We speak of “solar sneeze”.
It is not chance. The sneezing triggered by a ray of sunshine is known as “sternary photo reflex” or “solar sneezing”. It is an interesting phenomenon but still quite mysterious on the scientific level. The first reference to this phenomenon would date from Aristotle! Although the precise mechanisms behind this phenomenon are not fully understood, there are a few theories that try to explain why some people sneeze when they are exposed to lively light, like that of the sun.
Not everyone reacts in the same way to sun rays. Some individuals seem to be more sensitive to this phenomenon than others. This type of sneeze can also be triggered by the sun but also by other types of light stimuli, such as fluorescent lights or light flashes, and even be associated with underlying medical conditions in rare cases. In any case, “It is not linked to an allergic phenomenon ” Explains Dr. Frédéric Le Guillou, pulmonologist, allergist and president of the France Respiratory Health Association.
Actually, “It is believed that sneezing in the sun or in light in general is linked to interference in the nervous system between the optic nerves responsible for the perception of light and the trijumeau nerve, which controls the muscles of the face and is also involved in the reflex of sneezing” he continues. “When a person goes from a dark environment to a very bright environment, like getting out of an obscure building and entering the sunlight, the optic nerves can be bent. This can trigger an electrical signal which also reaches the Trigene nerve, thus causing sneezing.”
As the doctor explains, “There is no treatment but only prevention advice to apply such as wearing sunglasses for example”. This reflex can be dangerous for car drivers. “Upon leaving a tunnel in broad daylight, for example, the driver can sneeze because of the variation in intensity; which can be dangerous if he closes his eyes at the same time.”
