Men are also affected

Hi Everyone,
I have read so much about skin disorders caused by the sun and especially PMLE, but most seem to indicate mainly women that post or are affected. I want to tell you that men are just as affected.
I am 55 and have had endless hassles since the age of about 40. I grew up in South Africa and lived there until the age of 47. Because of the climate and lifestyle, we were always outdoors, playing sport, fishing etc, but the PMLE struck one day at the start of Spring. The first real heavy dose of sun and I was itching like mad, but only on the top of the elbow and mostly my right arm, which was exposed to the sun whilst driving. I just coped with it as it seemed to come and go.
We moved to the UK in 2001 and slowly but surely, my skin became paler, as I adapted to the lack of "summer". When we moved up to Scotland in 2005, this got worse, but the effect was only realised when we went to SA for a holiday in October 2005.
After landing in SA, we hired a car and drove 7 hours to the South Coast. The exposure to the AFrican sun through the windscreen, brought on a fierce, red, burning rash that grew in heat and intensity, swelled up and resulted in my having to stay indoors for a week, trying antihistamines etc etc.
I have seen a specialist here in the Uk and it seems as if I have become more allergic to the sun since being less exposed in the UK. I now dread going into the sun and look like a ghost, so pale is my skin.

I want to encourage all men out there to join this forum as a first step and to share their skin problems. I have felt so much more at ease since reading all these posts. I now know that I am not a freak, I am not rotting from within.
Yesterday, my son took me to watch the golf at Loch Lomond. I did not use any sunblock and we were in the outdoors for over 5 hours - admittedly, there was some cloud, some rain and then some firce sunny spells, but today Ihave no rash, no itching!!
Could I be over it?
I really hope and pray that it is so.

A tip for those who suffer the dreaded rash....make a paste with Bicarbonate of Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) and smear it on as thick as possible. Leave it for 15 minutes and wash off. It sometimes eases the burning itch.

Stay well
William