Three-year-old Cole Pugsley is forced to stay inside his home due to a super-rare incurable sun allergy, Polymorphic Light Eruption (PMLE), that can tear his skin apart with blisters and rashes if he is exposed to sunlight.
PMLE is a chronic skin condition that forces patients to stay away from sunlight for most of their lives. Pugsley’s parents explained how their lives changed after discovering that their child was suffering from such a rare illness.
His 32-year-old mother, Hanna-May Pugsley, and 30-year-old father, Ryan, noted that they usually take their children out around 8 in the morning and have to come back before 11 when the sun starts shining at its peak.
The mother stated that her son cannot remain in direct sunlight for even five minutes as his skin starts tearing up, which is making him suffer from extreme discomfort.
She also recalled that she is always worried about hot weather, as elevated temperature levels only increase the suffering of her son. Ms. Pugsley further noted that she even has to keep her son away from sun rays coming through windows or any open door.
PMLE is a skin condition triggered by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the biggest source of which is the sun. In most cases, this disease is characterized by an itchy rash that typically appears within a few hours to days after sun exposure. The term “polymorphic” means “many forms,” which indicates that rash can attack the impacted body in different forms, such as small red bumps, blisters, or larger red patches.
The mother went on to say that she has to cover her minor child in full sleeves and trousers to save his skin from sunlight, which increases his pain in hot weather.
According to the mother, the family was planning to go to Spain next month for a vacation, but they had to change their plans because of the dangerous skin allergy. Instead of going on vacations during summer, the family now prefers to go to a cold place in winter to avoid any trouble for their child, the mother continued.
As the disease remains incurable as of now, it remains unclear how long Cole and his family have to suffer from this difficulty. He was diagnosed in June this year, and this is his first-ever summer season with the illness. The family lives in Wales, where the temperature does not go too high compared to other parts of the world, which Ms. Pugsley is thankful for.
