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Coping Tips
An Effective Sunscreen
A couple of you wrote saying that the sunscreen which we mentioned in issue 38, “C.O.T.Z.” (i.e. “Contains only titanium and zinc”, both good sunscreens for EPP-triggering light) made by Total Block works well in preventing or markedly lessening their EPP light reactions. It may be worth a try, but remember our warnings about very carefully exposing parts of your body on which you put the sunscreen, as we have described in past newsletters. Check their website for ordering directions: www.totalblock.com.
Protective Clothes
Another member sends a list of products which helped him deal with the sun encountered during an expedition to the Amazon jungle. He makes the point that construction and fishing equipment suppliers are starting to sell good sun-protective clothing.
- www.burfish.com - their sun mask, item # 3384, proved very useful - he wore it with a broad-brimmed hat;
- www.gemplers.com - they sell clothes for construction people and sell a “sun protection hat” which is a long-billed cap with a cape that tucks into the crown when not needed. The cape can be wrapped across the face and secured with Velcro (although he found he had to add an additional Velcro strip to hold it better around his face;
- www.kaman.com - they sell fishing supplies, including “flat gloves”, which cover the back of the hands, extend far up the wrist under shirt sleeves, and cover only part of the fingers, so you can still use your fingers for intricate work, such as knot tying.
- In the buggy environment of the Amazon, he covered his “flats gloves” with “Buzz Off Casting gloves” made by Orvis (www.orvis.com) to cover his exposed fingertips - the gloves contain an insect repellant, which worked extremely well. He also wears a Tilley brand hat with a four-inch brim, which works well for him (www.tilley.com).
Laser Treatments
Someone asked about laser treatment for hair removal or eye surgery. Laser treatments have not been a problem for EPP people, according to a dermatologist I have spoken to, as long as people check with their doctor as to the output of the laser (it should not be between 400 and 650 nanometers). In addition, if you are going to have hair removal treatment, have the doctor irradiate a small area of the skin to be treated for the length of time it will take to do the hair removal, to see if you get any EPP symptoms from the laser radiation. Be sure to wait the length of time it takes you to develop your symptoms — then, if none develop, you can tell the doctor that your EPP is not being triggered by the laser treatment.
A Pen-Pal Request
An EPP Mom who has a 4-year old boy would like to correspond with other EPP Moms. Her e-mail address is cobaltfun@wmcommect.com.
That’s the news — and the usual reminder — if you want to continue to get copies of EPPREF NEWS, don’t forget to give us your new address if and when you move.
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