s u b n i x u s: The Sun Makes Me Sneeze. But Why?

s u b n i x u s: The Sun Makes Me Sneeze. But Why?: "The Sun Makes Me Sneeze. But Why?

Since I can remember I’ve been “allergic to the sun”, or at least that’s what I tell people when I go outside on a bright sunny day. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be a sunny day. A trip to the bathroom will give me two sneezes, no more, no less, as long as I turn the light on of course.

I’ve never known the answer… until now.

I always thought it was genetic, because the same thing happens to my father. Go outside, the suns out, let two giant sneezes fly…and that’s it. And as it turns out, I’m right. But what exactly causes a person to be so sensitive to light that they sneeze?

It’s called Photic Sneeze Reflex and it occurs in 17% to 25% of humans, with more common occurrences in Caucasians than other human races. The condition is passed along genetically as an autosomal dominant trait. And apparently it’s a big problem for fighter pilots. (“The photic sneeze reflex as a risk factor to combat pilots,” Military Medicine, Breitenbach et al, 1993.)

In layman’s terms, you have a bunch of nerves crammed in the front of your head and bright lights can cause a mixup of signals. However, it’s not really a problem. Sunglasses can"