what the hey?

Factual Questions
1

as the years have gone by (all 19-20 of them. heh), i’ve noticed that for the past five or so years, i’ve slowly become more sensitive to the sun.

when i was young i used to burn easily, then eventually tan (to a reddish colour, similar to my dad. he turns brick red as a tan). i spent the summer barefoot and running about, like most kids.

granted i spend less time outdoors nowadays. but even when i spent enough time outside (early teens), i noticed i’d burn more and not really tan much. now i burn instantly, and any darker tinge i acquire is a yellowy colour, looking more like jaundice than a tan.

i’ve always been whitewhite (i haven’t found a makeup foundation that’s been light enough yet), i’m the palest person in my family (maybe some albinism gene somewhere in the pool?). the past three years, i’ve been more and more sun-sensitive.

– if i go outside with no sunblock on, i’ll get a light burn on my face in five minutes.

– if i go outside with spf50 sunblock on, i’ll get a light burn in 20 minutes.

– if the sun is really strong, i’ll itch.

and i found something else. there were a couple of warm days last week 'round these parts, so i went around wearing a t-shirt, no sunblock on my forearms. i just went around normal life, walking and driving. i noticed that i have tiny bright red freckles on my arms (i got these last summer too). my arm itched a bit so i scratched it, and the freckles where i scratched came off.

they’re not freckles, they’re tiny scabs no bigger than the tip of a pin! :eek: what the hey is up with this?

2

I’ve got spots too, all over my body. I know they’re from a reaction to the sun because I used to just have them in non-bathing-suit areas and since I went tanning when I was in high school, I have them in bathing-suit areas (esp. my tummy)

Sometimes my spots are teeny white heads that turn into red scars, but mostly i never see them as whiteheads. I used to think it was me reacting to my clothes or something, but I am convinced it’s from the sun.

Anyway, if anyone has any insight on this, I’d also like to know. I plan on seeing a dermatologist about it (after 10 years of putting it off) but I need to get new health insurance first…

3

if i’m reading what you’re describing correctly, i have those too, but they’re not what i’m talking about.

are you talking about those little bumps that generally turn (and stay) a pinky red colour? i get those on my arms and legs.

but i’m just freaked out at scabs from the sun. it’s a bit disturbing. y’know?

4

G’Day zweisamkeit - I had a similar problem last summer and it turned out that it was caused by some new meds the Doctor had put me on.

So if you’ve started taking any new medications that may be it.

5

Leechbabe,

With a name like Leechbabe, are you sure you should even go in the sun? Aren’t Vampires basically leeches? Are you the daughter of a Vampire?

If not, look at your neck in a mirror, do you see two little puncture wounds?

Do you find yourself staying up later and later as well as being more sensative to the sun?

Good Luck,
-Sandwriter

6

Doh,

I forgot, if you are a vampire you won’t be able to see yourself in the mirror! I guess you better have a friend look at your neck.

-Sandwriter.

p.s. I’d also go see a dermatologist about the sun induced skin scabs.

7

SandWriter,

Me a vampire - I’m flattered :slight_smile:

Of course I generally suck on body parts other than the neck :smiley:

Leechbabe

8

Interesting! Now guess what I’m thinking about. Well I was thinking about it before, but now…

-Sandwriter

p.s. I just noticed you live in Australia. Are you getting more uv radiation from the ozone hole? Or is Melborne not under the hole?

9

I thought this was going to be about the phrase “What the hay!”
That was made famous when Milton Bearle had to use it when TV was new and under the Standards and Practices Code of the 50’s.
Since he used it every show and was the hottest show in the early years, it got a lot of repetition. (He probably didn’t coin it, though, since it’s a simple way to mince an oath.)

10

Zweisamkeit, have you considered moving?

I mean Tattoine isn’t really a good place for someone with sensitive skin, there are other places, such as the forest moon of Endor, that have much more shade.

Anyway, I’ve had very sensitive skin for all my life. It does come and go. Right now I’m in a “more tan” phase, where I don’t burn instantly, I just get lots of freckles (and look like I’m 14, when I’m almost 30). I have recently discovered that dermatologists are the friends of fair-skinned people. If you’re scabbing, I’d go and see one right away.

Mine just did something that I found interesting - she mapped all my birthmarks so I have a reference to keep an eye on things (birthmarks that change are a Bad Thing).

11

Interesting question - I automatically assumed Yes we are getting more uv radiation from the ozone hole? Initial research backed me up, the SunSmart Website said:

“When we compare our summer conditions, Australians are exposed to UV levels 10 to 15% higher than Europeans.”

Also this map of ozone levels is useful.

and if you don’t know where melbourne is - its here (down on the bottom right side)