Emily Richardson, 36, developed a severe allergy to sunlight after contracting Covid in 2021, and now can’t leave the house without fully protective gear to avoid painful rashes and swelling
A woman has revealed how a severe allergy to sunlight has forced her to live almost entirely in darkness – and she now proudly calls herself a “modern-day vampire”.
Emily Richardson, 36, says just five seconds of sunlight can trigger a painful reaction, while 20 seconds could leave her hospitalised. Her rare condition, which first appeared in her teens, dramatically worsened after she caught Covid in 2021.
Since then, Emily has been unable to step outside during daylight hours without risking her health – and she admits her protective clothing often turns heads. “I will not apologise if my outfit makes you uncomfortable,” Emily said. “I have to wear it every time I leave the house – so if you’re uncomfortable, think how it makes me feel.”
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Growing up, Emily, from Tennessee, USA, always noticed she reacted differently to the sun. While her friends spent summers tanning, she would burn quickly, even with the same sunscreen.
By her early twenties, what looked like ordinary sunburn had become something far more frightening. Her skin began to swell, turn purple and erupt in itchy hives.
“It was painful and confusing,” she said. “I didn’t understand why my body was reacting this way.”
Doctors now believe that when Emily contracted Covid, the virus may have weakened her immune system, making her hypersensitive to sunlight. Since then, she has been hospitalised four times due to severe reactions.
“The earliest I remember being sensitive to sunlight was as a teenager,” Emily explained. “But after Covid, everything changed. Now five seconds of exposure will cause a reaction, and 20 seconds could put me in hospital.”
Emily’s life has been completely transformed. She now sleeps through the day and ventures outside only at night, wearing layers of protective clothing, gloves and wide-brimmed hats.
But despite the stares, Emily refuses to hide it and embraces her unusual lifestyle. “I won’t apologise for my nocturnal schedule,” she said. “I’m completely allergic to the sun, so there’s no point being awake through most of the day.”
The NHS describes polymorphic light eruption (also called polymorphous light eruption) as a skin rash that can happen after being in the sun.
Those who suffer are urged to stay away from the sun, with treatments including antihistamines, phototherapy, and steroid tablets or medication.
“I also won’t apologise for calling myself a vampire. If that bothers people, it’s probably because they can’t use the word against me anymore,” Emily said.
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