A Day at the Beach...

[RSoxFan]

So pasty white Irish girl spent Saturday at the beach. I put sunblock on twice but then I fell asleep on the sand. By the time I got home, I was so burned that I was dizzy and sick to my stomach. That night, I got up to take medicine and passed out on the kitchen floor. Today, I still wasn't feeling better, so I went to the doctor. She flipped out on me. I have second degree burns on 30% of my body and sun poisoning. She put me on steroids and antibiotics and she did a blood test to check my kidneys to make sure they're functioning. I'm not sure how a sunburn would affect the kidneys. And I can't go to work until next week. I can't even lift my arms to brush my hair. I kinda look like this:

So, moral of the story, if you're going to the beach, SPF 15 won't cut it on skin that hasn't seen daylight since Reagan was President!

 

[Jrsy Boy]

YOW!

I've had my share of too much sun, but never that bad. Glad you are OK & hopefully you have learned your lesson!

 

[Christine]

OMG!! You know, though, I am 42 years old and have pasty white skin. I learned a LONG time ago that SPF 15 is for someone else. I don't care what anyone might say about higher SPFs, but I don't do anything under an SPF and I apply it every 2-3 hours.

Gosh, I hope you are better soon. It sounds very scary.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Lots of hugs to you!

I too have very fair skin. Stupid me went to an outdoors event Friday. Only, I didn't know it was outdoors, so I didn't apply sunblock. I stood in the direct noon sun for 3 hours. This is the worst sunburn I have ever had. Of course I have a doctor appointment Thursday. I just know I'm going to get a lecture on proper skin care.

OP, have you ever tried the Coppertone Spectra 3 sublocks? I have found them to be amazing. Two summers ago I went on a Caribbean cruise. I expected to be re-applying sunblock every half hour and still coming home sunburnt. I applied twice a day and I didn't burn at all. I actually tanned! *gasp*

 

[Jennifer48]

omgosh! You poor thing!

From one fair skinned woman to another, I've been there. I haven't had a burn that bad, but it still was not comfortable.

I hope you put on lots of aloe to help keep u cool and next time, SPF45!!

 

[squall55]

Well I'm Italian and typically I don't burn, but I went on the Disney Cruise in April and I had 2nd Degree burns on the top of my feet. It was so bad that I could barely walk. I ended up going to first aid at the Magic Kingdom and they took me to a walk in clinic.

I ended up having blisters on the tops of both my feet that were about 3 inches by 4 inches. That was my worse burn ever. I have never seen anything like it. Jennifer48 can vouch for that.

So I know what you are going through RSoxFan, its very painful, the pain is there for about a week, then it starts to get better.

Hang in there.

Go Sox

 

[luvwinnie]

I am very light and freckled (got my mom's Irish/German skin. my dad is DARK Italian), so I can sympathize, PLUS I'm photosensitive (it actually makes me ill). Hope you are better soon! NO MORE TANNING!

 

[RitaZ.]

WOW!! That's serious stuff, as in life-threatening. Whenever we go to the beach, I take a big umbrella, hats, plenty of cold drinks and lots of sunscreen.

I tried the new sunscreen from Aveeno during our trip to WDW and it worked great. I was really impressed, it didn't stink and didn't feel greasy.

I hope you feel better real soon. Take care and no more tanning for you. Seriously!

 

[RSoxFan]

OP, have you ever tried the Coppertone Spectra 3 sublocks? I have found them to be amazing. Two summers ago I went on a Caribbean cruise. I expected to be re-applying sunblock every half hour and still coming home sunburnt. I applied twice a day and I didn't burn at all. I actually tanned! *gasp*

I'm going to have to buy that! I leave for WDW in just over two weeks, and now I'm so worried about this burn. I usually apply sunblock twice during the day and don't burn. I bought SPF 45 this morning at the drug store when I filled my prescriptions. The clerk looked at me and said "Don't you think it's a little late for this?" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

My doc definitely gave my the skin care lecture. I was really dreading going to see her, but I had to. She was nicer than I expected. She knew it wasn't my goal to get this color. I know I can't tan. She told me next time to bring a friend who can actually stay awake, since this time we both fell asleep.

 

[luvflorida]

That sounds horrible! When I was a teenager, (back in the dark ages), I spent an afternoon on a boat on a lake and didn't apply any sunblock. I ended up with an awful sunburn and huge blisters on both of my thighs. It also made me sick to my stomach.

I have fair skin and never tan, just burn. I agree with the poster who mentioned the Coppertone Spectra sunblocks. They work well. Noxema also feels good on a sunburn, it's very cooling and soothing.

Hope you feel better soon!!!!

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Well I'm Italian and typically I don't burn, but I went on the Disney Cruise in April and I had 2nd Degree burns on the top of my feet. It was so bad that I could barely walk.

Ah yes, we saw much of this while heading back to the Wonder after the day on CC. People had to choose the lesser of two evils: barefoot on the hot sidewalk or shoes over burned feet. Believe me, you burn the tops of your feet only once! Seems like tops of feet and ears are the spots people seem to forget about.

 

[anewvance]

Yikes, I hope you feel better soon. I've gotten sunburned in the past but never close to that degree, and i'm white as a ghost too. But I use 50spf so I assume that those numbers really count!!!

Good luck to you!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I had sun poisoning once, but not nearly to the extent you are experiencing it! It is so miserable. I hope you're feeling better soon!!

 

[mickeyboat]

Sorry you are hurting so badly. Hope you feel better soon!

I have been shocked at the number of people who do not believe in sunscreen. Yes, it is a pain to remember and apply, but I have had a scary mole removed from my nose, and have an appointment to check another one tomorrow, so it is worth it to me to remember. I keep a small tube in my car, so I always have it handy wherever we go. My kids hate that I make them put it on every day, but I will not be responsible for them getting skin cancer. Even a "healthy tan" isn't all that healthy. when we are out in the sun, I reapply every 2 hours or so, sometimes even more frequently.

Has anyone tried the continuous spray sunscreen? I have and it seems to work well, but I was wondering if anyone has had a bad experience with it, like it not staying on, lasting very long, etc.

Denae

 

[Stitchfans]

So sorry this happened to you. Being another pasty white Irish girl I know how that can happen. I've been burnt badly but not as bad as you. Wew, I can feel your pain.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Has anyone tried the continuous spray sunscreen? I have and it seems to work well, but I was wondering if anyone has had a bad experience with it, like it not staying on, lasting very long, etc.

I bought the Coppertone Continuous Spray Sport SPF30 based on recommendations here and have found that it stays on almost too well (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). It seems like it is an effort to get it off in the shower. I do feel like a glazed doughnut when I coat myself in it, though.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Ouch!

No part of a bad sunburn is as bad as 1) taking that 1st shower and 2) trying to sleep.

Water feels like like it's made of steel and sheets feel like sandpaper.

I hope you get to feeling better soon!

 

[RitaZ.]

Has anyone tried the continuous spray sunscreen? I have and it seems to work well, but I was wondering if anyone has had a bad experience with it, like it not staying on, lasting very long, etc.

Denae

I use it because it's convenient, but it doesn't last as long as lotion.

Like I said in my post, I bought the new one from Aveeno (45 SPF) and it worked really well, not sticky at all. Also, it's supposed to protect your skin longer. http://www.aveeno.com Click on products, then sun protection (bottom left).