SUN Threat

[theCryptofishist]

I take 12~14 pairs, all colorful cotton.

When I was growing up my mother made me wear those awful tube socks that came in bulk packages. Never again. <shudder> Let's hear it for colorful socks!!!

[jmdinn]

Fielding a couple inqueries on Chapped Lips and Dry Skin:

Boudreaux's Butt Paste
http://www.buttpaste.com

No kidding.

The hospital I used to work at got a bunch of samples. It was originally formulated for diaper rash. (I'm told it works wonders between the skin folds of obese patients, but I digress) I brought some of the samples last year and used it all week on my lips, nips, and piercings.

I think my lips were in better condition when I left than when I arrived.
Gotta love the buttpaste.

$0.02 on Sunblock:
Last year I found that I would sweat off any sunblock that wasn't waterproof in about 30 minutes.
I also made copious use of spray-on sunscreens to get to that annoying spot between my shoulder blades.
And I'm Anglo-white.

Live well!

[diane o'thirst]

Lip Balm: I do love Burt's Bees, but it has no SPF.

Burt's Bees Lifeguard's Choice has SPF15. I've been using it for the past 5 years. Yellow label, red tube, includes peppermint oil. Does turn your lips white, however.

Edit: One lady gifted me with application of coconut oil on my lips one year. It was heavenly and lasted for hours. I include coconut oil in my Playa skin care kit now.

Also, at least 2-3 times during the week — forego the shower and take an oil bath. I made a concoction of olive oil, coconut oil, lemon oil and tea tree oil (descending amounts) and slathered it on my skin, scraped it off with a sweat scraper. The oil emulsifies all dirt and dead skin flakes and carries it off. No water, resets the skin to pre-Playa condition, guaranteed. Use sparingly; I think 4 ounces took care of my whole body, including my rather luxuriant curly hair.

[phil]

I have vitiligo:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/viti ... tiligo.htm
I have patches of skin on my body that have no melanocytes, which means those parts of my skin don't tan: top of my head, backs of my hands, tops of my feet (among others, but these are the worst from sunburn point of view). This will be our 10th year, and I've never burned. I use SPF 45 sunblock, I wear a broadbrimmed hat, gloves, and shoes. (Well, I also wear a shirt and shorts.) A full hat with a cord to keep it on is your friend -- your face and neck will thank you.

All the warnings are true, but you can avoid burning by keeping sunblocked (it works) and covered. In addition to chap stick, Louise recommends petroleum jelly for corners of the eyes and such, and we also both liberally use skin lotion. The humidity is very close to zero and the playa powder is _very_ drying and alkaline. (I have a worse drying reaction to the powder than Louise does, by the way -- not everyone reacts to it the same way.)

As to the dust, we soak our feet at least twice a day with lotion in the water, and we bring saline nasal spray which is very nice to clear the crud out that you've inhaled. Moistened Q-tips are nice for all the nooks and crannies in your ears. Having dust masks and goggles is nice, especially if you have them with you when the dust storm hits.

If you're chest is burning at the V in your shirt where it buttons, tie a bandanna around your neck, triangle in front, knot in back. Bring long-sleeved cotton t-shirts if your arms don't tan (use sunblock, too).

In addition to sandals, bring some comfortable walking shoes. If your feet get wrecked by the playa powder in your sandals (or you burn the tops), you can switch to shoes and socks. I suggest shoes and socks all the time you're out and about, but mileages vary.

The other suggestions sound wonderful, too. Coconut oil is certainly my favorite treatment.

[robotland]

Also, at least 2-3 times during the week — forego the shower and take an oil bath. I made a concoction of olive oil, coconut oil, lemon oil and tea tree oil (descending amounts) and slathered it on my skin, scraped it off with a sweat scraper. The oil emulsifies all dirt and dead skin flakes and carries it off. No water, resets the skin to pre-Playa condition, guaranteed. Use sparingly; I think 4 ounces took care of my whole body, including my rather luxuriant curly hair.

ANCIENT WORLD TRIVIA: The sweat scraper is called a strigil. This was the method preferred by the Greeks, or at least those who posed for amphorae.

[theCryptofishist]

Also, at least 2-3 times during the week — forego the shower and take an oil bath. I made a concoction of olive oil, coconut oil, lemon oil and tea tree oil (descending amounts) and slathered it on my skin, scraped it off with a sweat scraper. The oil emulsifies all dirt and dead skin flakes and carries it off. No water, resets the skin to pre-Playa condition, guaranteed. Use sparingly; I think 4 ounces took care of my whole body, including my rather luxuriant curly hair.

ANCIENT WORLD TRIVIA: The sweat scraper is called a strigil. This was the method preferred by the Greeks, or at least those who posed for amphorae.

Also the Romans who would have killed robotland for showing off his knowledge before me.

(joke)

[robotland]

That's what happened to my greatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgrandfather, Automatonland!

[diane o'thirst]

ANCIENT WORLD TRIVIA: The sweat scraper is called a strigil. This was the method preferred by the Greeks, or at least those who posed for amphorae.

Yeah...that's where I got the idea

A few years ago when we did the Mudance in Opera Diaspora, Grady's girlfriend doused us with apricot oil after we showered off the mud and it totally reset my skin. So I knew that applying oil to the skin out there is a good thing already, it was a natural progression to adopt the practice of oil bathing. That and it saves water...

[unjonharley]

Some of my (shin) barnical are trying to turn real dark. So this year I will try a full unbleached cotton cover. Have used zinc on the nose for years. Keeps the skin nice and reflects the sun. Used it on he kids bottoms. Worked great on the ole rash.

[calsur]

samdu,

Could you just be allergic to the sun screen you are using? I had a son of one of my friends over for a BBQ last weekend and he had bumps and welts all over him. Dad explained he was allergic to the sunscreen. The kid is very fair skinned and has a lot of freckles. And Dad explained that because of his sons skin type you have to watch the type of sunscreen used. He had just found this out.

Hope this helps.

[samdu]

these are large (bigger than a quarter) irregular shaped red welts, almost like hives. i always use a very high SPF sunscreen because i'm very pasty (scottish heritage- green eyes, red hair, no pigment in the skin to speak of). years ago i got tired of burning every time i tried to "tan" (HA!!! as woody allen said, "i don't tan- i stroke"), that i decided that having healthy skin is more important than a healthy tan. i never use anything lower than 30 SPF, and usually use a 45. i've used several different brands, and the "hives" show up no matter what. it seems to get worse the older i get- if i'm out in the sun for more than an hour, they show up on my chest and upper arms. no matter how high a sun screen i've got on, unless i actually physically cover that portion of my body with something (shawl, shirt, wrap, etc), i get these welts. and they're big enough that they can be seen by the naked eye from about 15 feet away, and it takes 3-4 days for them to go away. they don't itch or suppurate, but they are unattractive.

samdu,

Could you just be allergic to the sun screen you are using? I had a son of one of my friends over for a BBQ last weekend and he had bumps and welts all over him. Dad explained he was allergic to the sunscreen. The kid is very fair skinned and has a lot of freckles. And Dad explained that because of his sons skin type you have to watch the type of sunscreen used. He had just found this out.

Hope this helps.