Here's A Weird One... Sunburn

[DianeMu]

OK, this is weird. I've been gluten-free since last August. Yesterday I was out in the sun for about 3 hours - cool but sunny day. (first time in prolonged sun this season). I was not wearing sunblock (stupid me) but I was outside from 10 am to 1pm. I got burnt to a crisp - some areas are swollen they are so red and sore. My children and husband were outside same as me and they were not burnt at all, not even tan. I've never burnt so bad in my life. I look like a fried on a beach for days. I know I should were sunblock no matter what - but I forgot - But I can't imagine why I burned so badly in such a short time. I am not on any medication. Could a gluten-free diet cause this? Am I missing a specific vitamin? Why am I a lobster? Does it sound familiar to anyone or am I weird? Feel free to tell me to wear sunblock and stop whining Diane

[chasbari]

It's ok to whine here but wear sunblock next time. I know I was very pale for the first year or so after going gluten-free as I had many deficiencies. My skin color has gradually improved but I did get flash burn on my forearms the other day from not having full sleeves when I was welding. Never used to be that much of a problem but sure was this time.

[cahill]

It's ok to whine here but wear sunblock next time.

I am of Scottish descent so I burn no matter what

[IrishHeart]

I used to be able to be in the sun for hours. All of my life, I could be out there, all day long with a bit of sunscreen on and get nice and tanned and look awesome. No sunburns for me.

....until 3 summers ago when I was so ill with celiac (didn't know it was celiac at the time) and my skin would get beet red and overheat in the sun and it felt like I was on fire! I have practically hibernated every summer since then, much to my dismay.

Had no idea what the heck was going on!!

I think it was what Chasbari says...I was anemic and vitamin deficient and it affected me every which way.

I am hoping this summer, I will be able to tolerate the sunshine once more.

Put some aloe vera gel on and I hope you feel better soon!

[Chiana]

Run out to your doctor's office and have one of the nurses give you a b12 shot. It's b12 deficiency. I was completely incapable of tanning for years and years. I would go out for an hour or so and burn like a lobster, then go straight back to pale after the burn peeled off. Then, about 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia and started getting b12 shots. Magically, I can tan beautifully now. The effect is so good that I get one before I go on vacations.

[IrishHeart]

Run out to your doctor's office and have one of the nurses give you a b12 shot. It's b12 deficiency. I was completely incapable of tanning for years and years. I would go out for an hour or so and burn like a lobster, then go straight back to pale after the burn peeled off. Then, about 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia and started getting b12 shots. Magically, I can tan beautifully now. The effect is so good that I get one before I go on vacations.

My B-12 is high ...but maybe it was the folate and I will tan once again...that would be awesome!

[julandjo]

My B-12 is high ...but maybe it was the folate and I will tan once again...that would be awesome!

Hmmm, well all my vitamin & mineral levels are now perfect (many were quite low a year ago). But the sun allergy I developed after going gluten-free? Still there. Last weekend, after 30 minutes of gardening, I had red itchy bumps covering my arms... it took 2 days of hydrocortisone cream to calm it down. I too had hoped that my improved bloodwork would get rid of that problem, but no. It's a mystery!

[IrishHeart]

Hmmm, well all my vitamin & mineral levels are now perfect (many were quite low a year ago). But the sun allergy I developed after going gluten-free? Still there. Last weekend, after 30 minutes of gardening, I had red itchy bumps covering my arms... it took 2 days of hydrocortisone cream to calm it down. I too had hoped that my improved bloodwork would get rid of that problem, but no. It's a mystery!

oh, that is a bummer..sorry

gee, I looked at your signature...that's a large number of food intolerances to have..have you been able to add ANYTHING at all back in ??

[nerdolicious]

Weird! I was out in the sun at an outdoor birthday party Sunday afternoon for a few hours and noticed my scalp was burning the next day in the shower. I looked at it in the mirror when I got out and noticed that my whole part was bright red! This has never happened to me before and I never burn anywhere else, even without sunscreen. I have been completely gluten free since last July, so it does make me wonder if that has something to do with it.

[mushroom]

I have developed a phototoxic reaction in the sun when I am wearing sunscreen (which I do because I am subject to skin cancers - melanoma, basal, squamous cell, you name it). When I first wear a new sunscreen I am okay, but after several exposures I break out in this hive-like rash everywhere the sunscreen was and it does take hydrocortisone to calm it down. Then I switch sunscreens and repeat I do not react where the sunscreen was not, so it's a combination of the skin and the sun and the screen. Weird. I think this is what my dad used to complain about - he played lawn bowls and had to wear gloves with no fingers. And it has happened since I rectified my B12 and folate levels.

[IrishHeart]

I have developed a phototoxic reaction in the sun when I am wearing sunscreen (which I do because I am subject to skin cancers - melanoma, basal, squamous cell, you name it). When I first wear a new sunscreen I am okay, but after several exposures I break out in this hive-like rash everywhere the sunscreen was and it does take hydrocortisone to calm it down. Then I switch sunscreens and repeat I do not react where the sunscreen was not, so it's a combination of the skin and the sun and the screen. Weird. I think this is what my dad used to complain about - he played lawn bowls and had to wear gloves with no fingers. And it has happened since I rectified my B12 and folate levels.

This is strange then. So, some of us lacking in sufficient B-12 and folate levels react to the sun and/or sunscreen ingredients and some of us react to the sun and/or sunscreen with adequate levels....hmmm...it IS a mystery. )

This is the weirdness that is celiac and autoimmune disease.

It is especially perplexing to me, since I never, ever reacted to the sun in my entire life.

well, I guess I will see what THIS summer brings.....

[julandjo]

oh, that is a bummer..sorry

gee, I looked at your signature...that's a large number of food intolerances to have..have you been able to add ANYTHING at all back in ??

No, I've not been successful in ANY additions. I'm currently a patient at an intestinal rehab program - right now I'm waiting for allergy testing. After they determine if any of my reactions are IgE allergies, they'll develop a "treatment plan" for me. We'll see... (I'm very jaded; I've seen 8 doctors so far who have no idea what to do for me). Thanks for asking!

[IrishHeart]

No, I've not been successful in ANY additions. I'm currently a patient at an intestinal rehab program - right now I'm waiting for allergy testing. After they determine if any of my reactions are IgE allergies, they'll develop a "treatment plan" for me. We'll see... (I'm very jaded; I've seen 8 doctors so far who have no idea what to do for me). Thanks for asking!

I'll assume you have tried probiotics, had your GI tract scoped every which way, capsule endoscopy? yadda yadda yadda....in other words, maybe it's not the food, it's that the gut is not healed yet? or refractory sprue?

Do you mean you have allergies to foods like histamine reactions affecting your breathing,eyes?

[julandjo]

I'll assume you have tried probiotics, had your GI tract scoped every which way, capsule endoscopy? yadda yadda yadda....in other words, maybe it's not the food, it's that the gut is not healed yet? or refractory sprue?

Do you mean you have allergies to foods like histamine reactions affecting your breathing,eyes?

I take probiotics daily, have had an upper and lower endoscopy, barium study, gastric emptying scan, and 24-hr impedence study. All I got out of those tests was "you're probably a Celiac - you have various villous abnormalities". I had skin allergy testing a year ago, and it was very... unhelpful. Most of the 70 skinpricks turned red and puffy. The nurse looked at my back, went and got another nurse, and together they reasoned that nobody could possibly be allergic to so many things, so they called the whole thing negative. So, I'm getting retested at a new facility soon. The only thing that makes me wheezy/swollen lips/tongue is dairy, and that only cropped up after I went gluten free (and was still negative upon testing). All my other reactions are GI, nervous system, chest pain, and muscle/joint pain. I'm an unfortunate enigma.

[IrishHeart]

I take probiotics daily, have had an upper and lower endoscopy, barium study, gastric emptying scan, and 24-hr impedence study. All I got out of those tests was "you're probably a Celiac - you have various villous abnormalities". I had skin allergy testing a year ago, and it was very... unhelpful. Most of the 70 skinpricks turned red and puffy. The nurse looked at my back, went and got another nurse, and together they reasoned that nobody could possibly be allergic to so many things, so they called the whole thing negative. So, I'm getting retested at a new facility soon. The only thing that makes me wheezy/swollen lips/tongue is dairy, and that only cropped up after I went gluten free (and was still negative upon testing). All my other reactions are GI, nervous system, chest pain, and muscle/joint pain. I'm an unfortunate enigma.

It sounds as if you are still healing then.

I could be wrong, but I do not think IgE testing will reveal anything new to you. I do not believe (and my allergist said so, too) that GI problems, nervous system, muscle pains ,etc...are IgE mediated. Your reactions --if they are IgE mediated...would be sneezing, hives, red eyes, breathing problems, etc...

Make sure you have the right testing done so you don't waste your $$ and time. Sounds like you've had a rough go. I did too--what a journey!

You've been gluten-free for a year? Were these your gluten-induced symptoms as well? and you still have all these symptoms? Sure it's not refractory sprue? (Hope not)

Gosh, I hope you get answers soon. best wishes!!

[julandjo]

It sounds as if you are still healing then.

I could be wrong, but I do not think IgE testing will reveal anything new to you. I do not believe (and my allergist said so, too) that GI problems, nervous system, muscle pains ,etc...are IgE mediated. Your reactions --if they are IgE mediated...would be sneezing, hives, red eyes, breathing problems, etc...

Make sure you have the right testing done so you don't waste your $$ and time. Sounds like you've had a rough go. I did too--what a journey!

You've been gluten-free for a year? Were these your gluten-induced symptoms as well? and you still have all these symptoms? Sure it's not refractory sprue? (Hope not)

Gosh, I hope you get answers soon. best wishes!!

I really hope it's just long, drawn-out healing! One doctor did mention possible refractory, but then sent me off to another doctor, who sent me to the intestinal rehab program I'm with now. I've been gluten free for 15 months; prior to gluten free I only noticed constipation, achy body, and mild anxiety. I went gluten-free on a whim because of my kids' need to be gluten-free. That was when the crud hit the fan! I'm MUCH healthier now; a lot of stuff I didn't connect to diet has gone away (high blood pressure, menstrual trouble, inability to lose weight, neuropathy, memory problems). And as long as I stick to my safe foods list I feel fantastic. But if I get a tiny amt of CC from corn (even a little table salt!), soy, sugar or God forbid gluten, it's a bad, bad week for me. All the other food problems take more than CC to get me, but a whole serving would do me in.

I'm reading up on IgE vs IgG/IgA, and I'm going to ask a lot of questions before I let the allergist do any testing on me.

Thank you so much for weighing in on this. It's a heavy burden to bear, and it's great to have someone who's been there discuss it with me!

[IrishHeart]

I really hope it's just long, drawn-out healing! One doctor did mention possible refractory, but then sent me off to another doctor, who sent me to the intestinal rehab program I'm with now. I've been gluten free for 15 months; prior to gluten free I only noticed constipation, achy body, and mild anxiety. I went gluten-free on a whim because of my kids' need to be gluten-free. That was when the crud hit the fan! I'm MUCH healthier now; a lot of stuff I didn't connect to diet has gone away (high blood pressure, menstrual trouble, inability to lose weight, neuropathy, memory problems). And as long as I stick to my safe foods list I feel fantastic. But if I get a tiny amt of CC from corn (even a little table salt!), soy, sugar or God forbid gluten, it's a bad, bad week for me. All the other food problems take more than CC to get me, but a whole serving would do me in.

I'm reading up on IgE vs IgG/IgA, and I'm going to ask a lot of questions before I let the allergist do any testing on me.

Thank you so much for weighing in on this. It's a heavy burden to bear, and it's great to have someone who's been there discuss it with me!

You're welcome...Pm me if you want to talk more...I think we just Hijacked this thread...sorry, OP!!

[GFinDC]

I have developed a phototoxic reaction in the sun when I am wearing sunscreen (which I do because I am subject to skin cancers - melanoma, basal, squamous cell, you name it). When I first wear a new sunscreen I am okay, but after several exposures I break out in this hive-like rash everywhere the sunscreen was and it does take hydrocortisone to calm it down. Then I switch sunscreens and repeat I do not react where the sunscreen was not, so it's a combination of the skin and the sun and the screen. Weird. I think this is what my dad used to complain about - he played lawn bowls and had to wear gloves with no fingers. And it has happened since I rectified my B12 and folate levels.

Open Original Shared Link

WASHINGTON (May 24) -- Almost half of the 500 most popular sunscreen products may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer because they contain vitamin A or its derivatives, according to an evaluation of those products released today.

Hey Shroomster,

I don't know if you have seen the news about vitamin A in sunscreen causing cancer. They say it actually makes it worse. Retinal palmitate (Vit A) is the ingredient in the sunscreen that is a problem. Might be something to watch out for.