Fifty Plus (50+) - "Stronger Sun" or older skin?........

After a 1-1/2 hr or so road ride, and cutting the grass for a few hours the next day, with short sleeves and no sunscreen, I've got one of the worst cases of "sun poisoning" on my arms I can remember! I used to just turn brown from the sun (very brown!), but now seem to get sunburn or sun poisoning much easier. Is it more UV or just "older" skin? Never had this problem when I was younger. And no, I'm not taking any supplements that would contribute (I've heard St.John's Wort can make your skin more sun sensitive, but I don't use it).

it's global warming...haven't you seen An Inconvenient Truth?

I've had a similar problem the last few years. When I was younger I could be in the sun all day and never burned - just turned brown. Now I have to be careful or I'll get a reaction to the sun. I'm inclined to blame it on ageing.

I've also become very sensitive to poison ivy. In my youth I would get it but I could control it with calamine lotion. Now I simply have to look at it and I'm covered from head to toe and it requires prednisone each time. I've had this stuff in the middle of winter from brushing against the evergreens in the front yard:(

that stinks Beverly!

it's global warming...haven't you seen An Inconvenient Truth?

Yeah, Al Gore use to really burn my ash, too. Now he's burning Beverly's skin.

One of the advantages/disadvantages of riding MTB in the woods is very little tan (when you want some). A couple of hours out on the road bike on Cape Cod or the islands and you get cooked. My old skin seems to be much dryer and I am more subject to winter rashes.

I suspect that we are changing faster than the sun. :(

It's actually a little bit of both. Skin thins for most of us as we age. In addition, there are some studies that suggest that photosensitivity in older people is more prevalent than the general population due to more frequent use of medications that can cause phototoxic reactions.

My dermatologist explains sunlight and UVA and UVB is essentially radiation. You can have a finite amount of it and you WILL then start to develop precancerous (Actinic Keratosis) then skin cancers. I had/have a bunch of actinic keratosis and he told me "Your Ultraviolet Cup Runneth Over!" Next step is invasive skin cancers. We are talking squamous cancers here, not Melanomas - they are a different, more lethal form of skin cancer.
So as we age we all fill our 'ultraviolet cups!" Then we get more sensitive to smaller amounts of sunlight.
Dermatologists consider ANY tan represents damaged skin and all advise sunscreen with the highest SPF as possible. As BSLevan said, photosensitivities with some meds can add to it, as well, but no tan is a "good" tan. Best to cover up or slop on the sunscreen.
There is a better sunscreen now available in Canada and Mexico and elsewhere in the world that protects against UVA and UVB. Much better than the stuff available here. The FDA sooner or later, probably later, will give it's blessing. That's what they recommend now, if you can get it. Available through the internet at gouging prices or in Canada or Mexico.

My dermatologist explains sunlight and UVA and UVB is essentially radiation. You can have a finite amount of it and you WILL then start to develop precancerous (Actinic Keratosis) then skin cancers. I had/have a bunch of actinic keratosis and he told me "Your Ultraviolet Cup Runneth Over!" Next step is invasive skin cancers. We are talking squamous cancers here, not Melanomas - they are a different, more lethal form of skin cancer.
So as we age we all fill our 'ultraviolet cups!" Then we get more sensitive to smaller amounts of sunlight.
Dermatologists consider ANY tan represents damaged skin and all advise sunscreen with the highest SPF as possible. As BSLevan said, photosensitivities with some meds can add to it, as well, but no tan is a "good" tan. Best to cover up or slop on the sunscreen.
There is a better sunscreen now available in Canada and Mexico and elsewhere in the world that protects against UVA and UVB. Much better than the stuff available here. The FDA sooner or later, probably later, will give it's blessing. That's what they recommend now, if you can get it. Available through the internet at gouging prices or in Canada or Mexico.


This makes a lot of sense. I also know part of my problem is the frequent prednisone usage for the severe reactions to poison ivy. One of the side effects is sensitivity to sunlight. Unfortunately the cure often causes additional problems:(

What's the name of the new sunscreen? Is it available at reasonable prices in Canada? I have a friend in Toronto and she might be able to ship me some.