TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › The Cat Lounge › The curse of pale skin!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

The curse of pale skin!

post #1 of 29
5/29/11 at 7:51pm
Thread Starter 
So, I was in the convertible today for about 4 hours this morning and the sun chewed straight through my SPF55 sunscreen. I am one unhappy camper... does anyone have ANY suggestions on how to make this heal up faster? It's brutal! I've already got aloe with lidocane in it... anything else I can do?
Reply
post #2 of 29
5/29/11 at 8:54pm
I'm a redhead, complete with fair skin and freckles. I've gotten a lot of burns over the years. Keep the lotion on you, but also drink a lot of water and take aspirin to help the swelling from the burn. About all you can do is make yourself comfortable until the burn calms down.

It was a marvelously sunny day here today, eh?
Reply
post #3 of 29
5/29/11 at 10:02pm
Thread Starter 
It is! It was beautiful, cloudless blue sky... and LOTS OF SUN.
Reply
post #4 of 29
5/29/11 at 11:22pm
I'm so sorry - I'm a black Irish so I've got the pale skin right along with you. I agree with Momof - LOTS of water to encourage the new skin to grow over it.

As a general reminder (PLEASE don't take offense, orangeish, sounds like you covered up as best you could ) - it only takes one bad burn to put you at risk for skin cancer. Please wear as much clothing as you can in the heat and don't forget caps & hats to prevent cancer on your scalp!
Reply
post #5 of 29
5/30/11 at 6:35am
I'm the exact same way hun. I burn so quickly no matter what I do, and then I go right back to being pasty white in no time, no tan, nothing. Hope you feel better soon.
Reply
post #6 of 29
5/30/11 at 8:20am
Ouch!

I have no suggestions for the burn, but buy yourself some Blue Lizard sunscreen and use it religiously. I can put it on in the morning, swim for hours in the harsh Florida sun, not reapply all day, not get burned AND I'm a fair skinned redhead. Blue Lizard is by far the best sunscreen I have ever used. It's expensive, but you aren't reapplying every few hours so it lasts a long time. I wouldn't be without it.

Ok, commercial over.
Reply
post #7 of 29
5/30/11 at 8:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by parsleysage View Post
I'm so sorry - I'm a black Irish so I've got the pale skin right along with you. I agree with Momof - LOTS of water to encourage the new skin to grow over it.

As a general reminder (PLEASE don't take offense, orangeish, sounds like you covered up as best you could ) - it only takes one bad burn to put you at risk for skin cancer. Please wear as much clothing as you can in the heat and don't forget caps & hats to prevent cancer on your scalp!
Oh, don't worry, I'm not offended! It's really good advice. I definitely don't want skin cancer- and the paler you are the harder it is to protect yourself against it!

I don't know how to double-quote, but Blue Lizard, eh? I will have to go searching for that... I don't want to give up riding with the top down, but I may have to for trips longer than an hour or so!
Reply
post #8 of 29
5/30/11 at 11:13am
Pale skin here too!!!!! Try aloe vera gel. Ouch, burns are the worst. I try to wear hats too especially now. Wish I did more when I was younger......
Reply
post #9 of 29
5/30/11 at 12:37pm
Tiger balm is really good on sunburns. It's also great for muscle aches. Give it a shot!
Reply
post #10 of 29
5/30/11 at 12:52pm
Sunburn sucks and nothing is better then Aloe straight from the plant............... Here in NYC there are many corner stores that sell Aloe branches because of it's many uses. Lotions with aloe don't compare!
Reply
post #11 of 29
5/30/11 at 1:28pm
I use After Sun Lotion. Right now I have the kroger band and it doesnt seem to work as well as the Hawaiian Tropic I had last year. For me it helps a lot more than regular aloe. I tan very easy, but between autocrosses, convertibles, and the pool I deal with a few burns all year, luckily mine usually arent that bad.
Reply
post #12 of 29
5/30/11 at 8:52pm
Continue to re-apply. Rule of thumb for me, if it is SPF 15, it last 15 minutes, SPF 4, lasts 4 minutes.
Hope it heals soon! Lots of water, rest, and aloe is helpful.
Reply
post #13 of 29
5/30/11 at 9:06pm
I don't remember the brand because it was a long time ago, but I remember using some type of 'after sun' type gel that worked really well. I think the gel types work better than the lotion ones.
Reply
post #14 of 29
5/30/11 at 9:37pm
And make sure next time you reapply more regularly! It doesn't matter if you put on SPF1000 - it still only lasts a couple of hours, and then your pasty white skin (which is just like mine), burns, and hurts for days afterwards! Hope you feel better soon
Reply
post #15 of 29
5/30/11 at 10:03pm
Thread Starter 
I bought myself a bottle of SPF110... the Banana Boat stuff for babies. Believe you me, I'll be putting it on every hour after this! It's so not fair that we pasty-types have to char and then get nothing out of it... we deserve a tan for all that!
Reply
post #16 of 29
5/31/11 at 3:44am
Oh yeah I am in the same boat. I burn instantly even with sunscreen on

And aloe just burns when I put it on!

I hope you get some relief soon.
Reply
post #17 of 29
5/31/11 at 5:17am
I have polish skin (while my sister gets the italian skin of the family, jealous!) and I burn easily too, and I do not tan well, lol. I'd rather stay out of the sun and keep my skin healthy!

Here's to a speedy sunburn recovery!
Reply
post #18 of 29
5/31/11 at 6:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by orangeishcat View Post
I bought myself a bottle of SPF110... the Banana Boat stuff for babies. Believe you me, I'll be putting it on every hour after this! It's so not fair that we pasty-types have to char and then get nothing out of it... we deserve a tan for all that!
I wouldnt put too much hope in it because it has a higher number. Its not usually any better than the 50. The FDA is actually changing the way they rate sunscreen and after that they arent going to allow for anything about spf50 unless there is scientific proof. Some of the top rated sunscreens are actually 30-50. http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/new...nsumer-reports
Reply
post #19 of 29
5/31/11 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by capt_jordi View Post
I wouldnt put too much hope in it because it has a higher number. Its not usually any better than the 50. The FDA is actually changing the way they rate sunscreen and after that they arent going to allow for anything about spf50 unless there is scientific proof. Some of the top rated sunscreens are actually 30-50. http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/new...nsumer-reports
... I have been HOODWINKED! Well, so long as it does its job anyway... grumble grumble.
Reply
post #20 of 29
5/31/11 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by capt_jordi View Post
I use After Sun Lotion. Right now I have the kroger band and it doesnt seem to work as well as the Hawaiian Tropic I had last year. For me it helps a lot more than regular aloe. I tan very easy, but between autocrosses, convertibles, and the pool I deal with a few burns all year, luckily mine usually arent that bad.
I used that when I was in Barbados - it's wonderful
Reply
post #21 of 29
5/31/11 at 10:51am
I'm one of those lovely people who gets sunburn in the winter if I'm not careful! I agree with the water and pain killer (i use tyenol or advil) recomendations... I've really found no other way to get any releif.... hope it heals soon!
Reply
post #22 of 29
5/31/11 at 11:22am
I never take the chance of getting sun burned. I have very pale skin and in the sun I burn in under 10 minutes. With sunblock, maybe 20 or 30 minutes.

I've had 2nd degree burns on my face from the sun when I was younger, and that was just from waking 2 or 3 blocks!!

Now I avoid the sun like the plague! I don't bother with sunblock. Instead I sit or walk in shadey areas and wear big hats with wide brims. At the beach I sit under a tree.

By doctor order in order to help boost my Vitamin D levels I have to sit out in the sun between 10am and 2pm for 10 minutes, without sunblock! I do it a few times per week, but I hate it. I sit with my back to the sun and read. If I sat with my face to the sun my face would be burned to a crisp.
Reply
post #23 of 29
5/31/11 at 12:38pm
I am a redhead, but I have just enough Native American blood to save me from severe sunburn.
Actually, I don't usually burn at all, but with skin cancer in my family history, I try to be very careful.

Went boating Saturday in the blistering Mojave desert sun, completely covered all exposed areas with spf 55 before we went out, and twice more while on the boat.
Still managed to get my shoulders burnt enough to feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Hubby is the whitest white person I have ever met, he was covered in sunblock as well, he escaped with some pink knees, but no real burn.
Because of hubby's fair skin though, I keep the Solarcaine green aloe gel in the fridge.
Stuff feels so good on sunburn.
Reply
post #24 of 29
5/31/11 at 2:50pm
Apply yogurt to the burn for about 20 minutes before bed, just plain greek yogurt. I learn it from my grandmother so I dunno how good this is I've tried it but really when you are burned this bad nothing could make it all better only partly alleviate the pain.
Reply
post #25 of 29
6/1/11 at 7:46pm
Oh, fellow pale one, I literally feel your pain! I was at a parade Sunday, and my fair, redhead's skin is roasted.

I found that sage water is the best thing for sunburn, and I made a batch the other day. You need fresh or dried sage (I've only ever used fresh, from my garden). Grab a handful of leaves, put them in a heat-proof bowl, and pour as much boiling water as you think you'll need for dabbing on the affected area(s). Steep, like making tea, for about 10-15 minutes. Remove the leaves, and, when cool, dip a washcloth in the tea, and rub/dab it generously over the sunburn, and let air-dry. Repeat 1 or 2 more times in 24 hours, if needed.

This works better than anything I've ever used, and smells nice. I'd grow sage just for this reason, if I got sunburned a lot.
Reply
post #26 of 29
6/1/11 at 9:42pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I am almost healed... and I ended up using VINEGAR of all things! My mother told me about it- I spritzed it on myself out of a squirt bottle. I smelled like a salad for the duration, but it did help take the heat and the pain away!

Trust me, I have written down aaaaaallllll of these remedies... I will need them again one day!
Reply
post #27 of 29
6/2/11 at 4:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by orangeishcat View Post
Well, I am almost healed... and I ended up using VINEGAR of all things! My mother told me about it- I spritzed it on myself out of a squirt bottle. I smelled like a salad for the duration, but it did help take the heat and the pain away!

Trust me, I have written down aaaaaallllll of these remedies... I will need them again one day!
Sorry--that reminded me that I forgot to recommend that--I have also used vinegar on suburn (and for skin problems in general). Great stuff!

I'm glad you're healing!!!
Reply
post #28 of 29
6/5/11 at 6:56pm
I have pale skin, but the only place I burn fairly easily is my face. My skin is really sensitive in general on my face too so I have to be careful about what sunscreen I use... I can't ever remember getting much of a sunburn anywhere else but my face and maybe my scalp. I did get heat/sun rash once, that was horrible.
I'm half Italian but my siblings and I are all fairly pale-skinned, I guess we took after the German side. The nurses never have a problem drawing blood because you can see my veins clearly all the way up my arms.
Reply
post #29 of 29
6/6/11 at 9:46am
I am a freakishly pale Irish woman, so I know how you feel. Try putting your aloe vera in the freezer for about 10 minutes, and then applying! Feels good!!!!

Ibuprofen helps with the swelling.

Cool colloidal oatmeal baths followed by a good after-sun lotion work wonders too.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: The Cat Lounge
TheCatSite.com › Forums › General Forums › The Cat Lounge › The curse of pale skin!