USVI-On-Line

One last comment to add. Jumbiegirl, I think you and I have a common situation. My sun-sensitivity is completely correlated to cumulative sun exposure. No amount of sunscreen, benadryl, cream, antihistamine, etc. etc. touches it. By about day 3 of sustained exposure, it's serious rash, hives, eventually ending up in weeping (and very painful) gross looking stuff everywhere the skin is exposed. Aside from "stay out of the sun", my doctor has recommended 2 things: 1) take beta-carotene (Vit A), for at least 2-3 weeks prior to going on a long sun vacation, and during the stay itself. I take 2-3 times the recommended daily dose. Apparently it binds to the mast cells just below the surface of the skin, and helps with rash. It also seems to help heal sunburn if you get it. It did seem to help me delay the onset of the rash, but did not prevent it totally. 2) take a regimen of prednisone, starting about 1 week in advance, and tapering up during the stay, and tapering down afterward. There are risks w/ steroids, but I take as little as possible, and only the once per year where I know I just can't stay out of the sun enough. It works like magic. (Of course, before prescribing this he ruled out other more serious causes). Lastly, this last time I fell into a pattern where I allowed myself some short "unprotected" time each day (like 15 - 30 minutes), without sunscreen, just to get a little color. Then, it was on with the rash guard shirt, hat, and sit in the shade. Hardly any rash at all. So....... good luck from the epithelially challenged, and try the beta-carotene if nothing else.

I use clear zinc. It actually looks like a white cream until you rub it in. Keeps all the sun out. I cover my whole face with it & lips. Of course no tan either but that is why I use it. I can always find it at Walmart during the season, never looked in the winter. I buy a bunch each summer. Put it on the areas prone to poisoning. Make sure it is zinc. It is like the old white stuff that lifeguards use but it goes clear when you rub it in.

I take astaxanthin (from algae) capsules, avoids some of the toxicity issues of Vit. A. Can really help to avoid sunburn and it's good for a lot of other health issues. I wear a lightweight white rash guard on top with a pareo draped over my legs on the beach, and I wear a black rashguard top and bottom when I go in the water or snorkel, to avoid dumping chemicals on the reef. I do put a little lotion on my nose & cheeks, but I'm very particular about avoiding certain chemicals, and usually use something based on titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. YMMV

Thanks ifloat, for the heads up about astaxanthin. I'd never heard about it before, and it looks like it might be a even better option. (and maybe more effective). I'm definitely going to give it a try.

Thanks Ifloat, I am going to give it a try as well. I am hoping it works!!

I have to say you had been on my mind..I was browsing through the "isnorkel" site and you.."ifloat"came to mind

my son had "true" sun poisoning once (here at home where his home in Fl)y temperature changed so drastically he couldn't stopped shivering. He had to go to the ER and get fluids and a special ointment for the burn.Not fun at all.

EagleRayLover, I cannot imagine that is much fun at all I have been pretty successful in not burning but the rash kind of bums me out. Hopefully with the suggestions from this site, I will have a better outcome.