1. < Transplants

Anyone have tips on sun protection?

Posted by jolinda @jolinda, Sep 11, 2018

I've known that for a long time that transplant patients need to be especially careful when it comes to sun protection because we are more susceptible to skin cancer. In just the last month I have learned about two tips that were new to me:
1. At my annual Dermatologist appointment I learned that I should be reapplying sunscreen every few hours throughout the day. Yikes, I didn't realize this!
2. A fellow kidney transplant patient told me he purchased specialty sun protection clothing for wearing outside. Who knew?
I am wondering if any of you have other tips or tricks for sun protection that are just as valuable. Please share!

MODERATOR'S NOTE
The knowledge exchange shared in this discussion helped to create this article written for the Mayo Clinic app. Knowledge for patients by patients and beyond Mayo Clinic Connect.
– Transplant recipients share their best sun safety tips https://www.mayoclinic.org/CPT-20514169

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

estrada53 | @estrada53 | Mar 1, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "@morty, that sounds interesting! I am unfamiliar with this brand. Where do you find it? or..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@morty, that sounds interesting! I am unfamiliar with this brand. Where do you find it? or is it online? I think the tinted one might be worth looking on to for myself.

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Here's their official website. My dermatologist recommended this. https://eltamd.com/skin-care/

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estrada53 | @estrada53 | Mar 1, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "@morty, that sounds interesting! I am unfamiliar with this brand. Where do you find it? or..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@morty, that sounds interesting! I am unfamiliar with this brand. Where do you find it? or is it online? I think the tinted one might be worth looking on to for myself.

Jump to this post

EltaMD products are also available on Amazon, (higher prices, but if you have Prime, it might work out not to pay for shipping), Walmart, and other skin care websites. I am post heart transplant and now live in Arizona so this is super important. I've been using this product since my transplant two years ago.

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estrada53 | @estrada53 | Mar 1, 2019
In reply to @danab "Nice to hear your advice. I too am a heart transplant at Mayo in Phoenix. Ive..." + (show)
@danab

Nice to hear your advice. I too am a heart transplant at Mayo in Phoenix. Ive been wearing sunscreen most of the time but am more diligent now since i just had my first cancer removal on my face last week. Im going to check into the shirts you mentioned

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Hi Danab, I hope that will be the last you see of any cancer. I had my heart transplant at Mayo in Phoenix as well. Because my cardiomyopathy was caused by sarcoidosis, which can affect the skin ( but for me the disease went to my heart), I have to see a dermatologist every six months and when I go for my annual exams at Mayo, they schedule an appointment with their dermatologist as well. We are 60-240% more susceptible to skin cancer, especially here in Arizona. I have a dermatologist in Tucson also, where I live. He also will do a total body "review" every year to check on possible spots or irregularities. I recommend that every transplant patient do the same. Glad you are being diligent. It can only help!

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jeanne5009 | @jeanne5009 | Mar 1, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "@morty, that sounds interesting! I am unfamiliar with this brand. Where do you find it? or..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@morty, that sounds interesting! I am unfamiliar with this brand. Where do you find it? or is it online? I think the tinted one might be worth looking on to for myself.

Jump to this post

@rosemarya
Now that my ecxema has subsided and it is 80• and sunny, my skin is having some sort of rebellion. My face is breaking out like a teenager and that never happened to me! So...I am visiting my facial esthetician for some guidance. She found some very good tinted sun block that I will try. I will keep you posted....

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JK | @contentandwell | Mar 31, 2019

I just wanted to mention again, since I did quite a while ago and that's probably so far down the responses to no longer be seen by many, that there are great shirts for swimming available both from Lands End, and from UV Skinz -- https://www.uvskinz.com/. They both have sales, Lands End does very frequently, so it's worth it to subscribe to their emails and wait for that to happen.
My favorite way to avoid sunburn is just to avoid the sun. I hate the feeling of the products that you put on your skin. I do use makeups that have an SPF of 30 generally though.
JK

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 8, 2019

Spring Break? Summer? Outside? Sun Protection -
From Mayo Connect Pages>Podcasts>Sunscreen
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/podcasts/newsfeed-post/sunscreen/

Hey, all - I just watched this. I recommend it to you as a review.
I was surprised at the amount of sunscreen that is needed for protection! What did you fine new or interesting?

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webiondev | @webiondev | Apr 11, 2019

Hey @jolinda the best sunscreen I used was Eucerin Sun Gel-Cream Oil Control SPF 50+ . It is not shiny and does not make your skin oily

Thanks

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Charlie | @ca426 | Dec 30, 2019

It is true, of course that transplant patients are more susceptible to skin cancer, however, I've seen a bunch of over kill. You need to pay close attention to the sunscreen that you use, I think it might have been last year, that they found that some of the sunscreen had some bad ingredients that made just as bad as not wearing any. We didn't get a transplant to be hermits, but we should be mindful of how we go about our daily lives, enjoy your life, but live smart.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 3, 2020
In reply to @ca426 "It is true, of course that transplant patients are more susceptible to skin cancer, however, I've..." + (show)
@ca426

It is true, of course that transplant patients are more susceptible to skin cancer, however, I've seen a bunch of over kill. You need to pay close attention to the sunscreen that you use, I think it might have been last year, that they found that some of the sunscreen had some bad ingredients that made just as bad as not wearing any. We didn't get a transplant to be hermits, but we should be mindful of how we go about our daily lives, enjoy your life, but live smart.

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@ca426 I tend to just try to stay in the shade. We are looking into a vacation to a warm place during the winter. An essential for me is that there be shade, not a wide-open beach. We had a perfect vacation in Antigua at one point but I know now I would need to get some immunizations to go there since I am post-transplant so we may try to stay in the states.
I really hate using sunscreen. I only use it when absolutely necessary and so far, so good.
JK

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1 reply
chugly11 | @chugly11 | Jan 26, 2020

After my heart transplant and my first visit to the dermatologist he told to keep growing my beard and keep whering my cowboy hat and where log sleeves and use lip balm with a good spc and I always where my gloves. I live at 8500 feet the air is thinner and I done just fine. I don’t think the beard is much use but a broad rim hat even a nice ladies Steson would be great. God bless with lots of love RK Clayton

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