Sun and prednisone

[alvertta]

Good morning from Jamaica. Should I be taking care to avoid sun while on vacation in hot climes? I currently take 35mg of prednisone for GCA. was diagnosed in October 2018. On a declining amount. Thank you.

[SnazzyD]

Ooh, lovely Jamaica. Yes, do take care. The Carribean sun is a very different beast. I once burned my calf sitting in the shade but the sun bounced off the white tiles onto my leg, couldn’t believe it. Pred also makes your skin more susceptible to burning and healing, especially at your current dose area. Another care point is to try very hard to avoid insect bites that can get infected and of course, dengue fever. At 35mg your lowered immune system makes you more likely to get tummy upsets so it might be worth only eating hot, cooked food and avoiding ice and only drinking sealed bottled water/drinks. Up to you, though. Have a great stay.

[alvertta in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for the tips. I feel great. Yesterday overdid it in the sun. So today no sun. So far no bugs and feeling good. Trying to eat sensibly as we are at an all inclusive and food is massive.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Don’t need to avoid altogether, but be sensible, not in the very hottest part of the day, and plenty of sunscreen and moisturiser, and all the other good advice given by SnazzyD.

[alvertta in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you. I did get too much yesterday. Today in my SPF50 shirt all day

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You do need a good sunblock as pred can make you prone to burning. I wear shirts and less sunblock - but my neckline and cheeks do tend to catch the sun very very easily now - not like I used to be!

[alvertta in reply to PMRpro]

I have an SPF50 shirt. No goop.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to alvertta]

No shirt covers your face

[alvertta in reply to PMRpro]

60 on my face all the time. Face never burns.

[venezia1]

I got badly burned in Greece in May a few years ago, while on 15mg. The redness round my eyes (and eye-bags!) has never gone away. The factor 30 I was using just wasn't strong enough, or I didn't use it sufficiently frequently.

[shazstep]

Living in Australia and being very fair skinned, I have always burnt easily. I try not to go out in the sun, even watering the garden is done in darkness. For driving I bought a large mans shirt and cut the sleeves off. I then put these on with thumb going through cuff. Works a treat. No suggestions for keeping face covered other than sunscreen

[Polymialgia]

Don’t know about the GCA angle but I spent 2 weeks lying in the sun in Jamaica last January whilst on 10mg for PMR and can only say it did me the world of good