When I was younger, I had a friend who thought she was allergic to the sun because every time she stepped outside she sneezed. In fact, she taught me the trick of looking toward the sun, but never directly at it, to bring on a shy sneeze.
If you are not a sun sneezer, you might be surprised to know that this phenomenon has been recognized for over 40 years by the medical community, and they even gave it a scientific sounding name: photic sneezing reflex.
Sun sneezers are in the minority since the reflex only occurs in one out of four people. Studies suggest that it might be a dominant trait we inherit from our parents. It is believed that crossed neural pathways between the eyes and the nose, mouth, and chest cause sun sneezing. Bright light should make the pupils constrict, but for the photic sensitive, it does so much more! Tell me, are you a sun sneezer?
Laura Biagiotti
Irregular Choice
Torrini
I am a sun sneezer!
All I have to do is get a bright light in my eyes and I sneeze once. I sneeze twice/three times all other times but just the once for sunlight. =)
My dad is the same.
1Me too! I'm a sun sneezer!
2Ditto! Sun and bright lights can bring on a sneeze.
3OmG me too!!! I always sneaze when I step outside after being indoors a long time. I think it is kinda annoying as there are always people around me and I like a moron is busy sneazing. I am so glad I am not alone.
4sorry grammer mistake: "I, like a moron, am busy sneazing".
5I'm totally a sun sneezer. And btw, you can look at light bulbs to initiate a sneeze too!
6My hubby is a sun sneezer, puts on his sunglasses the minute he steps out the door.
7I am, too. I thought everyone was. I kind of like sneezes (they just clear you up!). So when I am outside I try to find something shiny to make me sneeze.
8The really bright, shiny parts on cars work really well.
I admit it - I'm a sun sneezer!
I am also a minty gum sneezer!
9*raises hand*
Sun sneezer here.
10oooooh..... forgot to add:
My dad is a sun sneezer too, so I totally agree on the hereditary trait theory.
11I'm a sun sneezer too. Bright light sneezer. Basically I can bring on the sneeze just by looking up.
12I am a sun sneezer and like 1apple I also always sneeze to strong mint specifically when I eat a altoid, the original mint ones, they are so strong they make me sneeze.
13My mom and I are also sun sneezers! I used to joke that I was allergic to the sun too. It's kind of convenient...you know when you feel a sneeze coming but it just won't come out? Then the sun or any kind of light is my best buddy
14This is me. It's annoying.
15Yes! My dad does it, too, so I guess that's where I get it from.
16I have this, too! Most people don't believe me, even my husband is only recently convinced.
17Sun sneezer here! Very helpful and interesting post. I always said I'm allergic to the sun too, even tho I knew that wasn't right.
18looking up in general will make my sneezes go away...most of the time.nothing to do with the sun... works at night or indoors.if it doesn't work i get a sneeze shower!
19I am a sun sneezer and all 3 of my kids are too.
20My three children and I are all sun sneezers. People don't believe us when we tell them its an allergy! They finally agree to the possiblity after about 30 consecutive sneezes!
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