Rider sun poisoning, need suggestions on long sleeve shirts

[ponygrl25]

I get heat rash/sun poisoning also. My problem is that wearing even a light weight cotton shirt made my rash waaayyy worse. The shirt held the heat against my skin too much. I will be looking into some of the great suggestions from here. I even started shaving my arms (where the rash is the worst. Even a small amount of hair holds A LOT of heat.) and trying any high spf sunblock that was sweat and water resistant. I stay out of the sun as much as possible and use cool showers and oatmeal lotion for the itch. Hand sanitizer is good too.

This is the first year that I got bumps on the tops of my ears. I thought i had been bitten by something and scratched it. Within a couple of minutes I knew I did a bad thing!! They got worse and have taken 2 weeks to fully heal. I am currently looking for hat I can ride in that will keep my poor ears in the shade now! (I know I’m bad, I don’t wear a hard hat on every ride. Please don’t chew me out.)

I had a really bad case of poison oak a few years ago and I wonder if that has anything to do with this suddenly starting out of nowhere? I haven’t taken any meds unless advil counts. Any insight is greatly appeciated:)

Thanks and Good luck!!

[rooroo8]

I’d also suggest checking out Solumbra - I understand your frustration, I’m a redhead and have gotten sunburns through shirts when riding. Let us know what you end up doing!

[Cashela]

Well I did some reading on heat rash and apparently if you are on BC it can make you more succeptible.

I don’t have a ton of money to spend, but I’ll let you guys know if I buy one of these fancy shirts and if it works. I also need to find a pair of light weight gloves.

[tollertwins]

Sometimes you can find last years rail riders ecomesh shirts for about $30. Try googling for ecomesh sale. Lots of people carry them.

Don’t know where in the country you are…the Solumbra are too hot for me to ride in - Tx. Gulf Coast (hot, hot, hot, humid, humid, humid!)

[Guilherme]

I’m not fair skinned, but do hate bugs. So I wear a long sleved shirt for riding all year 'round.

I’ve found anything made of 100% cotton or 100% silk makes an excellent riding shirt. These fabrics will consistently wick moisture away from the skin, promoting cooling. Lighter colors are better than darker colors. Of this also requires the wearer to drink lots of water, something that they sometimes forget.

They can still work quite well with polyester percentages as high as 20%. But above that the “black, plastic bag” effect seems to kick in and riding is pretty uncomfortable.

G.

[jazzrider]

[QUOTE=ponygrl25;4789226]
I get heat rash/sun poisoning also. My problem is that wearing even a light weight cotton shirt made my rash waaayyy worse. The shirt held the heat against my skin too much. I will be looking into some of the great suggestions from here. I even started shaving my arms (where the rash is the worst. Even a small amount of hair holds A LOT of heat.) and trying any high spf sunblock that was sweat and water resistant. I stay out of the sun as much as possible and use cool showers and oatmeal lotion for the itch. Hand sanitizer is good too.[/QUOTE]

Ponygrl, not great advice but just a thought, I get a much worse rash if I use ANY sort of high spf sunblock, and the water proof stuff is the worst. I am always on the lookout for low (#4 or #8) spf, which is hard to find these days, non-greasy lotion to wear when I absolutely need it. But mostly, I don’t wear any lotion at all because of how bad the heat rash can get. You might want to do a little test on how you do without lotion…that may be part of your problem. :no:

[kookicat]

[QUOTE=jazzrider;4790521]
Ponygrl, not great advice but just a thought, I get a much worse rash if I use ANY sort of high spf sunblock, and the water proof stuff is the worst. I am always on the lookout for low (#4 or #8) spf, which is hard to find these days, non-greasy lotion to wear when I absolutely need it. But mostly, I don’t wear any lotion at all because of how bad the heat rash can get. You might want to do a little test on how you do without lotion…that may be part of your problem. :no:[/QUOTE]

I’ve just bought some facial cream with a low SPF- might work for you as a sunscreen?

http://www.boots.com/en/Simple-Daily-Radiance-SPF-10-Moisturiser-50ml_38100/

[Stratosphere]

Don’t mess around with the sun! On long rides, no amount of sunscreen can protect my fair skin, so I’ve finally got a great system that works perfectly.

Even if you’re wearing hat/shirt/gloves, still wear sunscreen on your face/neck and on your arms underneath your sleeves, as you can get “bounceback” exposure off sand/water or even off of your own white horse or shirt and even the best SPF fabrics don’t block all of the UV.

I always slather this Shiseido SPF 55 (very water/sweat resistant) on both my face and neck/chest/shoulders/arms/hands–it is the best I’ve found and my dermatologist also uses it.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P173669&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5337

I also wear this awesome EquiVisor sun visor on my helmet–I love this thing and it really stays put:
http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=5446

This REI Sahara shirt is my favorite for trail riding/hiking/backpacking in any kind of heat, is super light and ventilated with mesh and is SPF 40.
http://www.rei.com/product/794710

As for gloves, I like these crochet-back in a light color for trail riding. My hands stay nice and cool and haven’t gotten a burn through these yet.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/ssg-lycrochet-ultraflex-riding-gloves/p/X1-3982/cn/29/

[Cashela]

Oh thanks for the info on the gloves! They are certainly inexpensive. I hate wearing gloves when riding, even during the winter but I hate the rash even more. Especially when every one looks at me like I have some hugely contagious disease.

[ponygrl25]

Thanks for the advice on the lower spf guys. Unfortunately, I have tried it and it didn’t work. I use Vaseline aloe fresh lotion with spf 15 as a daily base and allover moisturizer. It is great for short trips outside, but not enough for long periods (better for sunburn than the aloe gel too). I have tried other ‘‘real’’ sunblock in lower spf and get the bumps and the burn. Going without is a recipe for disaster since most of my days are spent outside. I too am fair skinned as well and covered in freckles (Daddy was a redhead, I’m not naturally, only through haircolor:winkgrin:) I tan slightly and mostly just get more freckles and burn faster than the speed of light (pun intended;)).I would rather deal with the bumps instead of the burn.

I have found that it helps to use a bandanna soaked in cold water around my neck and keep a bucket of cool water around the barn just for washing my arms in or use the hose for a couple of minutes. It really helps to bring down the body temp without making you feel sick like going in/out of A/C. I have also been known to soak my hat/hair in cold water too.

[AHorseoffCourse]

Looks like you are getting plenty of suggestions on shirts. As far as gloves, I’ve had really good luck with SSG all weather glove. They are very cool in the summer, but still protect my hands.

[TouchstoneAcres]

Have you tried the newer sunscreens like Lancome’s Bien Fait? It has different ingredients recently approved in the USA in thest few years and blocks some other rays that get through the regular types. It’s worth a try. Also Obagi is nice. I usually can’t wear suncscreen on my face without a lot of tearing and itching. I can use these two though.

[tollertwins]

How about no chemical sunblocks?

http://www.dermadoctor.com/product_Nia-24-Sun-Damage-Prevention-100-Mineral-Sunscreen-SPF-30_2461.html

http://www.amazon.com/Total-Block-Cover-Up-Make-Up-SPF/dp/B0000Y3EMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=beauty&qid=1271094909&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Colorescience-Sunforgettable-Brush-Perfectly-Sparkle/dp/B000SWZORY

[wateryglen]

Nurse weighs in here…

I can’t help wondering if your premise is all wrong. What you may have is a contact dermatitis from something you are using before riding or when you’re in the barn. It may not be the sun or it’s a skin reaction to something WITH the sun exposure.

For example, horse fly sprays can be quite allergic to humans. It’s usually a pyrethrum allergy. I get it every spring when I start spraying the horses. Wear disposable plastic gloves to apply/spray it and most importantly wash your hands with soap well after applying. I even get an itchy/burny rash on my skin if I stand downwind when I spray it. Especially if its warm out and my pores are open. Sun can make it worse.

You may be having an allergic reaction to most anything at the barn or whatever you wash your hands with before you go. It’s going to take some process of elimination detective work to figure it out but there IS a cause. Personally, I doubt a sun rash only on those areas and not elsewhere. Medications, vitamins, skin lotions, soaps, supplements, are just SOME of the things you put ON your skin or IN your system that can react to the sun.
JMHO!! Get thee to a Dermatologist who knows horses perhaps?
I’m puttin’ my money on the flyspray. Used in warmer weather right?

[Cashela]

Wateryglen, that sounds like something I should think about. Because I don’t get the rash any where other then my wrists and hands, but then again most everything else is covered up.

[Kasspur]

Hello Ya’ll,

I’m located in S. Texas and also have to wear long sleeves, hat, gloves, etc. so I can relate on trying to stay cool.

Now that I’m in peri-menopause, I have become allergic to my own sweat and have the problem with prickly heat rash especially at the bra line (whether wearing one or not!). If it gets warmer than 75*, I start to heat up, get sweaty, nausea…well you get the picture. Plenty of medicated powder helps, but I’m wondering if anyone knows of any herbal remedies that might provide relief???

Please chime in if you know of some tried and true methods!

Thanks!

[wateryglen]

my derm guy told me…

Perfumed or “medicated” powders are NOTORIOUS for causing skin irritations, rashes, itching, redness when combined with heat & sweating. Your pores are open. Don’t use them in your skin folds or perineal areas or under your breasts. If you get rashes; stop using them and see if it improves. Perfumes alone can cause rashes in the heat or sunlight. Even something you applied the night before.

Skin folds are prone to fungal rashes in the summer. Red & very itchy/burny where you are sweaty or stay damp. Switch to cotton undies & bras when riding so you dry quicker. Synthetics hold dampness next to your skin.

And Cashela - ok to try some cortisone cream on your hands during an acute breakout. Use lotsa hand cream and protect them. Everything we use around the barn is an irritant I fear especially to any open or already irritated skin area. Let us know how it goes.

For what it’s worth…my pyrethrum allergy starts out with what I think are bug bites on my arms…then my trunk…then areas of itching…then bunches of “bites”…then I get hives in small areas…then all over my trunk. The hives can last for weeks. When I have an outbreak I have to go on a “low allergen” diet too. I get this every summer by mid june btw. I have to always rule out poison ivy exposure.

[Bogie]

I’ve worn these products for years. They work very well and hold up.

@lecoeurtriste;4787148

Check out a brand called Solumbra at www.sunprecautions.com; all of their products are SPF rated. I wear a long sleeved hoodie when at the beach or on a boat (in the deep south no less) to prevent the REM rash associated with lupus and sunburn–it’s very comfortable even in 90+ heat. You may also want to consider sunscreen that is titanium dioxide based versus paba (hard to find, but good for sensitive skin). Good luck!

[Dad_Said_Not_To]

I get photodermatitis along my hairline and on my ears, chest, forearms, and hands. It presents as a rash with itchy red bumps up to 1/4" in diameter. It’s NOT heat rash-- if I’m out in the sun when it’s 50 degrees out, the rash pops up. I have yet to find a sunblock that will keep me from getting it-- the only thing that prevents it is avoiding exposure to the sun, which means that I’m stuck wearing long sleeves all summer. I generally just wear men’s dress shirts over tank tops-- I pick them up at thrift stores. It really sucks wearing long sleeves when it’s 90 degrees, but it’s better than being itchy and miserable for two days after 10 minutes of sun exposure!

[wsmoak]

I used to wear Columbia Titanium sun shirts, but they changed them so the front pockets won’t even hold a cell phone!

Now it’s LL Bean Tropicwear: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/59181?page=tropicwear-shirt-long-sleeve (they also come in green or blue plaid.)

I love the double pocket – it has a regular breast pocket with a horizontal velcro flap, and second pocket behind that with a vertical zipper.

I’m cooler in these than in short sleeves – and I had my share of sun burns when I was younger, I’m just waiting for it to catch up to me now.