Why sunlight makes you sneeze: ACHOO syndrome explained
Miriam Guthrie
ByMiriam GuthrieandTatum Fry
3 hours agoUpdated: September 2, 2026, 11:34 am EDTPublished: September 2, 2026, 10:48 am EDT

Millions of people sneeze the instant they step into bright sunlight, a real medical phenomenon known as the photic sneeze reflex or ACHOO syndrome. We break down the leading science-backed theory, and why the reflex can even be a hazard for drivers exiting tunnels or pilots flying into bright skies.

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