Methotrexate and sunscreen

dreamdaisy

I wandered lonely as a cloud - oooops, sorry, wrong start. Try again.

I wandered out of the back door at about 11.45 am with stuff for the assorted wheelie bins at the bottom of the garden, dispatched the rubbish, admired the sunshine, thought about pulling up some weeds then clocked the number we have and thought again, then was hailed by a neighbour. We sat in the garden, having a natter, relishing the sun. I wandered back in after half an hour or so, did some work, had some lunch, then spotted my spotty forearms. Meth rash.

I have been on injected meth for some time now and was told when I began that meth can affect how one's skin reacts to sunlight. I know about using a sunscreen, and usually do, but completely forgot about it in the excitement of putting the rubbish out. I thought I wouldn't be out for long, and in some ways I wasn't, but it was at the hottest, brightest part of the day and now the rash has appeared. So, be warned all you meth heads out there, remember to use the sunscreen as your skin may well need and welcome that extra little bit of protection. Right, time for more calamine lotion. I hate the way it goes all powdery on the skin. Yuk. Serves me right tho, no? DD

carola

Ocht, its a pain in the backside, isn't it?

'Cos of my SLE (lupus) I need to wear sunblock all the time so well used to having a bottle in my bag and in the car.

Now I am able to walk about a bit and take the puppy oot for her business I am going through truckloads of sunblock however the smell always makes me smile as reminds me of holidays!

I command your rash to be gone right now.

Carol x

skezier

Hi DD,

I love the sun... I haul up like a lizard and last year cus f the mtx I thought I might catch it easier... Its worked the other way round for me....

I spend hours out doors and will maybe think about sunscreen to some degree... i am one of those idiots who has never used it and will really look to see if I gets a rash...

We have a high skin ca thing down here... small wonder if I am typical of the indigenous folk eh?

Just to be thin and brown.... with whiter teeth.... One of those I got to be able to achieve....

Will honestly keep an eye on it now flower.

Hope the cold is subsiding... and I was growing an alien ((((( ))))) and some lemsip as well as benylin Cris xx

tillytop

Hey DD, Carol and Cris!

Thanks for the advice DD. This is something I wasn't told when I started meth (either time) and although I'm not one of life's great sunbathers, my frequent garden pottering means that I should probably be more careful about using sunscreen.

Hope the rash goes soon.

Love Tilly xxx

dreamdaisy

I don't know if it will apply to everyone but I had a serious case of it last year when on holiday and just didn't think about it today. The factor 30 screen is now on the bathroomn windowsill. I am fair haired and fair skinned, I take about 3 years to turn a light shade of beige and loathe sunbathing. Ironic isn't it? It doesn't itch, hurray!

You spend so much time outdoors, skezier, perhaps it won't make much difference to you, you are used to it, but yes, I think it is worth considering. We all have enough to deal with without accidentally adding more!

What are white teeth? How does one get those? Are they like hen's teeth? DD

You are welcome Tilly, I hope it is useful info, that's why I have posted about it. Sometimes the docs forget to tell us things, is all.

julie47

I have noticed in the few years I have had the mtx (tab form) that I too need to wear sun block. I used to go brown straight away but I now go a red colour first and my legs burn real easy. (shin in particular) .
They also get a little blotchy too.

Trouble is.....today started off dull. So it is quite easy to get caught out.

Think I will have to keep some in my bag like carol.
Or perhaps start using it daily as a moisturisor just in case.

Hope you are not too sore dd.......but hey the tan suits you.

juliepf x

Poppyg1rl

It's the one thing that's bothering me about my holiday this summer, I wasn't on meth just Sulfa last July, and went my usual shade of brown, I rarely use anything higher than factor 6, especially holidaying in uk. I always make sure the lads are creamed up in 15+ so will play it by ear and be ready with the calamine if I get it wrong xxx

scattered

Like many others I have to use a high factor sunscreen even if I'm just popping out for 15 minutes in the sun. It's because of the MTX and the hydroxychloroquine: they can both make you photosensitive. In summer I put sunscreen on first thing in the morning and top up during the day if I'm planning on being out and about.

dreamdaisy

Photosensitive. I knew that was the word, I just couldn't drag it from my memory. Thanks scattered, timely as ever, where would I be without you? You and carola do sound organised and I must learn to become the same. I guess its the shock of seeing this big yellow button in the sky after such a long, grey, cold winter - I had forgotten what the big yellow thing can do to one! DD

donnas

I'm photosensitive already but thanks for the tip. It's not hot here (Scotland) but I've started putting my factor 40 on my face already (a tradition each March).

Scarlet

I just came across this post.....
I'm on mtx 10mg a week, I wasn't aware it can cause reactions to the sun?? I have fair skin so I always use sunscreen when I'm enjoying the sunny weather.

For the last few days I've had a an itchy pimply sort of rash on the back of my hands and on my forearms....I've had it before and I always assumed it was some sort of prickly heat rash or something. Do you think it could possibly be to do with the mtx??? I've been using E45 itch relief cream but doesn't seem to be doing much.