Sunscreen

[blindhearted]

This past weekend I was out in the sun for about four to six hours. I used Coppertone SPF 50 sunblock, which usually works for me. I applied two coats during this time period, but I still came back with a sunburn and/or sun poison. It's not terrible, but enough to be slightly uncomfortable. Does anyone know anything else I can use? The highest SPF I can find here is SPF 70, which I havent tried yet. My mom suggested that I try sunscreen made for babies, but I dont know if that will work. I know summer is coming up and I want to find something to help. Any suggestions?


Edit: I forgot to say that I added one coat when I first got out and then another coat 2 hours later.

 

[NoExcuses]

.

 

[kybert]

maybe you should try something with zinc oxide added in. remember it needs to be reapplied every 2/3 hours. there isnt much difference between spf 50 and 70 so i wouldnt put yourself out to find something higher than 50.

 

[thelizardqueen]

I have heard that there's two different things: suncreen and sun block. Make sure you are putting an spf 50 of sunblock and not screen. Sunscreen simply screens some of the sun, whereas sun block blocks it out.

 

[kybert]

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=79711&catid=12101&trx=PLST-0-CAT&trxp1=12101&trxp2=79711&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-CAT
">http://www.drugstore.com/produ...0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-CAT
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=78785&catid=12101&trx=PLST-0-CAT&trxp1=12101&trxp2=78785&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-CAT
">http://www.drugstore.com/produ...0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-CAT
</a>

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=73799&catid=12101&trx=PLST-0-CAT&trxp1=12101&trxp2=73799&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-CAT
">http://www.drugstore.com/produ...0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-CAT
</a>
hmm you guys dont seem to have many sunscreens with zinc in them!

 

[kybert]

there is actually no such thing as sunblock. terms like that have actually been banned in australia because nothing can completely block the sun out. some uv rays will always get through. i think what you mean is a physical and chemical sunscreen. physical sunscreens contain zinc or titanium oxides. they work by reflecting the rays. chemical contains other things like avobenzone, oxybenzone etc. they work by absorbing the rays. sunscreens that are just made from titanium or zinc are actually better than chemical ones but because they can cause a white cast on the skin, they dont really look the best. so the best kind of sunscreen would have both physical and chemical sunscreens in it. if you use a purely chemical based sunscreen make sure it protects against uva as well. if it has avobenzone [parsol 1789, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane] in it, make sure it has a photostabliser in it too otherwise its useless and breaks down in the sun. 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and octocrylene can stablise avobenzone.

 

[anonymous]

Are you on antibiotics? Some, like Bactrim, can increase your sensitivity to sun so you shouldn't spend too much time outside, even with sunscreen.

Kim
40/cf

 

[dyza]

Alternately you could wear a wide-brimmed hat and a long sleeve
shirt.<br>
craig

 

[dyza]

In Scotland we do not get much sun, so we tend to use high factor
stuff like 'factor duffle coat'. It usually takes me a week just to
turn white from my usual blue colour.<br>
<br>
Whats life without  a wee laugh now and then<br>
Craig

 

[anonymous]

Hi,
I was always very sensitive to the sun, often due to the antibiotics and I did also get sun allergy, even here in Germany.
What I can highly recommend is either "UVDerm " from a german producer (www.allpharm.de) or "Daylong" from a swiss producer (www.spirig.ch). You do get both only in pharmazies. I use the 25 or even only 16 and had no problems even near the equator like Kenia/Thailand,Maledives although I do only apply that once a day. Normally I don´t stay directly in the sun, if possible I prefer shadow, but even on a safari in Kenia where I was standing in the open jeep all day taking photos with my hands and arms exposed to the sun I did not get sunburn with UVDerm 25 ( PZN-0346750 ). Maybe you could email the producers and ask, if there is a possibility to get their products in the USA. The "Daylong" is easier to apply, but the "UVau Derm " might even be a little better.

Uli,43,Germany

 

[irishgirl]

I have red hair, green eyes, 9 billion freckles, and fair, fair skin. I belong in Ireland or somewhere... I have gotten sun poisoning twice, and 2nd degree burns 3-4 times. I used sunscreen on all of these occassions, re-applied frequently, and was not on any medications that would increase sun sensitivity. Two were in highschool during the summer for things like dance camp and band camp. The last severe one was 2 years ago in Florida. I had on Bullfrog sunscreen, a hat, shorts, a very sheer top, and was only out for 15-20 minutes playing in the ocean. I was so burned that I had to stay in the entire rest of the week, and ended going to the docs. It is really sad. I will even burn at recess when I take my students out--some that have to sit out of recess will actually make bets with each other and time me to see how long it takes <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> So, I pretty much avoid all sun. If you go to the beach this summer. I will be the red head. In a parka. In June.
Good luck, I know how painful it can be!

 

[Seana30]

I have two light skinned, blonde, blue eyes kids so I have done my research on this!

The one thing I have learned that has probably helped the most is you should apply sunscreen 30 minutes to an hour BEFORE going out in the sun. This gives the sunscreen time to soak into the skin and start working properly.

Hope that helps!

Seana

 

[Scarlett81]

If I'm on Cipro or Augmentin or any penicillin type drug I have to stay out of the sun. I get horrible blisters over my whole body and no amount of suncreen does anything. Are you on any drugs like that? Could be the problem?

 

[anonymous]

I'm blonde haired, blue eyed and always burn. I've gotten "burned" in the past by sunscreens with a high spf. I've bought expensive ones, ones recommended in magazines and consumer reports....

While I still have yet to find something to cover my face -- sunblock/screen just slides off in the heat and I fry my nose -- I've been using Hawaiian Tropic for years. I'll put the SPF 15 on in the mornings when I know I'm going to be outside at the lake all day long and I'm usually good to go -- although I SHOULD reapply, I've forgotten at times and have been fine. With DS, who also inherited my pale complexion and is on antibiotics -- I use the Hawaiian Tropics 45 for kids or the 50+ for babies. Put it on him in the morning, reaply if we're outside or he gets in the water and he has yet to get burned. Went to mexico last month and he was outside quite a bit -- put sunscreen and his bucket hat on and he was good to go all week long. Liza

 

[anonymous]

10-20mins in the sun on the first day is enough. Afer that I'd cover up. 6hours is way too long especailly with just two appliances of suncream. One hour-90mins is well enough per day.

 

[ej0820]

when I was younger (meaning high schoolish) I had what is called poly morphous light eruption...it was a mild form of sun allergy-talk about some painful sunburn! Anywho, it's worn off now, but what I used to use that really helped (and still use) is sunblock (or sunscreen, whatever it's really called) made specifically for people who are allergic to the sun. One brand that I use is Euciderm or Eucerin (it's called something like that).


erin
20/f/cf

 

[blindhearted]

I am very fair skin, alburn/brown hair, brown eyes. So I know I burn easy, but thought what I usually use would work, it didnt. The only antibiotic I am on is Zithromax (three times weekly). I usually dont stay out for 6 hours but my husband took me to a Nascar race for my birthday, which is something I really, really wanted to do for a while. And he wanted to make that happen for me, and did <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">. I did use sunscreen, not sunblock. I never realized there was a difference. I will write down things from here and go look in the summer section of Walmart.

Erin - I have never heard of the stuff for people allergic to the sun. Where do you get it? I dont think I'm allergic, but I do get sun poison, which does itch.

 

[IG]

Oh this is why I'm so white... got used to staying in doors due to sun poisoning.
sunblock worked for a while (spf 50) which I had to slather on every 30 minutes.

Sun poisoning is the same as an allergic reaction to the sun. Or being sensitive to the sun and staying out for long periods of time.
I have to say while I was on Cipro (nearly all the time) if I left my arm on the armrest while driving for 20 minutes I'd get hives, and get all red and itchy. (Benedryl cream and aloe vera worked well on them)

Really can't be of any help. I was on such high doses of the stuff for such a long time it was nearly impossible for me to stay outside for any amount of time. Which is why I have a vampire complexion even now.

 

[anonymous]

Hi Danyell,

Zithromax can cause reactions of the skin!

Uli,43,Germany