Imagine a life where even the slightest bit of sunlight makes your skin react in an angry red rash that could send you to hospital.
That’s the re ality facing Werribee resident Kerry Thornton, who has Actinic Prurigo – a severe allergy to ultraviolet light.
The rare autoimmune disease causes pain, swelling and chronic itching to Ms Thornton’s skin when it comes into contact with sunlight, most indoor lighting and even light coming through windows or clouds.
As a result, Ms Thornton spends weeks at a time in hospital, where her body is wrapped in wet dressings.
She is on strong immunosuppressive drugs and has also been on Thalidomide – which has caused severe physical deformities in unborn babies – meaning she cannot try for a family while using it.
At home, she lives in the dark. All her windows are covered with roller shutters, her blinds are always closed and she uses UV-free LED lighting.
There is no cure, only treating the symptoms and preventing flare-ups as best she can.
Ms Thornton also suffers from eczema, asthma and other allergies.
There’s no doubt allergies have made life difficult, but she remains remarkably upbeat.
“Every day there’s pain, every day there’s a constant itch, but some days you can tolerate it a lot more than others,” she said.
“I can’t lock myself in the dark every day. I just try to limit myself.”
Ms Thornton has started up an online fundraiser and is hoping to raise $20,000 to renovate her bathroom and install a special hydrotherapy bath to alleviate her symptoms.
The fundraiser will run until June 19.
To donate, go to bit.ly/1E2L7Nx
