Sun Sensitivity

[bloodless]

I try not to sound like there's a princess living my life somewhere, but I have trouble with the sun hurting my eyes and skin and the cold hurting my fingers and toes. I guess we'll all be happy cloudy spring and fall days....

[Cheryl]

  I understand completely.   Maybe we should live in a rain forest?
Cheryl

[Patze]

As long as it's not to hot Cheryl!


Patze

[dewe]

It is such a relief to know others are just as physically challenged by the hot/cold... !!

I have caught myself once or twice explaining to people that,
"I can't tolerate the sun... but I'm very uncomfortable in the cold... and the AC dries me out terribly... and the gas heater makes me feel like a prune... "
But I realised there is no point in this as it is only makes me sound completely neurotic, which I am not.

It sure is a test of ones sanity! And yep, it can turn you in to a hermit. But... after nearly two years I'm beginning to get the hang of it... what doctors call 'self-management'.
I still resent having to be aware of the consequences every time I do something as simple eg; walking the dog at midday when the sun is high, or driving to town with the sun streaming in on me through the windscreen. It's all character building, as my father would say, and he is totally blind and currently going through cancer treatment!

Thanks everyone for the feedback. It really is so appreciated. 

Dewe xxxx

[JannaLee]

Does anyone know of a good sunscreen that does not trigger rosacea?  Sunscreen hurts when I put it on.

Also about the cold.  For Christmas my husband gave me a heated throw blanket for the sofa and another heated blanket for our bed which CHANGED MY LIFE!!~  I have HEAT around my feet every minute and find these blankets very soothing to joint and muscle pain.  Because of reynauds my feet are usually blocks of ice and my toenails had lifted off the nail beds.  Now they are all grown back and look completely normal!

Anyhoo...I'm also high ANA and fair skinned redhead who gets terribly sick in the bright light! 

Janna

[Patze]

Hi Janna,

The only thing that I've found so far is oil of Olay's "Complete Defense" (other than an expensive cream that the dermatologist sells), the one I have is around 30 SPF.


Patze

[Daisy1234]

Hi Janna,

I have rosacea as well and I use a sunscreen with SPF 60 for UV A&B. So far this hasn't caused me any major problems.  Its one made for kids, I think it was made by Umbra or Bio, I can't seem to find the darn tube right now to tell you exactly who the manufacturer is.  But my suggestion is to look for one made for kids, they seem to be easier on the skin.

[JannaLee]

Thank you so much for the sunscreen info! 

[Katybarstool]

Janna

I used Bootls Soltan Sensitive for our Caribbean cruise. You can find it at Boots.com.

Kathyx

[txacctgcat]

Wow - Guess I'm lucky.  I have had primary for over 30 years, took Plaquinel for over 5 years and NEVER had problems with being sun sensitive.   

But it might be the fact that I'm half Mexican (as in Mayan, dark Mexican) and just about tan in the shade.  I find that laying in the sun makes my joints and the rest of me feel so recharged.  I used a tanning bed for a few winters to help me feel better.  When I go to the Cancun, I use SPF 4. 

I guess that might change now that I'm on injectable Methotrexate, but I hope not....

Denise

[JannaLee]

Oh Denise!

You are a lucky girl! 

I am sorry to hear you have progressed to Methotrexate. 

Best to you!
Janna

[Patze]

Denise, I'm so jealous (I'm snow white)!!!!!  

I'm also sorry to see that you're now on Methotrexate, and I sure hope that it works out for you.

Take care of yourself -

Patze

[amberjolie1]

Eeeek! After reading these posts, I'm a little nervous about my trip to Florida in a couple of weeks.  To date I haven't been sensitive to the sun (except my eyes, always have been, even the snow in the winter reflects too much sun), and last summer I didn't have a problem (although it wasn't a particularly hot summer), so I'm hoping I haven't changed in the course of a season.  I guess I'll find out....I'm currently just bringing SPF 30 (but the broad spectrum type), but if I start feeling anything, I guess I'll go grab some 50 at the store!

[JannaLee]

Amber,

Have a wonderful time on your trip!!

Janna

[bloodless]

Denise,
you are lucky. I'm of hispanic and apache descent so I'm dark skinned as well. It doesn't stop my sensitivity to cold and the sun.