Sunburn

Does anyone else here get sick and/or burnt after only being in the sun for a few hours? I was outside for approximately 5 hours total in the sun this weekend, and am still feeling nauseous and feverish.

A couple of years ago I ended up in intensive care with a painful, full body sunburn and second degree burns on my face and shoulders after a day in the sun, which thankfully, healed without scarring.

It's very frustrating when it seems everyone else can have fun out in the sun, and you have to stay in the shade with loads of sunblock. And I have to wear sunglasses at all times during the summer because of very pale blue eyes that water from sun exposure.

Anyone else have this degree of sensitivity to the sun?

At least there are bronzers and self-tanners for fair skinned people these days.

Yes!!!!!

I had a 3rd degree sunburn one summer. We took a canoe out on the river for the day and I felt fine all day. When we got back to the jeep, I passed out from the heat. By the time I got home, I was so swollen that I had to cut my bikini bottoms off and wear my bikini top as a bra for 2 weeks. I ended up at the hospital because I couldn't keep anything down and I blistered so bad.

My husband and son both tan. So, yes, I feel for you.

Sorry Jenn, can't say that I have such sun sensitivities. My best friend burns very very easily so I've heard and seen how painful really bad sunburns can be. She keeps a bottle of aloe vera gel in the fridge and applies it when she's in lots of pain. She also uses Oragel, she says tha benzocaine helps dull the stinging pain of the sunburn. Sorry you're feeling bad and in pain. Feel better soon!!!!

I get sick from sun exposure. I always wear a hat if I am to be outdoors for long, that seems to help. And I look for the shade.

I assume you have the strongest sunblock. And keep reapplying it. I put it on several times in the first 30 minutes, assuming that there will be spots I missed each time. And reapply every 30 minutes or so afterwards. Severe sunburn is very very dangerous, and not worth the risk.

Just enjoy your porcelain complexion. And keep covered up. 5 hours is just too long to be outside in the sun, no matter what sunblock you use.

Thanks Kelly. I know from your photos that you're one of the fortunate ones who tans very nicely. Lucky girl!

Originally Posted by catherine

Yes!!!!!

I had a 3rd degree sunburn one summer. We took a canoe out on the river for the day and I felt fine all day. When we got back to the jeep, I passed out from the heat. By the time I got home, I was so swollen that I had to cut my bikini bottoms off and wear my bikini top as a bra for 2 weeks. I ended up at the hospital because I couldn't keep anything down and I blistered so bad.

My husband and son both tan.

So, yes, I feel for you.

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Thanks. Yep, been there... While en route to the hospital from the sunburn a couple of years back, I was passing in and out of consciousness and throwing up as well when I tried to eat.

It's so difficult because I like canoeing too, and other outdoor activities that require being in places without shade. Oh well... what can you do besides reapply sunblock every 5 minutes?

I am allergic to most sunscreens. They clot up like cottage cheese on my skin and give me chemical burns. Its a bummer. I have to be super careful in the sun, but fortunatly I dont burn too easily.

I'm a redhead, with a porcelin complexion, to me the sun = the plague.
I do get sick, and get migraines from sunburn.

Sometimes I get bad headaches from being in the sun too long, but I do tan nicely!

Sorry to all those that don't react well to the sun.

When i was still with my husband we went to the Bahamas. We were only out in the sun for 2 hours and he was violently sick, shivering etc...so i knew he had sun stroke

I don't sunbathe really, and i won't get my face tanned, but i'll walk ok in the sun.

Just think Jen, you won't get as many wrinkles by keeping out the sun

ONE ADVICE FOR YOU EVEN IF YOU LOVE THE SUN!

KEEP A BOTTLE OF ALOE VERA GEL OR JUICE IN THE FRIDGE OR HANDY IN THE HOUSE!


Now i was raised most summers in sicily so i had no problem tanning in the sun with out sun screen.

but when i got to australia Especially Queensland, ohh my gosh! we were in the sun the whole day with out sun screen i blistered soo badly and i had no aloe vera. my body was burnt for 2 weeks! but it did go brown after that

The last summer i was in sicily i couldnt go to the beach for obvious reasons so i layed in the sun, so i got sun stroke. THis only happens when i dont have water to cool me down in.

Hey, fairskinned redheaded Irish woman here... I have so many freckles that if someone were to play connect the dots, it would take them at least 20 years.

Whatever you do----- do NOT hold the heat in! Do not use anything really lotiony or creamy! Try Aloe Vera SPRAY gel. Anything gel and "clear" will sooth a burn. Trust me on this one. Better yet, keep an aloe vera plant in your house; I had one given to me a few months back and WOW.

It is great to pick off a big leaf, split it open and rub it onto your sunburn. Pure aloe. Also, I've found that (if you are as fair as I am), after washing off your face for the evening, take the aloe plant & rub the goop on your face. Let it sit for like 30 minutes!!! The aloe makes the skin on your face very soft, and if ya rinse it with ice cold water, your skin will glow & lose redness. Redness from sunburn or irritation, etc.

Another thing that soothes a sunburn: take a cool, not cold, oatmeal bath. Take an old footie or cut off the foot part of pantyhose, fill it with quick oats. Also if you have some lavender oil, squirt some in the bathwater. If you squish the oatmeal sock around, it'll disperse into the bath, and it is very soothing to burnt skin. Just soak in the cool water & then use the aloe stuff afterwards.

I don't purposefully lay out & tan like other people do, that would be total suicide and really stupid. I don't want to look like a saddlebag with eyes when I'm 45. I'm sure you know to cover up your face... wear a hat, sunvisor, sunglasses... SUNBLOCK... really protect your skin. I swear if ya do you'll hold onto your youth more than ppl who sit & bake themselves in a tanning bed for an hour a day.

Re: self tanners & bronzers, I dunno about all that. I use Jessica Simpson's "cotton candy" body powder, it's PINK & sparkley. It adds a really nice glow to my paleness versus me trying to look tan, which just isn't right for someone so fair skinned.

I lived in Florida for 5 years and I used to be outside all day every day and I was so tan. Then I hit 13 and holed up in my room for a couple of years. And now I'm back in Jersey so I am white as snow. More like translucent. Unfortunately I haven't been to the beach in about 3 years -- which is udderly depressing. I burn at first but then it turns to tan. Although I do get sick from being out in the heat/sun too long.

But I did just buy a bathing suit and I plan to hit the beach as much as possible this summer!

Thank you everyone for the all the advice/sympathy/tips... Every one of your posts are greatly appreciated!

I'm feeling better today, but afraid to go out because it's extremely hot and sunny here right now. I think I'll wait a couple of hours... I'm too chicken to go out at the moment.

Originally Posted by fwan

ONE ADVICE FOR YOU EVEN IF YOU LOVE THE SUN!

KEEP A BOTTLE OF ALOE VERA GEL OR JUICE IN THE FRIDGE OR HANDY IN THE HOUSE!

Click to expand...

and too....

, keep a bottle of Wiskey next to you to "Try" the forget the SunPain!

..

Just Kidding Jenn!

Jenn, I hope you are feeling better. Yes! I too get woosy when I've overdone sun....that Russian heritage I have - fair skin kind of lighter eyes, so I burn first. I've just stopped sitting out or laying out over the years and it's nice when people think Eric and I are the same age! LOL! but seriously, take care of your insides too - if you can take a couple of potassium supplements and B6, this will make your queasiness subside and also eat a lot of bananas and nuts, dried fruits. You've gotten good advice as far as your skin care, but the sun drains vitamins and nutrients from the inside of you too! Drink some Gatorade or a low-sugar sports drink with electrolytes, hon.

I started a thread similar to this last june...before the crash. I had the worst bodice burn possible. (I'm a rennie and we wear tight corset-like vests called a bodice. It helps to lift things that don't see the sun in the winter) I'm also an extremely fair Italian. My grandmother was from Northern Italy.

Some of the hints I was given was cool tea as a wash. Aloe vera. Oatmeal.

For today, wear Midievil sunscreen...fabric. Wear a light opaque scarf over a tank top. Make sure it covers your shoulders and chest. Or a shawl. Wear a wide brimmed hat.

Thanks again everyone! Even though it's not an enviable position, I'm glad I can relate to others here who experience a similar dilemma! And again, all the tips are GREATLY appreciated!