Direct sunlight has always caused me to sneeze uncontrollably. For my entire life, I wondered if I was alone in my sun-sneezing “burden” until one of my children let loose with the biggest sneeze in the history of infancy the first time I took her outdoors. It was then that I knew it wasn’t just me. So I asked the experts, and this is what I found out.
Sneezing that is induced by sunlight is known as photic sneeze reflex (PSR) or “ACHOO” syndrome. While the exact cause is unknown, PSR is known to be hereditary and occurs in somewhere between 18 and 35 percent of people. PSR has been known to cause danger to pilots or even automobile drivers.
While the cause of sun sneezing continues to be a mystery to scientists, there are a few things that are known. For more detailed information, please read on.
What Is Known About the Cause of Sneezing in Sunlight?
Before I continue, keep in mind that there will be some scientific jargon along the way. I will do my best to explain what it all means. Just keep in mind that I am a layman with this stuff. Deep breath…
To scientists, there are two terms for reflexive sneezing. Photic sneeze reflex or PSR is the most common term, but the condition is also called autosomal dominant compulsive helio-ophthalmic outbursts of sneezing (ACHOO).
Achoo Syndrome Genetics
For nearly three decades, PSR has been known to be genetic. People with the condition have been induced into sneezing reflexively while either emerging from darkness or dim light into the sunlight. It also sometimes occurs in someone who is outside simply by turning their face toward the sun.
Since photic sneezing is not a chronic condition, not a whole lot of study has been done by scientists. In fact, the genetic basis of PSR remains unclear as the genes that cause the condition have not been isolated. Even so, the fact that it occurs within families definitely suggests that the trait is heritable.
While the exact cause of photic sneezing is unknown, there are a couple of theories:
- Bright light stimulates the
trigeminal nerve in some people. A similar photic sneeze reflex can be caused by plucking a hair or eyebrow, which suggests a correlation. - Parasympathetic Generalization is where one part of the nervous system is stimulated and somehow activates nearby neurons. In the case of PSR, neurons that activate sneezing could somehow be activated when
light is recognized by the brain.
To summarize this scientific lingo, a normal sneeze is caused by irritation of the nasal cavity. In people with photic sneeze reflex, light somehow is either misinterpreted by the brain or causes a possible accidental stimulation of neurons nearby, somehow affecting the ones that interpret bright light.
Phew.. that wasn’t so bad.
How Many Times Do People with Photic Sneezing Normally Sneeze?
The number of sneezes that a person will have during an episode is usually constant for a person and is usually either two or three times. However, bursts of up to 10 sneezes have been known to occur in some individuals. Interestingly, most PSR episodes only happen once a day. Many individuals seem to be immune to having it happen again until the next day.
Does One Group of People Sneeze More Than Others?
Approximately 67% of photic sneezers are female and 94% are Caucasian. Also, people with deviated nasal septums are much more likely to have PSR.
While there definitely appears to be a hereditary component, studies show that photic sneezing is actually much more likely to be acquired. In other words, you are much more likely to get ACHOO syndrome by getting hit in the face than you are by inheriting it.
Photic Sneeze Reflex Treatment
Not much research has been devoted to finding a cure or treatment for PSR. However, some recent studies have shown that antihistamines may reduce the occurrence of photic sneezing. Otherwise, there really is no definitive treatment for PSR
There is some anecdotal evidence that simply shielding your eyes or wearing some kind of face protection when going out in direct sunlight might help (think scarves or a hat). Personally, sneezing never really bothers me enough to worry about trying to stop one. I am one of those weird people that find sneezes exhilarating.
Is Sneezing After Eating Related to Photic Sneeze Reflex?
Save for chocolate, sneezing after eating is caused by the same thing as photic sneezing. Instead, it’s more like to be due to something called gustatory rhinitis. This is nothing more than an irritation to the nasal passages that is triggered by something you ate.
The most common foods that trigger gustatory rhinitis are usually spicy foods such as:
- curry
- salsa
- hot peppers
- hot soups
- horseradish
Rhinitis has no cure and, like photic sneezing, is almost never leads to any type of health problem. If you dislike sneezing after eating, simply figure out your trigger foods and avoid eating them around people who don’t want to be slimed.
Why Do Needles Around the Eye Area Cause Sneezing?
Some medical procedures require an injection near the eye. Even sedated patients have been known to sneeze uncontrollably during the insertion of the needle. While the exact cause of this phenomenon is unknown, it is believed that the triggers are identical to that of photic sneezers.
If you are a photic sneezer, then it is probably best that you tell your healthcare providers about your condition so that they can take the necessary precautions when holding needles around your eyeballs.
Does a Baby Who Sneezes in Sunlight Sometimes Grow out of It?
Photic sneeze
The good news is that as far as medical afflictions, photic sneezing is about as mild as they come and not something to be concerned about.
How Do I Stop a Sneeze?
It is not recommended that anyone should ever try to stop a sneeze. Wind speeds of around 100 miles per hour rush through your nasal passages during a sneeze. Trying to stop it can be painful and maybe even damage your ear passages.
Even so, maybe there is a time when sneezing or not sneezing can mean life or death. Let’s say you are in a hiding spot, and a madman with a chainsaw has just entered your house. Here are some ways you attempt to stifle a sneeze:
- Touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Tickling the top of your mouth has been shown to end the urge to sneeze in some people.
- Pinch the top of your nose between your eyes. Note that I didn’t say, “close your nasal passages.” Often the feeling of a sneeze will instantly go away when you firmly pinch this area.
- Lightly blow your nose. Sometimes just a small amount of air quickly leaving your nose can pre-empt a full-blown sneeze.
What Are Some Other Common Causes of Sneezing
Photic sneezing is one of the more rare causes of sneezing in people. Even so, here are a few things that trigger a mad dash to a tissue box:
- Irritants in the air, such as black pepper or tobacco smoke
- Infections i.e. the common cold
- Allergic Rhinitis, which is basically hay fever or allergies to mold, dander, pollen, or just plain dust
Besides the sun, things that personally make me sneeze is cat dander. Put me in the same room as an unknown feline, and within minutes my eyes will start itching, and I will sneeze like I just snorted up a line of black pepper off the counter with a straw.
Photic Sneezing in History
ACHOO syndrome has been around for a long time and has periodically been documented over the past couple of thousand years. The earliest recorded observation of the phenomenon was around 350 BC by Aristotle.
Somewhat comically, it was listed in his “Book of Problems.” In it, he asked, “Why does the heat of the sun provoke sneezing?” His answer was that sweating occurred inside the nose, and that is what caused people to sneeze.
We haven’t really come much further in our understanding of photic sneezes since Sir Francis Bacon in the
1600’s . He believed that the eyes were the culprit. According to modern science, he was on the right track. However, he thought it was due to the yes watering and not because his nerves were affected.
Today’s notion about the exact cause was proposed back in 1964 by a man named Henry Everett. He once again thought it had something to do with light and the eyes, except he made the connection to the nervous system being the true cause.
Related Questions
Why do sneezes feel good? While not much research has been done on the subject, there is some evidence that endorphins may be released into the body during or after a sneeze. The other explanation is that the good feeling is caused by muscle tension in your chest being released during a sneeze. The pressure being released tends to feel good no matter the cause of the release.
Can you die from sneezing? You cannot die from sneezing. However, a sneeze has been known to be a trigger for fatal medical incidents in people who were already in bad health. Otherwise, the only other danger from sneezing lies in doing so while driving or flying a plane and wrecking as a result.
Why does chocolate make some people sneeze? While it is not known why, it has been medically confirmed that, in some people, sneezing can be caused by eating chocolate. Interestingly, the darker the chocolate, the more likely the sneeze is to be triggered. It is believed that chocolate causes the same reflex that is found is photic sneezers.
More About My Sun-Sneeze “Affliction”
I grew up in Florida, and as a child, I remember one constant variable in my daily routine. Each afternoon I would venture outside into the sunlight, and within a few seconds, my existence would be announced to the neighborhood. Without fail, two unfettered sneezes would unfailingly erupt and become the center of my world for a couple of seconds. Every time, it would always be two sneezes; never one, never three, always two
I always found my little sneezing bouts intriguing but never really gave it too much thought. It wasn’t until recently, some 40 years after I first became aware of my photic sneezing, that I learned that it only affected a small portion of the population.
If you are a photic sneezer or know someone that is, please be sure to comment and let me know about your experience. Members of the “Sun-Sneezers Society” must stick together.
For more, check out Allergies Bad You Wake Up? | Here’s Why.
Hey, I’m Jim, and the author of this website. I have always been interested in survival, fishing, camping, and anything in nature. In fact, while growing up, I spent more time on the water than on land! I am also a best-selling author and have a degree in History, Anthropology, and Music. I hope you find value in the articles on this website. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or input!