Sunbathing and Prednisolone

[dimas62]

Think I have read somewhere about the increased risk of sunburn when taking pred. Have done a google search but just keeps coming up with online ads to buy steroids! Can anyone advise me please? Am going to Tenerife in January and was hoping to relax and soak up some sun but don't want to end up like a lobster.

[Annodomini]

I've been twice to Provence while using Pred and, as I have a fair skin anyway I took the usual precautions - sunscreen, shade and a hat. These normal precautions should be enough. I had a melanoma some years ago - pre PMR - and it's an experience I don't recommend.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I live in Italy (in the north, up a mountain) - I almost never use sunscreen (I avoid going out in direct sun and always walk on the shady side of the street) and pred doesn't make me burn.

It's actually not so much that pred makes you burn - it is more that many people find that taking pred over a long time makes their skin drier and more delicate so it reacts more to all sorts of things. In fact, pred may be used for sunburn to reduce the inflammatory reaction! There is also a form of erythema (a rash) that some people get with pred: I developed it sort of in the neck area down to my t-shirt neckline and that may appear to be sunburn and it is made worse in the sun - using a high factor sunscreen may help. Mine was while I was taking Medrol, now I take a different form of prednisone it has gone and I have started tanning again, my skin and hair are back to normal.

Using a good emollient such as Diprobase or Doublebase and not using soap when showering will help prevent your skin drying out (you can get them on prescription in the UK and they are used for ecxema). But as Annodomini says - we should be protecting ourselves from burning because of the risk of melanoma. 10-15 mins a day around midday with no sunscreen is good for making the vit D we need - but never allow yourself to burn, not even go pink.

Tip - when searching online, never put "steroid" or you will get all the body-building adds. Use prednisolone or prednisone for the search. If you use "corticosteroid" google isn't clever enough to tell the difference!

[Whittlesey in reply to PMRpro]

Hi Dimas 62 and PMRPro, I agree with PMRPro, here.

I live in Manhattan, U.S. and was diagnosed with GCA in May 2012. Because I live in Manhattan, as a single working woman (not presently working due to physical problems) , I don't drive.

In June, 2012, I was walking in the sun, taking 20 mg's of prednisone a day, after being diagnosed. I got sunburned and I felt pretty awful being in the sun. I did as PMRPro suggests, here. And I started using a strong sun screen and trying to stay out of the sun. Being in the sun also brought on some of the bad aspects of prednisone, the nausea, feeling faint, dizzy. I used the nexium. The heat was difficult for me, that summer on the 20 mgs. I am now on 5 mg and was changed to medrol, which helped. But that summer was enough. It seems that my skin has thinned a little also. I use natural shea butter, which helps quite a bit. I also use aloe vera.

During that first very difficult summer, I bought the aloe plant -- leaf or sleeve. I cut it into small pieces and sat, putting the two pieces on the left and right side of my head, right on the temporal arteries. After about fifteen minutes, it did help the headache. I started to reduce the prednisone and doing this, really helped the headaches and symptoms and I was able to lower the prednisone quickly and quite a bit. Would recommend this during a flare. Also helped with the heat symptoms.

I did not do well in the sun, that fist summer. I now do as PMRPro suggests.

Good luck, enjoy, use a little caution. Hats, scarves, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Have a good time.

all my best, Whittlesey

[Herculeena in reply to PMRpro]

Hi! I live on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, US. Almost two years on Prednisone for PMR & GCA has wrecked havoc in every way possible. Went from 60mg to 10 currently. Am interested in what type of prednisone you reported using 4 years ago after getting off of Medrol? I, too, have the erythema rash, thinner, dryer skin, bruise easily. I'd appreciate hearing from you soon! Thanks so much 🌞

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Herculeena]

You're lucky - I follow all posts. Unlike a lot of people

I was switched to Lodotra (Rayos in the USA) which is a delayed release formulation. You take the tablets at 10pm and it releases at 2am so the blood level is at its peak at 4am when the inflammatory substances that cause the pain and stiffness of PMR are released in the body in the early morning. It is horrendously expensive in the USA - but I do know some people who have it covered by their insurance.

Dry skin can be helped a lot by avoiding use of soap (anything that foams comes under that heading) as it strips the natural oils from the skin. Using Diprobase or Double base or other emolient creams helps a lot - apply it after showering while the skin is still damp.

[Herculeena in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks so much for your quick response! I'll look into these products right away.

All the best to you!🌞

[Blackcatlover in reply to Herculeena]

Hi Herculean. I too live on Cape Cod and find being on Prednisone makes me very sun sensitive. Just driving in a car on a sunny day can cause a sunburn. Always keep sunblock with me wherever I go.

[Slosh in reply to PMRpro]

I know that this is from a long time ago - but my psoriasis is really bad at the moment and so have been thinking of going on a sunbed (its February in the UK) and so was wondering that if I did just less than th eequivalent of '10-15 mins a day around midday with no sunscreen is good for making the vit D we need - but never allow yourself to burn, not even go pink'. If that would be safe. I have been on Prednisolone for 3 years now - currently on 7.5mg. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slosh]

I honestly don't know - but the warnings of pred and sun still apply. Vit D is better got from supplements.

[polkadotcom]

I think most of us have been warned to stay out of the sun as steroids thin the skin so much; it's so easy to burn before you realise it's happened and it is most uncomfortable! If you are going to sit out in it then Factor 50 suncream/lotion should be used.

I find now after GCA/PMR, steroids and all the others that I can't take too much of the sun anyway. I used to be a lizard, too.

[dimas62]

Thanks all! One of the side effects of pred has been to clear up my eczema - (though have been warned that as I reduce dose the rash may return) but enjoying being itch free for the moment! Will use high factor sunscreen / moisturise and see how it goes.

[tomasina]

Wear a good sun screen, hat and keep in the shade and buy a good fake tan. Not worth the bother of sunbathing which is very ageing for the skin.

Enjoy your hols.

Tomasina x

[jinasc]

Your GP can supply Factor 60 sunscreen on prescription. I found I had to use it as the pred thinned the skin and your GP can also, on prescription, supply Double Base. You can also buy Double Base OTC, Boots are cheapest. Use as the instructions say, ie put it on before showering or bathing as well as using it normally.

[Whittlesey]

Hi Dimas 62 and PMRPro, I agree with PMRPro, here.

I live in Manhattan, U.S. and was diagnosed with GCA in May 2012. Because I live in Manhattan, as a single working woman (not presently working due to physical problems) , I don't drive.

In June, 2012, I was walking in the sun, taking 20 mg's of prednisone a day, after being diagnosed. I got sunburned and I felt pretty awful being in the sun. I did as PMRPro suggests, here. And I started using a strong sun screen and trying to stay out of the sun. Being in the sun also brought on some of the bad aspects of prednisone, the nausea, feeling faint, dizzy. I used the nexium. The heat was difficult for me, that summer on the 20 mgs. I am now on 5 mg and was changed to medrol, which helped. But that summer was enough. It seems that my skin has thinned a little also. I use natural shea butter, which helps quite a bit. I also use aloe vera.

During that first very difficult summer, I bought the aloe plant -- leaf or sleeve. I cut it into small pieces and sat, putting the two pieces on the left and right side of my head, right on the temporal arteries. After about fifteen minutes, it did help the headache. I started to reduce the prednisone and doing this, really helped the headaches and symptoms and I was able to lower the prednisone quickly and quite a bit. Would recommend this during a flare. Also helped with the heat symptoms.

I did not do well in the sun, that fist summer. I now do as PMRPro suggests.

Good luck, enjoy, use a little caution. Hats, scarves, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Have a good time.

all my best, Whittlesey

[SheffieldJane]

This is a timely reminder dimas62. Direct sun on our skin is not for us. Your replies have given all the reasons. Once the tyranny of gaining a tan has gone, it’s quite a relief. Get some pretty cover-ups.

My grandchildren look like something out of Little House on the Prairie on the beach in Australia, with their rash vests and floppy hats. It’s a shame but there is a hole in the Ozone layer just above Australia. My GP son in law removes skin cancer moles most days. Have a lovely holiday, don’t forget to protect your eyes with quality sunglasses too, we can burn our retinas too. 😎

[Hidden]

Just for future reference here's a list on webmd of drugs that can cause sun sensitivity. I had forgotten that atorvastatin made me have to wear sunglasses. I just follow advice to try and get 20mins of sun but cover up with sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat. My skin is more sensitive on pred.

webmd.com/skin-problems-and...