Sunburn

[KnottedYet]

You might be allergic to the chemical sunscreens. Especially if you are getting blisters.

Try using an inert sunblock. (only active ingredients are zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) Or wear long sleeves and long pants and a wide brimmed hat.

Checking in with a dermatologist might be a good idea.

And if you have "white freckles" that are blistering after sun exposure (even with sunscreen on), you definitely need to go see a dermatologist.

[Pika]

I agreewith KNott but another possibility is the expiry date on the sunblock- sunblocks can "expire" so you may want to check- where I am ( Canada) I understand that you shouldn't leave them thru the winter in cars, boats etc because the freezing temps ruin them.
Also are you putting it on "thick'" enough. Apparently when they test the spf on sunscreens they test it using a whole tsp per arm leg etc- most people just put it on too thinly so the spf doesn't match up to the claims.
Hope that helps We all need to protect our skin!

[Thorn]

Knot's right...Listen to her.

I'm allergic to several common sunscreen ingredients. Blue Lizard Baby (which appears to be identical to Blue Lizard sensitive, but you can sometimes find it cheaper) is all inert ingredients and works pretty well (reapply often because sweat will move those ZnO particles). Prefer Zn0 over TiO2 because it is a broader UV spectrum blocker.

And, I know that this sounds totally stupid, but when you make the appointment with the dermatologist (because you will, right? ) make sure you ask about their experience with sun screens. A friend recommended a dermatologist that....sigh...seemed to know very little about sun screen ingredients--their practice seemed to focus on cosmetic skin treatments....sigh. It took two visits (to someone else the second time) to get to a solution.

[Rumblefish]

Also, how long are you outside running and riding?? Do you reapply sunblock if you are outside for a long time?

I just recently learned a lot about suncreen from a chemistry class. For example, SPF doesn't work the same for everyone...if you get burnt outside without sunblock in ten minutes, then you can stay out 30 times longer than 10 minutes with spf 30, and so forth. Also, SPF only refers to UVB protection...UVA rays can also do a number on your skin. The UVA rays aren't what causes you to burn but it's believed that they can cause some long term damage, so it would be worth looking into the ingredients on your label to see if there are some that protects against UVA rays as well.

Here's a small list of ingredients that also protect against UVA rays, and the % are the maximum concentration manufacturers are allowed to put in.

Titanium oxide 25%
Zinc oxide 25%
Sulisobenzone 10%
Oxybenzone 6%
Menthyl anthranilate 5%
Avobenzone 3%
Dioxybenzone 3%

You might already know some of this stuff, but just in case I thought I'd mention it. I hope this helps and good luck with the sunburn!! I hope you can get it under control

[Brandi]

I have seen this happend first hand with someone I know. It was a combo of allergic reaction to the sunblock and we think heat. It is a rash not a burn like you might think.
I use 45 to 50 and I use sunblock with z-cote ( clear zinc) my Skin Doc recommened it. Said I should always use zinc sence I am outside so much with my work and I live in California.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I had to stop using the usual chemical-based sunscreens last year because I suddenly broke out in huge hives one day after putting it on and going in the sun. I read a lot and realized I had become allergic to them. You might actually be experiencing a chemical burn from the sunscreen combined with sun exposure!
Now i use ONLY non-chemical sun block- you know it from the fact that there are only two active ingredients: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. I have no problems now, and they protect really quite well. Some of them can be a bit whitish colored but that works in and disappears if you apply evenly.