My age is 74, I have had ET for 6 years for which I have been taking Hydroxicarbomide. As anyone on Hydrea will know, you have to protect your skin from the sun. My garden, being quite big, this time of year, requires regular maintenance. My problem is, judging the weather and when is best for me to venture outside, of course suitably covered up. My daughter says slap on factor 50, but by the time I do all that I loses the will and go back inside for another cup of coffee! So the gardening is not getting done! Also I would love to do long country walks! Tell me I am not alone with my dilemmas?
Michael
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After I had a melanoma 6 years ago my clinical nurse specialist
recommended the make "Ultra Sun" sun protection. They have a gel one which is easy to apply and non sticky. You could also try a day long type of sun protection so you put it on after your morning shower and then forget about having to re-apply later.
I was reading recently that these ‘once a day’ sunscreens are misleading and have to be reapplied in the same way as regular sunscreens. They wear off throughout the day and lose their effectiveness. So the protection you thought you had at the start of the day might be minimal some hours later.
Oh this was my go-to sunscreen for many years, when it could only be sourced online in fact. I never did burn using this. Does it come in factor 50? I always stuck to 30. Just thinking out loud, I can easily check myself. Thanks for the reminder Dianne!
I have the same dilema - also on Hydroxycarbamide, also love spending time in my garden. I decided to put a big gazebo in my garden for the duration od the summer. I also have a parasole on a dolly / wheels (from Homebase Bunnings) so I can spent a lot of the time sorting out my potted plants under the gazebo and for the fixed plants I move my parasole in place. But I dont suggest you do this instead of the sun cream, but it helps if you are just doing a bit of gardening when the sun isn't at its strongest (ie about 10am - 4pm). Wish you all the best
It's so difficult. I too have a large garden and a large dog, I have to be outside for a good part of the day. I am lucky in that the weather up here is not so hot but the sun can still get through the clouds. I have bought linen trousers, long sleeved shirts a wide brimmed hat and then only really have to put sunscreen on my hands, lower arms and face and neck.
I am going to earn the nickname of Greta Garbo or Lauren Bacall or maybe just the mad eccentric widow who thinks she's a 40's film star!
Know exactly where you are coming from 😂😂. My kids think my new anti sun look is hysterical. Those hats are sweaty though. And my wardrobe is filling up with long sleeved shirts and wide legged trousers. To be honest I don’t think some of the lightweight fine cotton / linen fabrics will keep the sun out. And my skin seems to get so irritated by anything that isn’t super soft. Silk? 😁 I’ve found Uniqlo is great for inexpensive light soft wide legged trousers (full and three quarter length) - they have great shirts too. OK, so I think the trousers are strictly loungewear but hey, I wore them out to an opening night party. Sssh!!!!!
Oh sweaty for sure, I can't stand it. I agree those finer clothes don't keep the burning rays out and that black is the best for keeping the rays out but then it also attracts the heat. I'm all wide legged linen and a few pairs of harem pants, may go full on hippy and get my long holiday skirts and dresses looked out but wearing them around Aberdeenshire is so unusual, I'll definitely attract some kind of 'mad' label. I'm going to have a look at Uniqlo, not heard of them, thanks for the tip!
Yup, I’m thinking that rockin’ the hippy vibe might be the way to go!! Maybe slightly less ‘out there’ that much further south in London. 😁.
It’s all such a pfaff. I’m not much in to sunbathing but I like the feel of the sun on my skin especially on those days when it’s cold in the shade and it’s just nice to thaw and unfurl in those golden rays. I have a feeling that I’m not going to be very regimented about this and may regret it. I’m using the Roche Posay stuff on my face with some Vitamin C serum underneath - apparently it helps the sunscreen work more effectively. I dunno but my skin looks better! And I’m justifying all this on medical necessity. 🤣. Got to be an upside!
P.S. I mentioned the Solbari sun protection clothing range earlier. Def not hippy(!). Got the wrap cardi and the multi way shawl. Hoping will provide an alternative to the ‘mad old bat’ look.
You and Mica11 are a scream! I’m not sure who I’ll be looking out for if we get to meet in the summer? A lady totally clad in silk, hippy chic, mad old bat or someone covered head to toe with a large floppy hat? 😂😂
Fear I shall be synthesising all three. Mad Old Bat in hippy chic hidden (quite sensibly and of necessity) by large floppy hat. 😂 The MPN Hydroxy summer look SS18. 🤣🤣🤣
Roche Posay sounds like a drag act. My goodness google is my friend since I got this condition. Off to look at that now too! Oh Vit C serum as well. I never looked my age but boy I think I do now and it hurts my mirror and my now fragile ego.
My mirror is rebelling on my behalf. Good old Roche Posay - next appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race 🤣🤣. It’s the name that crops up on a lot on the Forums / websites on cancer and skin conditions. Did a bit of digging on the Vit C Serum front. Lots of suspect options via Amazon. Some v v expensive products via Space NK - but apparently not great for dry skin (phew!). Am out getting my hair done ie minimising Old Bat look. Ignoring itching that is ever increasing around hairline while colour takes effect. I guess suffering is in order here. Will dig out name of Vit C serum when I return home.
Prior to ET, I used to go to a skin clinic and I just remembered I have a Vit C serum, from the Environ range, it was pricey stuff though, so may use it up and source something cheaper. My money is going on so many new things I never needed before. I have an overflowing summer wardrobe, no longer required items. My charity shops are going to love me. Right must get off the sofa, time for Pilates class.
Yes. I suspect only the serious UV protection clothing will do the job. But the decent stuff comes at a price. And in terms of style - as opposed to just function - it’s pretty limited.
I had a look at the expensive stuff and I'm not paying their prices for 'Old Lady' styling. I may have gained a stone in weight since I went on Hydroxy, stopped getting highlights and embraced the grey, (which I happen to love) but I refuse to look like my great Auntie Minnie.
The Solbari stuff? Yes, some of it is a bit ‘retirees play golf’ but I thought a few pieces were OK. The wrap cardi thing is actually OK. Colours could be extended. There is a UK company doing similar stuff at even higher prices but I used the zoom facility on my screen and drew the line. Definitely channelling the Auntie Minnie look. Nasty seams and Care Home cut. 😱
Agggh! My current dilemma. Hate sunscreen. And I don’t think it’s particularly effective. Unless of course you’re prepared to slather yourself in a sticky mess every two hours.
I’ve been checking out sunscreen clothing. Inevitably the best choice is to be found in places like Australia. I bought a couple of items from a company called Solbari. They appear to have a UK website but actually the stuff was posted from Oz. It arrived very quickly and efficiently. It isn’t cheap but the quality looks and feels good. Have yet to wear it. The sun disappeared! (There is stuff on Amazon some of which is cheap but I’m sceptical as to the quality. I bought a couple of 50+ UV protection hats. There are great with wide brims etc but I’m not convinced about the fabric.) Sun protection and the great outdoors is a work in progress for me. Good luck!
I managed to source 2 of those 50+ UV hats in TK Maxx, the black one is definitely 'mad old bat' hat. You can scrunch it up and put in your bag or bend the large brim in any shape you want. I have had tri horn, Cap'n Pugwash, cowboy...every shape you can think of it'll adopt. Will I wear it? Maybe in the garden but at least it's fun.
Same problem here. I'm a 69 year old man, diagnosed with PV and now MF over the past 9 years. Not only does our skin thin as we get old, but Hydroxy makes it all worse. This leads to irritated skin, with unappealing tiny blood scabs, especially on my forehead and scalp. These of course are just the areas that took punishment when I was younger. So it's a broad-brimmed hat and factor 50 several times a day when it's sunny. I find that proper skin care - daily cleaning and moisturising - really helps. I researched all this and found a Lush (UK) product, Dream Cream, which is excellent, for me at least, at calming things down. You really don't need much... just a bit of brass neck when you wander into a shop where everyone's 50 years young than you. Good luck!
Thanks for the dream cream tip RobinBrum. I’m going to get some for me but also my 1 year old granddaughter who suffers terribly from excema. The reviews online are brilliant.
There are also a lot of spf 50+ long sleeve clothing made for hot weather that can protect most of your body so you don't have to apply sunscreen at all except for your hands and feet. There is also a supplement called astaxanthin (asta-Zan-thin) that minimises getting sunburn but do not take more than 12mg per day (it also helps with radiation and emf exposure).
Many thanks to all your replies. Do you not think there should be more counseling on this subject: for outside workers this would cause major disruption to their lives. I can see from the many replies, this is serious stuff.
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