Protection from sun when taking Methotrexate
I have been advised by the pharmacist to wear Sun Factor 50, cover up and wear a hat when in the sun. I like wearing sandals and having bare arms. I usually stay in the shade and never get sunburnt. What do other people do in my circumstances please?
I do try to stay out the shade and wear high factor cream as I do go pink quickly on mtx. But I still manage foreign holidays etc and wear a 24 hr cream but still top it up!!
I was just coming on here to ask the same question!! I've heard that we should use a high factor sun cream & I'm not a sun worshipper, but I have been known to catch the sun when i get carried away gardening, is it the fact the we will just catch the sun quicker & nothing else this disease or meds can throw at us. gentle hugs michelle x
I wear factor 50, a big hat, wrap round sunglasses, loose long sleeved shirts and carry on gardening. I've learnt my lesson the hard way by forgetting and ending up blistered after being out in the sun for a fairly short time.
I'm Scottish descent, along with red hair & pale skin. I wear factor 30 or 50, both body and face, and stay in the shade most of the time. I use once a day, Ultrasun for sensitive skin but do top it up. Clemmie
Welcome Shirl8beauts. It's sensitivity to sunlight you've to be concerned about which will mean that if you're experiencing a change you're best using a higher factor sun cream than you would normally use. Bear in mind though that people who live in sunnier climes & are also prescribed MTX so it's a case of being aware & have someone watch out if you start to react. I have always tanned easily & never burnt even when I lived in a sunny country because I took care not to but I did last year sitting in the garden in the UK because I didn't think the sun was hot enough, my legs caught for the first time. Lesson learnt & I'm back to wearing sunscreen even if the sun doesn't seem particularly strong. Also remember that UV rays can still penetrate sun shades, parasols & the like so always best to wear sunscreen even when you seek shade under them. Long sleeves if out walking for any length of time, sunglasses & light clothing obviously!
Thank you all. Nomoreheels I hear what you are saying and I won't take risks. I think I shall have to buy a whole new wardrobe. I shall use Factor 50 sunscreen and stay in the shade. I pity my poor husband as I feel such a nuisance, not being able to go on all the trips he would like to plan in our camper van and now he will be accompanied by this figure swathed in protective garments!!!! Well, covered up any way. Thanks for the advice, I do appreciate it. I haven't been diagnosed long after suffering flare ups for years. I used to think my tiredness was laziness.
You don't have to walk five paces behind him you know! You're already aware, don't let MTX ruin your happy times. You'll be fine & I'm sure your h will be happy that you're not in the pain you were before so think of it as being mysterious under your swathes, go bohemian & wear gorgeous gauzes & cottons. Hey, huge plus.... great excuse for a whole new summer wardrobe! 
Thank you NMH. In addition to seeing the rheumatologist and being prescribed M, I am taking part in research into the side effects of Methotrexate and compliance of taking meds. Tonight my h said he thought I was only taking the meds for research not because I needed it. Sigh!
It makes you wonder doesn't it?! I think a good talk is necessary, or maybe it would be a good idea if he goes with you to your next visit. Good that you're part of research though, I'm sure those of us taking MTX would be interested to hear how it pans out if you're able to share.
I Agree with nomoreheels, i to always used to go a lovely colour in the sun, whilst using protection, but since starting methotrexate n other drugs i find myself burning quicker and harder than ever before whilst using the same as i always did. So ive had to go forma higher factor and cover up more.
I burn really easily now, never used to. I tend to wear factor 50, lowest 30, I put it on in the morning now, as it's so easy to forget. I also wear long sleeves, but I still put cream on first, I have turned red even when covered.
M x
I was on Mtx for 3 years, maximum dose for most of that time, and had no problems with the sun. I proceeded with caution at first, 5 minutes, then 10 ..... waiting each time to see if I burnt even a little bit or had any kind of reaction. I never did.
I'm not fair skinned, nor olive either - somewhere in between.
I need Vitamin D - that's my take on this!
Now, I may not be very popular here but I love the sun and never had any change at all when I was on Methotrexate. It may be worth reading all the research to make your minds up but what is the most disconcerting is that skin cancer is on the rise. Coincidentally, this rise follows, almost exactly, the increase in the use of sun cream. Especially in Australia where all the 'slip slop' advertising started. Also think who stands to profit from sales of these toxic chemicals.
In fact, just think how much money they must be making out of us?
Well, most of these drugs we take make our lives bearable so we have no choice. We're a captive audience. I just don't want to be fearful of the sun especially as it gives us vitamin D which is essential to our health.
Nic xx
Mmmm, not sure I agree with you. And I have read a lot of research which I don't think says what you're saying. You have to remember that the skin cancer appears years after the over-exposure to sun, so it will be a long time before the effects of the campaigns will be known. To me it the evidence seems pretty certain about over-exposure to sun having causal link with increasing skin cancer rates. Isn't it more likely that the increases exactly follow trends in sunbathing, outdoor exercise, and skimpy clothes? When I was a kid we poured on pure coconut oil to intensify the sun's effects for heavens sake!
But you don't have to use chemicals if you don't like them - hats and shirts will also do pretty well.
But great that you haven't become sensitive - not everyone does. And I agree that it does make it difficult to get you Vit D if you do get the sensitivity. Mine is now low so causing me a problem of balancing out need for light with not getting too much as I now burn very quickly.
Hi Postle2 When you talk about time in the sun, do you mean with or without sun protection I.e. Sun cream hat, long sleeves?etc.
Well I reckon that as long as I cautiously monitor how my skin responds (and I start carefully every year, just in case something's changed) then it's as much bare skin as I can get away with without sun screen. I realise not everyone will agree.
I don't aim to get a tan as such, maybe just a very light one. The main thing for me is the vitamin D. I fear Vitamin D deficiency rather more than I fear a bit of sunburn, I believe low vitamin D levels are a bit of a national scandal. Scientists would seem to be fighting this one out at the moment! But like I say - I avoid sunburn anyway so no probs.
I have PsA but minimal psoriasis these days. The sun has sometimes cleared up the small patches I do get.
Thank you for telling me about your experience. I usually stay in the shade but my feet and legs are brown all year round and tan even more in the Summer. I think maybe the skin of my lower limbs has received sun damage as I never used sun cream on them. It's early days and I suppose I must see what happens with arm exposure for 3-4 minutes a day etc. it's true to say that I also regarded a small amount of skin exposure necessary to gain vitamin D. We'll have to see. It is nice to meet everyone on the various threads, so helpful.
Well I'm hoping for a good summer so that I can casually get my vitamin D via feet, hands and arms without stripping off and frightening the postman!
Further to Postle's reply it may enlighten you to hear that when Iived in Spain I was "prescribed" 20 - 30 minutes of unprotected sunshine by my Consultant (dependant on the time of year & always avoiding the hottest parts of the day). I don't say this is right or wrong just what I was recommended to do to boost my Vitamin D naturally. So even though we're advised to cover up & apply sunscreen when on MTX (HCQ also) we need to be wary of going over the top & not getting enough of the natural Vitamin D, necessary to absorb minerals which keep bones strong. It's getting a happy medium I suppose, a bit of commonsense needs to play a part.
I've just started a stronger immunesupressant than mtx called Azathioprine which comes with warnings on all paperwork about the increased risk of skin cancer. I'm very fair and have always burned very easily so have always covered up. These days I get horrid rashes with heat, rosacea with sunshine and am allergic to many sun creams. Also have low vitamin D which was the biggest downside to my 2 years of avoiding direct sunlight while on mtx. I crave sunshine and warmth however and live in the far north of Scotland so it seems unhealthy and downright wrong to stay out of sunlight somehow?!
Although I have RA I use the Lupus UK HU and there are many whose disease means they cannot tolerate sun at all. A lot of lupus sufferers also take mtx or Azathioprine so there are lots of posts on there about sun avoidance, butterfly rashes (which I sometimes get too) and worry about summer months generally.
The main advice is stay in shade wherever possible - use wide brimmed hats, high factor sun cream and try not to dread summer too much! I have Raynauds so my body says warmth and sunshine is very good in moderation but will be avoiding exposure to direct sunlight like the plague this year!
Thank you Twitchytoes. I am fortunate not to be as poorly as you are. I'm still learning about EVERYTHING about RA and meds and side effects etc.
Well not sure about more poorly but I do think RAers are at least more fortunate than those poor people with Lupus whose disease actually worsens with sun. I think we can still absorb vitamin D while in the shade though so shade seems to me to be the crucial thing. I do like Allanah's parasole suggestion very much. I hate sun cream for reason TempleofDoom has mentioned so shade wins hands down over chemicals for me!
Oh yes don't dread summer!i love it and get out as often as possible! It actually helps my joints , others like cold tho. I just wear a block and keep topping up and I have a little trick. I carry an umbrella everywhere in my bag. If it rains I use it and if it very sunny or I'm out a while I use it as a parasol!
A parasole would probably lift you up like Mary Poppins or blow inside out where I live Allanah - sunshine frequently comes with strong gusts of wind up here! But it's a great idea - going to tell my youngest (off to study product design shortly) to get designing a product that acts as sun and rain shield and a walking stick all rolled into one for whichever condition is most prevalent at the time! X
Thank you once again for all the encouragement and suggestions. I'll let you know how I get on. I'm off for a short break in the camper.
Hi, I always wear factor 50, and a hat as I burn very quickly now in the sun. I also use a parasol when on holiday. People do stare at times, but I've got over that now (Bit on the self conscious side) and where possible try to find somewhere where there is sun and shade to sit as my H likes the sun. I also have light weight white cardigans. But when in company, I feel like a right pain because most people want to sit in the sun, so out with the parasol again.
I am away in our caravan most weekends I wear factor 30 and a hat. I wear short sleeve tops, crop trousers and sandals. I make sure the back of my neck is covered and my feet and arms are topped up with cream regularly and the same when abroad . If the sun is strong I find some shade and try not to be out in the midday sun.I haven't had any problems so far.
Patsy-57
I wear factor 45, it was one of the highest I could find, they do have the babies sunscreen with higher SPF.
Last year on vacay, and not a very hot day, the tops of my thighs and knees got terribly burned and in hindsight I remembered the drugs make me extra sensitive to the sun.
I have never been so badly burned in my life. Has issues just walking for several weeks, and the skin peeled off about eight times.
I think because of low immune I took extra long to heal. I could walk better after a few weeks but, the burn took about eight months to actually go away.
This was a terrible lesson learned for me. I now wear SPF made for babies sensitive skin, 85SPF.
I can partly blame MTX brain fog for forgetting about sun sensitivity, LOL, but it's not something I will forget again.
Beware the perfume in sun creams! I'm more sensitive to that than to the actual sunshine. There are some products with very low levels of perfume which should reduce the combinations of chemicals reacting.
It's easy to get unperfumed, hypoallergenic cream!
Thanks everyone xx
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