To ask about medical suncream / daily SPF face cream

[KnappShappey]

Hi,

I have recently started taking immunosuppressant drugs and been warned about the increased risk of cancers, especially skin cancer. I have been advised to wear sun cream daily, even in winter.

A few people have said that I can get this on prescription due to my increased risk (I will have a check up every six months at clinic with a dermatologist) but the first appointment won't be for a few months.

I wondered if anyone has any experience with this?
Any high street recommendations?
I have quite greasy skin and don't want anything too heavy or greasy, quickly absorbed would be great!

[PtolemysNeedle]

Are you looking for a normal face cream with an SPF, or a light feeling proper sun cream?

I use a Nivea light feeling suncream when I'm on holiday, but as it's proper suncream it is heavier than a normal face cream would be, it's very good though and you can get it in higher SPF than 15 which is what normal creams and moisturisers seem to be.

How high an SPF do you want?

[ShebaRabbit]

Sorry you have to do this, I do too and its a real pain looking white and feeling gooey all the time. My situation is slightly different in that I feel very unwell within a few hours of exposure so that's a more immediate reminder to stay out of the sun. I cant help you with prescription as I'm not in the UK and don't know whats available but I do claim income tax back on my sunscreen at the end of the year under medical expenses.

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL fluid for your face, ultra-light formula, its SPF 50 and great for not blocking your pores. I use the spray for my body but tbh I usually stay out of the sun as much as possible and wear long sleeves and skirts or trousers as its easier than remembering to reapply every couple of hours. Lands end do great SPF long sleeve tshirt, I have a couple in white and find them a bit hot but really good for gardening in Summer

Watch your hands, especially when driving, for this I keep a spray spf in the car, its all over my door handles and nearly impossible to get off. Gloves are great in the winter and I've been threatening for years to get my windshield UV filmed and get cotton SPF gloves for the Summer but have done neither.

The upside is my skin is remarkably line free for my age whilst some of my peers now look like old handbags

mineral make-up is great too as they all have SPF in them, I see bare minerals have a dedicated sunscreen now and am dying to try it out.
Good luck

[CMOTDibbler]

I am an extremely bad burner, and the La Roche Posay spf50 tinted sunblock is brilliant as I can wear it instead of foundation/ tinted moisturiser.

For when I don't care about looking nice, and the rest of my body, I am a total convert to P20 (in spf 50) which I was very dubious about before getting some free samples. It really does last all day and isn't gloopy or white once its sunk in.

I cover my arms with Wingz as then its only a thin layer of cotton and you can wear summery tops. A friend with lupus also uses them

[SavoyCabbage]

I live in a hot country and wear this facial sunscreen everyday.

www.amazon.co.uk/SunSense-Daily-Invisible-Finish-Sunscreen/dp/B000KHVKAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425121929&sr=8-1&keywords=sunsense&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[shitebag]

My Mum has PLE and gets Sunsense SPF50 on prescription.

[KnappShappey]

Ptolemy I think it's supposed to be 30-50 SPF, 50 from March - October?

ShebaRabbit thanks for the info, I'm not looking forward to it because as you say I hate the greasy gloomy feeling! I am going to ask my GP next time I go I just wanted to see if there were any better options to go for.

CMOT tinted - I might even start to look a bit more groomed then as I'm bare faced at the mo (only eye makeup) but if I'm having to apply it daily anyway..... you might have just given me a silver lining!

Savoy and Shitebag subsense seems to be the UK prescription option then, someone else mentioned E45 but to be honest I'm currently using whatever is on offer in the supermarket but not daily or on my face so I guess I will have to see how it goes.....

Thank you all for the advice, as usual Mumsnet to the rescue!

x