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Every time I leave a building and walk into the out-of-doors, I sneeze. I'm sure it has something to do with the sun. Sometimes just looking up at the sun (yes, I know: not directly) makes me sneeze. Most people I know don't have this problem (I actually rather enjoy it). Why does the sun make me sneeze? More importantly, why does the sun make me sneeze when most other people have no reaction to it other than to burn and peel?
- Will
We at Ask Gothamist HQ are known for our incredibly loud, violent sneezing, which often amuses our friends, coworkers, and significant other to no end. But we've never had a sneezing fit in reaction to sunlight. We thought perhaps this sneezing in sunlight business was an old wives' tale. But it turns out that you probably have something called Photic Sneeze Reflex. According to Medicinenet.com, this condition is "characterized by nearly uncontrollable paroxysms of sneezing provoked in a reflex fashion by the sudden exposure of a dark-adapted subject to intensely bright light, usually to brilliant sunlight. The number of successive sneezes is usually 2 or 3, but can be up to about 40." And according to The Straight Dope, only about one-sixth to one-quarter of the population is affected by the Photic Sneeze Reflex, which seems to be genetic.
As to what actually causes this sneezing reaction to sunlight, Wikipedia says "the probable cause is a congenital malfunction in nerve signals in the trigeminal nerve nucleus. The fifth cranial nerve, called the trigeminal nerve, is apparently responsible for sneezes. Research suggests that some people have an association between this nerve and the nerve that transmits visual impulses to the brain. Overstimulation of the optic nerve triggers the trigeminal nerve, and this causes the photic sneeze reflex." In other words, your brain's wired a little differently than the rest of us non-sunlight-sneezers.
Luckily for you, there's a very simple solution to your problem: Wear sunglasses.
Need advice? E-mail ask(at)gothamist.com.
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I am a sunlight-sneezer, too. I always wondered what caused it...and why I was the only person I knew who was one! Now I can finally put my curiosity to rest...and I hope you can too, Will. Thanks, Ask Gothamist!
sneezing people look like gilbert godfried.
I always sneeze about ten times in a row after a few drinks, right when I reach a healthy buzz.
I wrongly assumed that sunlight made everybody sneeze. Staring at a bright fluorescent lightbulb sets me off sometimes. There -- I did it just now for kicks.
Back in the 80s when I was working on Wall Street and producing Grace Jones records in my spare time, there was this one fool who would honk it right after he snorted a line, like every time. The blow would just go flying everywhere and he'd come out of the stall looking like a powdered donut. It was cool though. Money was easy back then and it became like our little in-joke. But then Ivan Freaking Boesky had to go and ruin everything with all that LBO bullshit and ... and well, you know the rest. Naturally, Sneezy Dwarf had to start getting his lines when the rest of us were good and damn well finished.
I had no idea this wasn't something that happened to everyone. Now I feel special because I know I have a congenital malfunction in my trigeminal nerve nuclei and other people don't!
Sneezy Dwarf- HA
Who was Dope-y?
I have the same problem too. Also, I usually sneeze a couple times after my first drink too. I'm glad I'm not the only one that does.
Couldn't it just be that you're sneezing more because your outside exposed to a greater number of allergens than to the sun itself?
I've always said I'm allergic to the sun. I never knew it was a real condition. No wonder when I tell everyone to look at a light when they need to sneeze it doesn't work for them.
Thanks Ask Gothamist!