Reddit mentions of DERMA E Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Face Sunscreen, 2 oz

I'm truly sorry about your diagnosis. Do you know how long your chemotherapy cycle will be? My brother is currently getting neo-adjuvant chemo for a Ewing's Sarcoma, he just had his surgery last month. It was tough, but he's almost through it. I really hope your treatment goes smoothly!

On to skincare, [this] (http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/skin-reactions.aspx) article is useful imo. The main reactions to chemo are dryness, flushing, hyperpigmentation, rashes and photosensitivity. Moisturising frequently should help with the dryness, but check if your moisturiser contains Lanolin because the chemocare article says to avoid it (not quite sure why??). Other ways lanolin may appear in an ingredient list are: lanolate, lanogene, laneth, lanosterols, triterpene or aliphatic alcohols, cholesterin, or sterols (unless the label specifies the substance as a plant sterol).

If you experience flushing, certain prescription medications could help. Some rosaceans find that colloidal silver water and cooling pillows can help cool down a flare up. Hyperpigmentation is usually temporary and will resolve itself on its own, I wouldn't advise using any lightening actives until your treatment is over. If you get rashes it would probably be best to tell your doctor as Benzoyl Peroxide may be too irritating for your skin right now.

As for sunscreen, do you use an Asian sunscreen? How high is alcohol on the ingredients list? You may find it too irritating atm, but it depends how your skin reacts. An all physical sunscreen, while not as cosmetically elegant, may be soothing. I've heard good things about [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IV29IH0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481058027&sr=8-1&keywords=derma+e+sunscreen&pi=SY200_QL40) sunscreen but I don't know much about physical Asian sunscreens unfortunately.

One final thing which the article doesn't mention is desquamation. Depending on your chemo drugs this may or may not happen to you but it did happen to my brother. Basically the upper layers of skin shed, leaving snakelike patterns in some areas. He gently exfoliates with a muslin cloth. I'm not sure if a chemical exfoliant is ok to use or not, it probably depends on what drugs you're getting.

Probably best to avoid products with fragrance right now. I would assume you should probably stop using actives for the duration of your treatment, but you could always discuss this with your doctor or ask for a referral to a derm.


Above all, tell your doctor about any skin reactions you're having. My brother doesn't care much about skincare so we didn't even know for a long time that he had scaly dry patches on his arms...geez. Skincare isn't just for girls! That aside, I hope you find something useful in this ramble...

Yes, you should use a different sunscreen. I'm not sure if the sunscreen you're using uses chemical or physical filters but chemical filters are often irritating. The zinc used in physical sunscreens can be very drying also. Regardless of which filters it uses, you're being irritated by something in that particular sunscreen and should find a different one. One of my favorites is Derma-E Mineral Sunscreen. It's very gentle and great for sensitive skin. Just be sure to moisturizer before applying any sunscreen with zinc because, again, it can be drying.

Anything that irritates your skin or doesn't agree with it could potentially give you trouble, SPF included. But here is my personal experience: all the SPFs that I have used in the past were giving me cysts, that is until I learned the difference between chemical/physical or combination of both types of filters. It seems that physical only SPFs totally agrees with my skin, so for the first time in my life I have been able to wear SPF everyday. My advice would be to fetch a physical one and see what happens. I am currently enjoying the Derma E Mineral Sunscreen. It is not the only one I use, because I like to layer them, but this one has a good price and it does not leave a white cast.

My personal favorite is always Derma E.

I have fairly sensitive, combination skin that is very breakout prone and have had good luck with Derma E Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30. It is not waterproof, unfortunately, but I have worn it while sweating lightly in the sun for a few hours and not gotten tanned or burn. It contains only zinc as a physical filter and no chemical filters.
It has never stung my eyes, but YMMV of course. It leaves no white cast on me, but I have light skin and do notice a slight "brightening" effect when it is on, but it just looks like my skin tone is just a tiny bit lighter than it is.

You can find better prices elsewhere, but here it is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/derma-Antioxidant-Natural-Sunscreen-Oil-Free/dp/B00IV29IH0

My current go-to is Burnout Eco Sensitive Sunscreen: http://www.amazon.com/BurnOut-Sensitive-Sunscreen-Fluid-Ounce/dp/B00B3RFJBO

I've also used with success Derma E Antioxidant Sunscreen:
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IV29IH0/ref=sr_ph_1_a_it?qid=1464449776&sr=sr-1&keywords=derma+e+sunscreen

However, the Derma E always pills up on me.

I like these because they're non drying, physical only, and pretty bland with some mild antioxidants. I also break out very easily despite drier skin, and don't have issues with these.

So rather oddly Vanicream's sunscreen irritates my skin. My guess is it's the dimethicone. Anyway, the next best option looks like this unscented Derma E sunscreen.

If I put this on over a petrolatum-based moisturizer, will any of the nice antioxidants actually be absorbed by my skin? I have been thinking that maybe I should be slathering a multivitamin on my face, but it being with the sunscreen honestly makes it seem less overdone.

Edit, also, unrelated, I use essential oils for aromatherapy, never on my skin. Sometimes the oils get on my hand while putting the oils in the humidifier, and I have some small burns on my hand due to this. I almost always wash my hands with a surfectant afterwards, and regularly wash the bottles. Should I be worried about developing an allergy? I would hate to be allergic to cherry blossoms.

evening - some kind of oil to remove makeup (jojoba or olive), gentle face wash (I like CeraVe foaming facial cleanser uk link - NOT the hydrating one, it doesn't actually clean. Or Clean and Clear's foaming [cleanser] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clean-Clear-Foaming-Cleanser-Sensitive/dp/B000052YJN).

then, on alternating nights

1. salicylic acid, 2%, better if it's not alcohol based. let that dry, then benzoyl peroxide, 2% if you can get it, I'm stuck with 5%.
   
   
2. some kind of exfoliant, AHA or mandelic, whatever works.
   
   Morning: rinse face with water. A vitamin C serum, then sunscreen. I've posted about ss three times today, I can only handle zinc ones - no chemicals, no titanium dioxide. Because the paradox with those is they break me out, causing more scars, more problems, etc. I just got this - edit, correct link now, which I hope is more elegant than the last one I had (which didn't break me out or let me burn but is a bit chalky).