im sending this to you to see what people would like to add in advice for this person my suggestion was to start the girl on carrot (6-8) & apple juice (1) to give her as much vitamin A (and others & minerals) anyone have any ideas? ========== > Skin that is particularly sensitive to sunlight is often an early > indicator of niacin deficiency. If this is the case, niacin should > be given in small doses, and gradually increase. Niacin can have > an itchy flushing feeling if taken too much at a time. Only a > lab can decide from tests if niacin is low, or one would have to make > a list of everything she eats and drinks every day (a diary of sorts) > and at the end of a week, or two weeks, review the list, and see how > many things, and how much niacin is being taken on a daily average. > > If she has enough niacin intake, there are sometimes other factors > (prescription and OTC drugs), that can cause it as well, and others > can deplete niacin from the body. > > On the other side, I've read that St. John's Wart can cause some > people to be sensitive to sunlight. > > It's always better to find the cause, and to treat the cause, than > to use something to treat the symptoms, or worse yet, mask the > symptoms. > Hi, Gary. I very much appreciate your input. The girl I refer to has been to many allopathic and alternative practicioners without getting more knowledge about her condition, or relief for it (I was surprised that homeopathy wasn't helpful). With regard to causes, her mother tells me that 1) the severe sun allergy is genetic: many of the girl's first- and second-cousins suffer from it; and 2) as a small child, she had been severely sunburnt a few times.In the light of what we now know of the damage caused to skin tissue by sunburn, even sunburn sustained many years previously, there is cause for concern about her future health. Her mother adds that she uses no remedy except conventional sunblocks. I'm passing on the information re niacin to them, and hope that they use it. If you're interested in hearing of any results, I'll let you know (it's always nice to get good feedback!). Miriam