Re: Sun and rosacea

[Guest guest]

My skin reacted to the Super City Block spf25 too, but didn't to the

regular City Block spf 15. I don't know why that happened to me. It's

a mystery to me.

About wearing a sunblock on a cloudy day, I always do. I live in San

Francisco where the foggy/cloudy days outnumber the sunny ones by

far. I notice if I skip any sort of sunblock for my face, it gets

pink pretty fast with or without the sun.

HOpe that helps!

Matija

> I received this as an email, but it raises several interesting

issues

> discussed here in recent threads. I omitted the identity of the

> poster, to respect his privacy if that was his intent:

>

> -=-=-=-=

> Dr. Lazoff

>

> I have done my homework and on Dr. Nase's recommendation

> (in his book), bought the Clinique City Block (SPF 25) for use as

> protection against the sun. I used it for the first time last

> weekend, and as it turned out (due to a cloudy day and me not

> even being outside much) I didn't need to put any on. But I

> reacted terribly to it, and I cannot figure out why. It is

supposed

> to be safe for rosacea skin, and while I am cognizant of the fact

that

> every person's skin type is different, I was just wondering if

there

> was anything in the ingredients (which you listed in a previous

> posting) that I might be reacting to?

>

> I haven't been able to find any sunscreens or moisturizers (the

> ones recommended by Dr. Nase as being available at

> supermarkets/pharmacies are not at any stores near me). Do

> you know of any I might be able to purchase that are not sold via

> the Internet?

>

> -=-=-=-=

>

> Last first: I've had good success ordering from www.drugstore.com;

I

> know others here frequent www.cvs.com, though I've never ordered

from

> them. I've also never ordered from www.dermstore.com, although they

> carry a large number of specialty products that may include those

of

> interest to you. All three include product ingredients and

> instructions.

>

> I can't know what ingredient you reacted to. Even products

advertised

> as safe for rosaceans are at best only relatively safe; even those

> that avoid the " usual suspects " aren't inert for all rosaceans. I'm

> always cautious trying any new product.

>

> I don't know an easy method for determining which ingredients a

> particular person is sensitive to. I maintain a folder where I

stuff

> the list of ingredients of all products I've used -- those I've

> reacted to, and those products that I use without apparent

reaction.

> Having them all in one place to review as a group has been helpful,

> but I still have better success figuring out the Sunday NYTimes

> crossword that I do figuring out exactly what my skin reacts and

> doesn't react to.

>

> Note that *City* Block is spf 15 and SuperCity Block is spf *25*;

> their ingredient lists overlap but are not identical.

>

> Related to this, I have two questions for the group: First, I've

> noticed a few people forgo their sunscreen/sunblock in cloudy

> weather. My understanding is that UV waves are not blocked by

clouds.

> When my skin is at it's most sensitive I find that I react to the

> heat of the sun, which is much worse on sunny days. But protection

> from the heat involves parumbrellas, large-brimmed hats and other

> shadow-producing objects, not to my knowledge sunscreens/blocks.

>

> Second, spf measure UVB waves only, which are important for tanning

> and some forms of cancer. My understanding is that rosaceans should

> be at least as concerned about UVA waves, which the spf doesn't

> measure. Besides, isn't the majority of coverage (over 90%) for UVB

> assured with an spf of 15, and certainly over 25-30? Wouldn't it

> make more sense to re-apply a non-reactive sunscreen/block more

> frequently rather use an irritating but higher spf product less

> frequently, esp if their difference is only in UVB protection?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Marjorie

>

> Marjorie Lazoff, MD