second article gave more information about the cause and effect of the Dersimelagon drug on patients with EPP and XLP. The article was also insightful since the research summary also explained the diseases, the treatment procedures, and how clinical problems can be prevented. 

Sources: 

[1] https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-04-13/new-drug-may-treat-rare-diseases-that-make-exposure-to-sunlight-painful 

[2] https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2208754