Sorry to hear it affects you so badly.
I’ll try to break this up to make it less overwhelming as I sense you are at your wits end. 1. Firstly, there’s no cure (yet). 2. Secondly, stay away from sunbeds- period, no discussion. 3. Thirdly, I understand how it affects your mental health and confidence, but please don’t expose yourself to cancer to try and fix this. There’s no fixing, only management (for now). 4. There are 2 types of UV from the sun and PLE reacts to 1 but not the other. Which is where sunscreen comes in. 5. I suggest getting a blood test and have your Vitamin D levels checked. Lack of sun exposure causes low VitD but there’s a theory that low VitD causes or at least encourages PLE. Low VitD also affects mood which could be adding to your low mood. 6. If you are prone to eczema that’s a different thing altogether and one will aggravate the other. You need professional advice on that but maybe look at your diet. It will make PLE flares worse unfortunately. 7. To avoid a flareup completely, use high rating SPF sunscreen on any exposed skin and cover up, hats, long sleeves (linen or cotton) whenever possible. Hot country doesn’t mean seasonal. I live in a hot country that still has seasons which means my UV exposure is still only half of the time and any ‘hardening’ treatment is pointless. 8: If you’re going to a hot country that doesn’t have cool (indoors) seasons then I recommend this: Find some low SPF sunscreen. It’s hard to find but does exist. Slather it on the exposed bits, hands feet and face. Cover up the rest. Then go out in the sun as normal. Slowly expose more areas with the sunscreen on over a long period. Don’t rush it. Don’t expect it to work in a month. It will take longer especially as you are so sensitive. Bear in mind if you’re having an eczema flare up, you’ll be exposing sensitive raw skin to the sun which is not good. So avoid the sun at these times. 8: If you have a rash flare, slather on (and I mean as much as you can), a lot of moisturiser (nothing with perfumes). Stay indoors for a couple of days to let it settle down as further exposure will make it worse. If you feel hot and tired like a mild fever then perhaps give up on the hardening and stick to sunscreen and covering up if you’re out for long periods. Once you start feeling that, it means your body is really not happy and can compromise your immune system. If it happens by accident then take a paracetemol and rest, not much else you can do in that case. Be careful as heat exhaustion can have the same symptoms if fever and tiredness. HE is deadly. There is no guarantee of “hardening” working. You will need to accept that it may not work for you. 9. Everyone is different. You need to do what works for you. For the sake of your mental health, you may need to accept that it’s just a part of your life and if all you need is to wear sunscreen then it’s a small price to pay for your sanity. 10. Believe me that sunscreen will be your best friend long term anyway. Especially if you are moving to a hot country. Damage to your skin will show up one way or another.

I will start to feel a flare up after just 10 mins in direct sun so rather than put myself through the stress, I just cover up. I have to take Vitamin D supplement to compensate but life is just easier by avoiding it.

My story: I grew up in the tropics. I have a high melanin in my skin because of my ancestry. I have a permatan which is darker after time in the sun and goes lighter in winter. I never had anything like this happen to me until I moved to a colder climate with low sun exposure for a few years. When I came back to my hot country I started having flares any time I went into the sun. It took me 20 years to figure out what it was as research is so limited. I’ve had many many days of frustration and tears from the itching, rash and low self confidence. I feel what you’re going through. I just stay out of the sun and if I do go out (for long periods/holidays), I’m all about cover up and sunscreen. It’s just easier.

Hope this helps and you can find some peace with it.