Since i've been out of the sun the skin on my face &chest is very sensitive. there are red dry patches that itch &flake off painfully. is there a cure?

Porphyria? photoderm: It is very difficult to tell what you have without additional history and actually examining your skin to tell what you have. Some medication/chemicals can cause photodermatitis--means you breakout with sun exposure. Porphyria cutanea tarda can be an underlying cause of your trouble (google it)--this is probably a disease other people feared --vampires (the sun burns) of the old days.