We're Baaaaack!!!!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

TD and I are back from the beach - reluctantly. I think both of us could have used another week of R&R.

Turns out, I'm probably allergic to any sunscreen that has an SPF >15. This is going to suck, since I'm quite fair and burn easily. Even baby sunscreen, supposedly hypoallergenic caused the worst reaction! I'm thinking a trip to the dermatologist to find something stronger is going to be in my future. I do have a nice tan.....under the hives! Benedryl stops the itch, but does nothing for getting rid of the hives though. Hydrocortisone and benedryl cream are mildly effective on the itch.

Got caught in an accident, which slowed us down for a crawl for about 45 min. Then about 20 miles from Lexington, there was the mother of all accidents on the other side of the road and the traffic was at a standstill for more than 6 miles. People had stopped their cars and were milling about in the highway. Glad I wasn't caught up in that mess, it was going to be ages to get undone.

Picked up take out sushi for dinner last night and this morning, I pulled a couple of strip steaks out of the freezer to go with the farmstand corn, tomatoes and peaches we picked up on the way.

[NancysSummerSip]

Aw, glad you two had a nice time.

Sunscreen allergy? Not a surprising thing...the higher you go, the more of the UVA-UVB-blocking chemicals are in the product. Ask your dermatologist for a recommendation. Mine had only three names: Neutrogena, Blue Lizard and La Roche Posay Anthelios Mexoryl SX. Blue Lizard is usually available in surf shops; La Roche and Neutrogena are in both CVS and Walgreens.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Maybe not.....I just opened up a new tube of Murad facial moisturizer that I've used for ages. It has an SPF 30 and contains all the ingredients that made me break out in hives.

The only difference between this and sunscreen.....other than the price, is that the Murad is not waterproof. So now I'm wondering if that is the ingredient that is causing the issue. The SPF 15 stuff that I had was not waterproof either.

BTW.....Neutrogena was one of the ones that made me break out too. I quick google while I was in Myrtle Beach brought up the Blue Lizard and another brand called Hamilton - which unfortunately is sold in Australia.

[NancysSummerSip]

OK, wait a sec....you used Murad "for ages," and you were OK, and then recently started breaking out in hives? Do I have that right?

Mich, it might not be the suncreen by itself.

[lulubean]

Oh my, I have just done with 4 months of some nasal labial fold rash for the same thing, using an SPF product. It was horrible, looked like I had nose herpes.

Also some sunblock stops you sweating which in itself will cause a rash, I find that happens to me about 25% of the time no matter what sunblock I use. Little nasty sunrash.

allergies.about.com/u/ua/contactdermatitis/sunscreenallergyua.htm

Prickly heat that is what I was trying to say.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Yep, I've used Murad facial moisturizer for probably 5-6 years now without a problem.

The hives (and it's not a rash, these are discrete bumps) started last year, when TD and I were in Mexico. Mainly on my shins, and towards the end of the trip, wound up on my forearms. This time, the hives hit my shins and arms simultaneously. I initially thought it was because I was using my sister's No Ad sunscreen, so this time around I bought one that I have never reacted to.

I'm still not sure it's not the SPF now, since it appears that the SPF 15 was waterproof too. Hmmmmm.........

[rovo]

It may not be the sun-screen at all. Did you eat anything different while on your trip? Shellfish?

[NancysSummerSip]

Or are you consuming any meds, either over the counter or prescription, that can interact with the sun or the sunblock? Even certain vitamins, like niacin, can cause a reaction. So can zinc, which many people take following surgery to speed healing.

Are you on any antibiotics or sulfa drugs? Some of them do not mix well with sun exposure.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Not sure about the meds, I take levothyroxine, lisinopril and triametrine for BP. Not sure if any of those can cause a reaction. Nothing other than that.

I ate shellfish until it came out of my ears, but I normally do when given the opportunity. No issues there, the reaction started after I used the sunblock.

[NancysSummerSip]

I have lisinopril, and that's not a sun-sensivite one.

<<triametrine>>

I found something on triamterine; is this the drug? This is from the National Institutes of Health:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000653/

...plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Triamterene may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

I get a rash with makeup that has sun screen in it. One time the Cosmetologist at Merle Norman told me that was ridiculous, because she had never heard of it. Stupid woman.

[NancysSummerSip]

Chef, I hear you on the tetracycline issue; had that one happen to me as a kid. They gave me that stuff for acne, believe it or not. And that Blue Lizard sunscreen is really hard to find, other than special order, or the surf shops around town.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I'm not on antibiotics, so that's not the reason.

I do have an appointment with a dermatologist tomorrow morning. I hate the idea of seeing my sunburned forehead (I know I'll get a lecture), but figure that I need to get in to have her see these hives. Hopefullly redosing myself with sunscreen will cause them to pop up again since they're finally starting to go away.

[Peace Of Mind]

Welcome back! You may need a combo of an H1 and an H2 to get rid of them. That's what an ENT figured out for me because nothing worked. The Dr. should know what that means, if you don't - which you probably do.

[lulubean]

I went to the derm and my herpe nose rash had nearly gone, actually that was that thread that I had last week, the wussy one. I either put old make up on or used some SPF and had an outbreak of something and it lasted 4 months and still popping up.

[Sammy]

Mich, I am prone to sun poisoning and wonder if that's what you had/have.

So tell me, how hot was Myrtle Beach and how humid? Like I said a few weeks ago I'm suppose to be vacationing down there for a week, but I'm hearing how blazing hot the beach is and that the humidity is unreal. I tend to get a murderous attitude in hot humid weather.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

We had utterly perfect weather while we were down there. Mid 80s and sunny, with little humidity. The condo owners said that it was the nicest that it had ever been while they were down there.

No, this is not sun poisoning. The areas I have hives are only the areas where I put sunscreen on. My face, back and chest - all which got more sun than they should have - did not get sunscreen and are not covered in hives. I missed my back and my face and chest got my facial moisturizer, which has a lessor SPF.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Huh?

I'm responding to this post.

So tell me, how hot was Myrtle Beach and how humid? Like I said a few weeks ago I'm suppose to be vacationing down there for a week, but I'm hearing how blazing hot the beach is and that the humidity is unreal. I tend to get a murderous attitude in hot humid weather.

[NancysSummerSip]

Mich, are you trying to make someone jealous?

Well, it is easily done, since she has that nice TD and all.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I remember you mentioning having surgery recently. Are you taking any medications specificallly for that which you don't normally take regularly? Some Rx have warnings to stay out of sunlight and I'm wondering if that might be what triggered your skin irritation.

[NancysSummerSip]

LOL,,, and who does TD have???

Well, obviously the ability to offer a lady such a howling good time that she breaks out in hives!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I remember you mentioning having surgery recently. Are you taking any medications specificallly for that which you don't normally take regularly? Some Rx have warnings to stay out of sunlight and I'm wondering if that might be what triggered your skin irritation.

For the first time in a very long time, I'm not taking a long list of NSAIDs and pain meds. Right now, all that I'm taking are my BP meds and for thyroid.