Updated for 2014: PMLE Prevention and Information! **UPDATED 2016 Links for USA/ Non-USA Shirudo Purchase**

Hello readers!  It's been a while since my last post ... undoubtedly it's easy for me to forget all about my sun-time whoa-is-me condition when we've had one of the worst winters the midwest and southeast has seen in years!  I'm well aware, however, that I have readers from every corner of the world who have stopped by to gather information and check for updates!

Let's start here:  I spoke to a representative with Shirudo, maker of the 'miracle' Antioxidant Lotion that many of us PMLE sufferers have bought, used, and loved the results.... and she assures me the lotion is on it's way back online!  They haven't stopped making it or forgotten about us!!  No judgement!  I, too, sort of freaked out at the 'UNAVAILABLE' status on the website!  So keep checking back for it to be re-stocked, and I will, of course, post on this blog when it's available again!
As of 2016 it's back in stock and ready to ship!!

USA LINK TO BUY HERE 

NON-USA LINK TO BUY HERE

I received MANY emails over the fall and winter asking if I have found any other lotion or remedy for PMLE ... specifically if there has been anything else, to my knowledge, created with the 'magic' AGR ingredient.  In short, NO!  And truthfully, I'm to a pretty content point in my research on this condition and how to prevent it!  With the mix of using this AGR lotion, sunscreen containing avobenzone (Parasol) and the occasional wide-brimmed hat for long days in the sun... I've hit a sweet spot with prevention!  And I'm soooo happy to have helped many of you, too!  I know many of us share the .... "If I hear, 'Oh, you must have sun poisoning' one more time I'm going to SCREAM" mentality... it's nice to know there are many of us out there, sun lovers or not, that suffer from this condition that even many doctors aren't knowledgeable about!

So that brings me to the current time.  We are leaving for a Spring Break the first week in April.  And while it's not super-south (think Florida Panhandle area) it is definitely the time of year that, in the past, I would suffer from the PMLE symptoms the most.  Why?  Being super-pale from the winter, having no base tan or natural protection from the sun's rays... that's the best I can guess.  Because we have gone on tropical vacations in late summer or early fall and the PMLE rash barely showed up, if at all, even before the Shirudo lotion!  I will certainly come back here with an update from that vacation.... just to share my most current experience.  

All this talk of sun and vacation has me yearning for it ... but, we are about to get pounded yet again with ice and snow... so.....  until next time!  Sending everyone happy, sunny thoughts!

See the sidebar to the right for previous, popular posts where you fill find all the info and reviews related to PMLE you could ever want!  And don't forget to read the comments!

PMLE Update - Just in Time for Summer!

**NEWER 2012 Update with my personal experiences - and in attempt to respond to some of these amazing and helpful comments is coming today!  I'll post a link here!**

**READ Sept, 2012 post {HERE} about a new lotion with AGR!!!!

First of all, I want to say a big, gigantic THANK YOU to all the readers and comments on my original post {here} regarding PMLE!!  It is so so helpful to hear from others who suffer from this and all the wonderful prevention ideas!!  If you haven't already done so, please check out that post for additional updates I've made, alopng with the many many wonderful reader comments and suggestions!  I promise you... there are others out there who suffer from this who are also looking for anwers! 

I feel like I'm going into this summer with a new sense of hope.  That is why I am updating and re-posting about this now!   Here are some specific ideas/ products we have discussed or have had suggested to us regarding the prevention of PMLE!

* Heliocare/ Solaricare Pills
* Claritin
* Beta Carotene (and any anti-oxidants both topical and orally in general)
* Niacin
* Vitamin E oil (topical)
* Parasol (avobenzone)
* Alphaglucosylrutin (AGR) **if anyone knows of ANY product containing this, in the US or otherwise, PLEASE let us know!  It was in the Eucerin Daily Sun Defense Lotion, which is no longer available!)**
* Spectraban Oil/Lotion

Also notable as preventitive:

* Higher SPF sunblock
* Sun hat / umbrella
* Slowly building up your skin's tolerance to the sun

Please check out the new updates at the original PMLE post and especially the comments for additional info and suggestions!

BIGGEST NEWS YET!!  My recent 2-week trip to Sunny California...

While sunscreen shopping for this vacation, I made a HUGE discovery. 

Did you notice that the Banana Boat Clear Ultramist Dry Oil Sunscreens now contain Avobenzone!?!? Even the SPF 4 has 0.5%, with 3% in the SPF 15!  There is also 3% in the Baby SPF 50 formula, so I suppose that's the most any of the lotions/oils contain.   The avobenzone is part of Banana Boat's "Avotriplex" photostable UVA technology.  (go to BananaBoat.com for all their products!)

I checked my sunscreens from last year (even from Banana Boat) and they do not contain the avobenzone... however, the Baby SPF 50 formula did.  Needless to say, I've now switched to using only this Banana Boat Dry Oil Spray in SPF 4, 8, and 15.  I haven't checked to see if the Spray Lotions by Banana Boat also contain the "Avotriplex" technology.  This is a big deal considering it was nearly impossible to fund this ingredient (which is also called Parasol, but the way) in any sunscreen below SPF 30+!  I will also mention that Arbonne's Face and Body SPF 15 also contains this avobenzone... and I'm sure there are others.

Now, what does this mean for us?  Well, for one, there is now an SPF 4 and 8 option for those of us that still want to get a nice tan, but try to prevent this nasty little rash from appearing!   So what happened for me?  I started out our vacay by using the SPF 15 Dry Oil all over, even on my legs, which I never do (I know.... I'm bad!)  Slowly, as we headed to the beach more, I began knocking the SPF down to 8 and kept it there most of the time.  the last few days I used SPF 4 on areas I would normally not use any sunscreen.  The result?  A really great tan, no burning, and most importantly NO PMLE rash!!  Yay!  This is especially notable beacuse it was early in the season, which is when we are all MOST prone to developing the symptoms the worst.

I also took Beta Carotene pills while we were in Cali, but that was it, as I didn't want to take anything else (since I'm preggo) and I really wanted to test out my new sunscreens!!  I didn't even use my beloved Eucerin Sun Defense lotion (which I bought from Germany.... see original post for more info!) which I've sworn by for years!  The ONLY thing I must mention is that I wasn't exposing my stomach to the sun (for obvious reasons.... no one wants to see that... not even me) which is the area I'm second most prone to developing the rash, next to my chest.  Sooooo, that one will have to wait until next year, but I am still thrilled with my new plan of action in the sun!

Bottom Line:  Before going on a beach vacay, from now on I will start taking Beta Carotene a few days before on through the vacay, and use a sun lotion with avobenzone in it as a moisturizer for a few days before leaving to prepare my skin.  A derm doc recommended this to me with the Eucerin back in the day, so I think I'm going start doing it again.  Once at the destination, I will start out using an SPF 15 all over (with the avo ... that goes without sayings) and then knock down the SPF during the week as I build up my skin's sun tolerance.   I will also bring a hat to help shield my chest for when I feel like wearing it, because I know that helps, too!

Regarding the Heliocare Pills, I am going to try those next year when I'm not pregnant.  Has anyone else tried these with any luck?  Regarding the AGR, I have no idea why, but it seems to be pulled from all US products, and possibly overseas, as well.  I'm still trying to figure out why, because accordign to my research, there have been a TON of studies that show AGR significantly helping to prevent PMLE.  My sister is in pharmacy school right now, so I'm putting her on that right away to try and figure something out!


Finally, keep the comments and suggestions coming!  And, thanks for reading!

Winding Down

It has been a fun and eventful 2 weeks here in Cali, but our trip is about to wrap up! I'm pretty bummed that the trip is over.... but I'm really looking forward to getting back home and back into our routine!

There are so many things we are looking forward to when we get home, including Connor starting preschool, our vacation to Ft. Myers for Labor Day, my friend Bethany's wedding, etc... Yippie!

Here are a couple of pics from our trip... but I'll will post a link to my flickr album in the next week or so!

Also, I have been reading a few fellow blogger posts about the use of Latisse to stimulate lash and possibly brow growth! My mother-in-law was nice enough to purchase me a tiny bottle and I've been using it for about 2 weeks now. I apply 1-2 drops to a little eyeliner brush (that I never used anyway) just before bed! I'll keep you updated as to any results. I have NEVER had a great set of lashes ... and I'm constantly over-plucking my brows since I stopped getting them waxed ... sooooo.... I'm crossing my fingers for a miracle here.

AND - before I end up with a TON of comments about it .... I KNOW there can be side-effects and it's a chance I'm willing to take! If a possible side-effect was blindness, I would not take that risk. However, slight redness or skin irritation, etc... is not enough to scare me from trying. I've noticed possibly a bit of redness JUST along the lash line.... but I'm also at the beach and in the sun a lot right now, so it will be interesting to see if anything changes when I get home.

Speaking of being in the sun.... I have suffered from what is called Polymorphic Light Disorder (PMLD) since I was a young teen. I've been researching prevention and solutions to this annoying sun rash for years and finally made some, what I feel like are, breakthroughs! Check back tonight or tomorrow for findings if you are the 1 out of 10 people who suffer from this!!