Sun Protection Clothing

OPPpps Melanoma i mean (spelling)!! I should watch what I type! Michael

Thanks Notso. There is a lot of info in this PDF. Educating my self slowly through it. Thank you.

Yes, Columbia have a great sun protection range of shirts, trousers, hats. Not sure if they're in SA but you can try ordering through the distribution contact via the main website. Not sure who it is. I use the distributers in Australia.

Here's the ink to their technologies page Columbia fabric technologies

Another good brand who make very comfortable and durable sun smart clothing is Exofficio who also use a bitey bug proof fabric.

Have you checked if you are having a chemical reaction between your body wash, fabric detergent and the sunblock?

Try walking the same distances without the heat and see if it does the same. I get rashes and welts inside my socks from heat.

I have tried many different types of sunscreen. 95% of them have a really bad smell I can't tolerate. I tried vegan animal friendly ones but they smelt the worst and were not very sweat resistant. Now I use face and moisturising Nivea sunscreen. It is a bit more expensive but I don't use much of it to cover exposed skin and only need to apply it 2 or 3 times a day.

(I have been meaning to get back to you about other stuff but life is very hectic with barely enough time to scratch my bum. I'll chat in more depth about walking after silly season)

Hi Bazooka

Columbia is in South Africa. I will visit their stores this weekend and see what they are importing. They have a good name but their fabrics are synthetic. I personally think I am going to have to go natural. I used to be sponsored by a top South African sports wear brand and although I loved the majority of their products, I could not wear the shirts due to a reaction to the nylon.

Some good news today.

Learned that the New Zealand brand Icebreaker has just landed on our shores and will be on the shelves in the New Year. This is good news for me. I literally bought a shirt off a fireman from NZ who was at a paragliding competition in Australia. He said that he cannot wear synthetics as they are quick to burn ( bad in his line of work) and when traveling to paragliding competitions he only takes two shirts for the week because of weight restrictions. He swore that he could wear a single Merino wool shirt for a whole week before needing to wash it. Yeah right. Dirty bugger, I thought. Then I smelled him and touched the fabric I could not believe the product was wool (and my nostrils not offended). The material was smooth and finely spun like fine silk. So thin and light and comfortable to wear. I had to put it to the test. On my first CSR trip I wore the shirt for 4 days straight and did not smell or look like something nasty. And I am sensitive to odors. The Icebreaker website does not say anything about UV protection (that I can see), but I am hoping.... This product really impressed me.

Chat in the New Year Terra :-) No rush.

Regarding the reaction. I am doing elimination tests now. It did start with my socks walking in a heat wave. This is not good news. Heat on the CSR is a given. I will find a solution even if I have to wear a long sleeved dress as suggested!!! Nobody laughs at the Bedouins. A girl walking in the middle of a desert looks a little bit odd already so I shan't worry about been taken seriously. It is a lost cause :-)

Just as well all of these things are coming up in training.

Gaynor - don't know where the company is located but my Columbia shirts were made in India and are all cotton apart from some synthetic mesh 'breezways' on a couple I bought. Have another look at the range I'm sure you'll find all cotton for women as well. Most of the protective and/or quick dry/moisture wicking clothes in Oz are synthetic. Okay in some conditions but unfortunate if like many people you are allergic or your body reacts by producing smelly sweat. Good hunting and let us know if you find something different.

Gaynor
Of all the well meaning replies posted here Johns' is by far the most sensible. As someone below stated it could be one of many things and not nessecarily the sun screen. You need to consult an expert and the skin cancer specialist is the only sensible way to go.
All the best.
Skip

Work wear often require long sleeves as stated.
My kids go to school which have the no hat no play rule. They sit in an airconditioned room most of the day, so they wear long sleeves/pants, as it's cool. Been known to walk into the room with my bike jacket and glad i've got it on as it's cold.
The teachers will have them changed during the day into shorts, and short sleeve shirt, with a note being sent to me saying it is to hot for long items.
With a hands off policy in the schools, the teachers are not allowed to apply sunscreen either. (Handicap kids)

The teachers look at me stupid when I ask why the kids have burnt arms and legs.

Unfortunately there is a misconcieved mindset that less clothing is cooller.

yes there are situations where short trousers and short sleves is cooler......but not in the full sun, especialy where there is the slightest breeze.

things to avoid are any sort of synthetics, knitted fabrics like T shirts and dark colours.

Long sleves and especailly long trousers protect you from all sort of scrapes and minor puncture wounds.

In addition to common sense, the best protection against venomous snakes is long trousers and boots.

cheers

I do think I am. But it is even on places that initially had no clothing like my face and legs above the socks and below my shorts. It is certainly related to heat. I am now next to the sea in Cape Town where it is a lot cooler and the rash is less angry and slowly subsiding. What do Northern Territory people do for prickly heat rash?

Hi again i get it on my arms and legs or sometimes on the back of my neck again these areas are usually not covered by clothing but if we start to get it there is heaps on google but usually but a powder called curash ior lanacane put it on for a few nights and it usually goes away