Hippi and Butterflake - thanks for reminding about blocking both UVA and UVB. Melissa - there are others here who have trouble with the flourescent lighting causing symptoms. I just never made the connection to wearing sunblock to counteract that - assuming that it was eye absorption, not skin absorption that was the problem. (I'm the odd duck sitting in the waiting room or shopping in a Target store wearing heavy sunglasses ;-) And really, if a cover over the fluourescent lights takes care of the problem....I still don't get the need to wear sunblock inside all the time!? Maybe that has more to do with light from windows?
Here is the section of the transcript I'm referring to:
Over time, most patients with lupus learn what their symptoms of lupus are. As far as sun exposure, lupus is made more active by exposure to ultraviolet light. The sun is the major source of ultraviolet light but it also comes from indoor lights as well. Lupus experts recommend that all patients wear sunscreen every day, even if they don’t go outside and even if it is winter and even if it is storming outside (ultraviolet light still comes through the clouds). On sunny days, it is best to reapply it 2-3 times a day. Other measures such as wearing a wide brimmed hat, or wearing special ultraviolet reflective clothes can also be helpful. You should also avoid as much as possible being outside too much on sunny days between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also, it is best not to be around water on sunny days except in the mornings or late afternoon/evening. Although you may feel better when you are out in the sun, you are really taking a risk of causing your lupus to flare up from this activity.
With some patients, they will get a rash from ultraviolet light exposure, but many patients do not. The light exposure can also cause lupus to cause inflammation of the internal organs such as causing kidney disease, pleurisy, and other problems. Unfortunately, folks who really love the sun find this to be a difficult life style change once they are diagnosed with lupus. But, it is as important for the lupus patient to avoid the ultraviolet light exposure as it is for someone with heart disease to stop smoking (for example).
Thanks for the recs on the sunblocks. I like Neutrogena products and I've been using Olay, which I also like - just without the sunblock. The Eucerin w/ sunblock was just really hard to work in. - Lucy