What am I doing wrong?! Sun screen!

[Daffodil03]

Hello all,

Apologies if this is in the wrong place but I'm a little bit confused (as per).

I am 31 and have pale skin but dark hair and I always wear sunscreen when out and about for the day. I have never had sun burn or a tan (my mother is a red head so always had the risks of burning drummed into me). However, this year I am burning through sun screen. I apply sunscreen as normal, top up at regular intervals, I'm not swimming etc. But have burnt a few times over the last few weeks. I returned from holiday in Portgual where I wore floaty tops and had sun screen on but I still caught he sun resulting in blistering and peeling. I changed the brand of sunscreen expecting it to be a dud bottle but have burnt through clothes and with different sun screens this year.

To date, I have burnt through Nivea, lacure make from Aldi, sultan, and the white one with orange lid (name escapes me). I tend to always use factor 30 or 50.

I have used these brands before and never had an issue, and at first thought I might have picked up a dodgy product but I'm concerned that I'm burning through a variety of brands and clothes. I popped into the pharmacist and asked for advice on the best product and explained my situation....I basically had a ticking off and was treated like a child that I dont know how to use sun screen.... despite me saying that nothing has changed. I am also not on any medication as I know some types can affect cream used.

Any advice appreciated :)

[SeaToSki]

are you using spray or cream?

I find the sprays arent as good at coverage as they used to be - maybe they have changed the propellant

Try using barrier clothing and hats as well

[Daffodil03]

Hi SeatoSki

Thank you for your response. I am using creams as I find the spray coverage us a bit hit and miss. Yes, I wear a large sun hat and wore the same summer clothes worn during the heatwave last year and when travelling in the USA and North African sun. I feel I am doing everything as normal but burning through the cream and clothes, despite trying different brands. Just feel this is out of the norm and wondered if anyone had had the same issues with creams or whether I'm missing something obvious

[Lellochip]

Some medications make you more sensitive to the sun, taking anything new?

[LittleLongDog]

Are your clothes rubbing off the sunscreen?

[Hiphopopotamous]

Putting on the sunscreen just before going outside, so hot giving it time to work?

[PlinkPlink]

Essential oils can make your skin more sensitive to sun aswell

So any new moisturiser with essential oils in it?

These are the main culprits: Angelica, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Wild Orange, and Tangerine.

[SirTobyBelch]

When you say you're not on any medication, OP, does that include herbal supplements? Hypericum (St John's wort), for example, is notorious for causing photosensitization (as well as interacting with numerous medications).