General Medical Question - Non Urgent - scars and the sun

amy.lee.addict · 02-06-2009, 04:23 AM

I have noticed that when I am outside in the sun for over ten minutes the scars on the top of my arm turn red and the skin around them a patchy yellow-red color. It disappears a while after I stay inside. I was just wondering if this was normal? Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anything I can do about it?

Animad · 02-06-2009, 09:38 AM

Yes it's pretty normal, it's just because of the way your skin reacts differently to the heat/ sun than your skin. Just make sure you have a high factor sunscreen on the areas where the scars are as these will be more prone to damage by the sun.

I am going to move this to SI Discussion and Support where I feel it will now be better suited.

sobriquet · 02-06-2009, 11:20 AM

Yeah I had this yesterday and one of the scars is still red this morning (only one, which is a bit strange). I've got used to my scars changing colour depending on the temperature - red when it's hot; purple when it's cold. Lol!

Just be careful of skin with scar tissue on it - my Dad had a cyst removed from his face about 5 years ago and was told to use complete sunblock (not just high factor sunscreen) on the scar because of the increased sensitivity of scar tissue and he still uses sunblock on the scar (even though the scar is barely visible).

eyes.wide.open · 02-06-2009, 03:03 PM

happens to me too!!
and in the cold they go like way more purple too lol

XTC · 02-06-2009, 05:06 PM

does scar tissue tanin any way? as in does it get darker through exposure?

Shadowsaurus · 02-06-2009, 07:47 PM

Mine have become obvious, yellow and white :S
I'm tanned and burnt on my arms even after wearing factor 30 and 40 suncream

bunsy · 02-06-2009, 07:50 PM

i HATE SUN

chrisjbee · 03-06-2009, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XTC

does scar tissue tanin any way? as in does it get darker through exposure?

Not in my experience :(

The surrounding skin tans, and the scarring becomes more visible as it is bright white against my tanned skin!

Also TAKE CARE to prtoect damaged skin (i.e. sarring) from the sun, high factor sun screen or sun block. Especially is the area is quite large, like a burn scar for example. The sun can damage the area even further.

amy.lee.addict · 03-06-2009, 04:09 AM

Thank you all for answering my question. I will definitely use sunscreen before I go outside now. <3

~sammy~ · 05-06-2009, 08:15 PM

yeah mine go very red in the sun and they go purple in the cold. x

Katiee · 06-06-2009, 09:40 PM

I've sorta had that happen before. You're not alone.
Try using sun cream. Hope you're ok. (: xo.