Ugh...I went to the beach with the kids on Thursday and I got fried. I used sunscreen w/an spf of 30, I am always so careful but I got really, really fried. I had to bring my mother to the hospital on Friday and a dermatologist stopped me and commented on my burn. He told me that you HAVE to replace your sunscreen yearly. I am living sore proof of this. I am french/irish/lithuanian and I have VERY light skin. So please replace your sunscreen yearly. I have been using tea bags, vinegar, tylenol and solarcaine religously since but nothing is really making this go away.

By Momaroze on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 08:29 pm:

Aloe Vera is very soothing.

Sunscreen lotion usually has an expiry date which usually lasts a couple of years at least? I've often questioned this.

Thanks Colette.

By Colette on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 08:31 pm:

yes, mine apparently is still good for another year, according to the date stamped. My body shows that's just not the case. I am fried on one half of my body. I look ridiculous. It's the side that I put the lotion on first, so maybe it wasn't mixed up enough?

By Momaroze on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 08:43 pm:

You would think if the "industry" wanted to make money (as we know they do anyway) they would tell us to replace our sun screen yearly!

If I was told to replace my sun tan lotion yearly by a dermatologist I would. I can't imagine how you are feeling with a burn like that. Hope you recover from it quickly.

By Amyl on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 09:13 pm:

I have used Noxema before and it works wonders!! I also have some Hawaiian Tropic Cool Aloe I.C.E with lidocaine, I have never used this on myself, but my DD says that it works really well. My oldest DD is a red head and burns VERY easily, and when I use the Hawaiian tropic on her, the next morning she is pretty much back to normal. HTH and hope you are feeling better soon.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 09:56 pm:

I would use an Aloe lotion. Personally, while I know Noxema is recommended, I find it drying. The Hawaiian tropic also sounds like a good idea. In a pinch, any good body lotion should provide some relief.

By Colette on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 10:03 pm:

Thanks, I've been using solarcaine with aloe, which is lidocaine w/aloe vera, but it's not making much of a difference.

By Bea on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 11:37 pm:

I use older sunscreen all the time, and never get burned. I have a light olive complexion, and I slather it on at least a half hour before we go to the beach. I reapply every two hours.

Banana Boat makes an Aloe gel that is so soothing on sunburn. It's great on any type of skin irritation. I hope you feel better soon.

By Kaye on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 06:44 am:

When I get sunburned I fine that takinga bath helps, and then I love that solarcain spray and maybe some aloe lotion, pure slimy green looking stuff. I am a red head and I too just burn so easily. As far as sunscreen, yes you really ought to replace it yearly, we don't have that issue because we use ours up regularly! I put sunscreen on my face daily and all over and on the kids a couple of times a week (we live in texas..lol).

By Feonad on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 08:38 am:

I put sun tan lotion on every morning before leaving the house. I use coppertone oil free 45 spf. it isn't greasy.

Then if I am going to the pool or beach or park. I put it on again before getting out of the car.

I still have a tan even after that. You really have to put it on often.

By Joshuasmom on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 09:05 am:

Hi

I have skin like u and got very burnt a few months back. Try aloe vera but put in freezer for 15to30mins first.

Also shower in cold water if u can. Treat sunburn as u would any burns, cold water helps

I ended up going to my doctor who gave me a cream as i was no better after a few days

good luck

By Tink on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 11:43 am:

You might call your general practitioner and see if he or she will call in a prescription for burn cream or some mild pain medication. It may help and certainly wouldn't hurt.

By Sue3 on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 11:52 am:

Colette ,

That has happened to me 2x this year.I got really burned where I applied the sunscreen.It was not expired either.My friend told me that I should have applied it 30 min. before sun exposure,which I did not,I applied it when I got to the beach.
So maybe thats it? I will do that next time.
The only thing that gave me noticeable relief was motrin.Hope you feel better soon !

By Coopaveryben on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 09:30 pm:

I got my son some posion ivy medicine called "calagel" it is a clear gel. I used it when I burnt my back at the beach and it worked Great. We got it at Wal-mart.