United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Is there any reason the bpi arm can't be exposed to sunlight, with appropriate sunscreen, and get a little bit of a tan? Or does the injury somehow mess up the ability of the skin to tolerate sunlight?

Thanks!

Ellen

My arm burns within minutes even in the winter (but bear in mind I live in New Zealand where the hole in the ozone is biggest, so our sun is very strong) and despite burning it on a few occasions mine has never suceeded in getting a tan. I have had blisters on my bpi shoulder as big as the palm of my hand without noticing, those came up within half an hour (that was in Barbados). In my opinion don't take any chances. If I can I try to cover it with a shirt or something, I find that safer than relying on even the strongest sun block. If I'm wearing a singlet then it's generally smothered in high factor cream from shoulder to fingers.I have no function in my lower arm but can bend my elbow and shrug my shoulder.
Enjoy your summer :0)

Ellen, I have been advised by many doctors to use sunscreen on my BPIZ arm. BUT I am 24 and tanning can be my life right now! I enjoy laying out and whe nthe depression starts to set in, I go straight to the tanner! In the Florida sun I use a 30 on my hand as it has burnt badly, once, but other than that I dont do anything and the arm gets a great color! Feel free to email if you have any mroe questions about tanning as I am GREAT at it! hahaha

Courtney@ubpn.org

COurt xo

Thanks for all your responses. Sounds like we might go ahead, but with a lot of caution - and really keep an eagle eye on the arm. I guess another factor is how some people can just tan & others really have to watch it - so there would be differences in that way, anyway.

Now get outside!!

Thanks,

Ellen

Definitely keep an close eye on John's arm in the sun Ellen. Before I had a TBPI I used to tan all over very easily, as I have a sort of olive-y skin. One hour in the sun and I was brown, never went red at all in all my life, and I lived in a seaside town, out all day on the beach as a kid in my swimmers...today is a different story though. The BPI'd arm gets very red and hot in just minutes in the sun now...still not sure why, but it is very severe and very noticeable when it burns. Tried suncream and this does prevent the most serious burns, but have to use at least factor 30. I have to admit that it does look a bit funny...one brown arm and one sorry looking whitE one! ;0)

Lizzy B

Those of you who find that the bpi arm doesn't tolerate sun as well as the rest - any idea why? Seems to me it's more than just staying out too long because you're unaware of getting burned - because sounds like you're monitoring things very closely.

It's got me wondering if the nerve damage somehow also keeps the skin from regulating perspiration or whatever it is that keeps everything in check. John had made a point of keeping his arm covered until well over a year from the last surgery, because he'd heard exposure to sunlight can really mess up scars. But he's past that time restriction now - and it would be great to get his arms to better "match" visually. Just want to better understand how to manage the process.

Thanks again for all your thoughts & suggestions.

Ellen

Don't know if this helps Ellen, but my arm's 'management' system for heat, cold, and sweat is shot to bits...my arm can be dripping in sweat in certain situations, for instance, if I leave it lying across my body when asleep, but can be freezing cold at the shoulder at the same time. The other day, I was really hot, (YESSS we had ONE DAY of hot sunshine! Hurrah!) but my arm was cold and clammy. I put it down to the fact that like many people with a TBPI, (but not all) I very likely have a fairly serious disruption of the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system which controls these things.

Hope this hasn't confused things!

Liz B

I've noticed a definite difference in sun exposure--the skin on my stump seems really light sensitive and burns after a very short time-but then I'm overly protective of it and keep a soccer shin guard on it all the time to keep from bumping it. Maybe that's why it's lost it's tolerance for light, maybe that's got nothing to do with it. I've always wondered -but I also wonder if anybody has had problems SWEATING any more or less than pre-accident? I sweat like mad since I had this accident- I've read that traumatic stuff can affect sweat glands, hormones etc etc. Anybody?------R

I don't know if this helps but OBPI have a problem with sun. the obpi will burn faster and since some of us have little to no feeling we have to be very careful. I cannot feel heat on most areas of my arm but if you put ice on my arm or shoulder I could sit and cry from the pain... just a bit odd.
Liz the cold arm can drive me crazy and my hand sometimes is freezing and I am so warm otherwise.
I need to walk around with one sleeve on and one sleeve off... even on some pretty warm days.

KathM
KathM@ubpn.org

Hey Ronin,
I have a HUGE problem with sweating since my BPI. My armpit/ hand sweat all the time and its GROSS! There are certain colors of shirts that I wont wear, as the sweaty arm pit shows much more! I am going to talk to my doctor aobut this again and see what he says, I will let you know if I learn anything.

Courtney