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Original poster

I love the sun but it doesn't like me!!

15 replies

deaddei · 10/04/2010 19:14

I've had factor 50 on for 2 days- Nivea light - and have come out in a rash on my chest. V attractive.
Also my left eye has streamed all day.....anyone got any ideas for a sunscreen I may not react to??

OP posts:
BelleDameSansMerci · 10/04/2010 19:31

I'm very fair skinned and find that Nivea doesn't work well for me either... I'd recommend Lancaster sun creams but they're a bit more pricey than Nivea!

ppeatfruit · 10/04/2010 22:26

The Dr. Haushcka children's one is fab but not cheap either!

caughtinafog · 10/04/2010 22:53

Piz Buin Allergy is very good for me.

Factor 50 is high for this time of year though...are you in the UK ?

FredTheBear · 11/04/2010 09:07

Try Simple.

Original poster
deaddei · 11/04/2010 10:39

Yes caughtinafog- in the southeast. I always wear factor 50!!! Very fair,

OP posts:
alypaly · 12/04/2010 01:08

sunsense factor 50+ is one that the gp prescribes for sun sensitive people but you can buy it.

kickassangel · 12/04/2010 01:29

we use ambre solaire & this year are trying nutragena factor 70 (they had sold out of factor 100)

dh gets the runny & stinging eyes, I get hives, so we're pretty careful. also all v fair & burn far too easily!

lovingthesun · 12/04/2010 09:46

i was looking into high factors for my quite fair skinned daughter last year (we were in Florida) & everything I read suggested it wasn't worth using anything higher than a SPF 30 because anything above this factor doesn't provide additional protection. So if I was thinking I could put SPF 50 & then leave them for the day, that would be ok - but they'd be at risk from burning.
What I ended up doing was applying SPF 30 several times at day, when they were at the beach. They also wore UV sun suits + legionnaires hats & sunglasses. Also made sure to keep their little shoulders & noses sunblocked.

If you're covering yourself if SPF 50, then you run the risk of not absorbing any vitamin D.

I have to say I find the sunscreen debate very difficult.

Also second the Piz Buin Allergy - have used the SPF 30. Have been brought out in heat rash from practically everything else. Hawaiian tropic block felt like it was burning my face off...so steer clear of that one !

rabbitstew · 12/04/2010 10:04

Piz Buin is the only suncream I've ever had a REALLY itchy, spotty reaction to. Simple made me a little bit itchy with a faint rash, as do almost all other suncreams! My ds1, who is unbelievably fair skinned and skin sensitive is fine in Sunsense, and it disappears into the skin without leaving it pasty looking or greasy. I adore the stuff and wish I could wear it (am going to try it out again this year, just in case I was just unlucky the one time I tried it last year!), but unfortunately, I appear to get a bit of a rash in that, too (mild, though, and no itching), as does my ds2, who hasn't ever reacted to any other suncreams!!!! Definitely worth a try, though, and the Sunsense product specifically for the face is fine on me (and again has the advantage of being non-greasy) - the only one I've ever tried where my eyes didn't end up sore and streaming by the end of the day. It's odd that I am so sensitive to suncreams, as my skin doesn't seem to be sensitive to anything else.

ps a dermatologist recommended Sunsense to me, so it must be pretty good stuff. Why not look on their website?

lovingthesun · 12/04/2010 10:35

was that the piz buin Allergy then ?

I think the reason we are reacting is because the amount of chemicalsinvolved.
I don't have sensitive skin either !

Original poster
deaddei · 12/04/2010 14:24

I wonder if I have this polymorph something or other- common in spring when sun comes out, raised lumps...saw it whilst googling.
I'm off to the drs tomorrow for something else, so will ask.
Thanks for comments.

OP posts:
slug · 12/04/2010 14:51

I'm not sure if these are available in the UK, but we use them whenever we are in NZ, where the sun is very strong, and I've never had a reaction. cancer society sunscreens

alypaly · 12/04/2010 22:56

spectraban is another really good one . it chemically binds to the skin ,is non greasy and has been used by alot of dermatologists. My DS2 uses P20 which we find amazing....his skin used to split and then it was too sore to swim in the salt water ,but P20 has cured that

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 14/04/2010 17:54

deaddei - polymorphic light eruption is the thing you googled.

I think it's often mistaken for an allergy to suncream when really it's more of an allergic reation to the first good dose of sunlight itself. I have it and take an antihistamine (Telfast) from the GP for pretty much the duration of April and May and then it settles.

Hope this helps.

Original poster
deaddei · 14/04/2010 19:05

Thankyou- I have been googling it and actually went to my very unhelpful doctor today (on another thread)
Am seeing someone else so will ask about antihistimine.

OP posts:
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