question about amitriptoline
 

why does this med say reduce exposure to the sun?

when I took this medication
 

What I vividly remember was that I would go to my mini van during lunch break to lie down (back pain needed rest) and even though my windows were factory tinted my face would be bright red after a half hour. I tried covering my face and even then my face would still be red. I couldnt be in sun exposure direct or indirect or my face would be very flushed and it would last several hours.

There may be a more involved reason I'm just relating what happened to me. It looked like I was going to stroke out!

wow
 

not even like 50 spf would help?

re sun block
 

I used 45 or 50 back then, a hat over my face while lying down, sunglasses, blocking the windows as best I could .. nothing worked. It was OK while I was inside working .. no probs then or without being in the sun very long like a brief walk from inside out and back but for anything like 10 or 15 minutes even my face would get very red and chest too. I don't recall my arms getting red tho.

It sort of reminds me of when using Retin A on my face and getting some sun exposure.. same thing. Lobster face!

Slightly off topic here -

My aunt has macular degeneration and has slowly been going blind for several years. She no longer has enough vision to drive and is dependent on others for many things.

I saw a Dr. program recently that claimed this condition is 100% preventable by simply protecting your eyes from the sun. This means wearing a good pair of sunglasses when outside - from childhood on.

It appears your skin isn't all that needs sunblock.

re sun block sun glasses
 

I agree re sunglasses and have worn them during sun and even not during day esp. since laser eye surgery in 2000.

Re sun screen~ my dermatologist says I definately need at least 45 block as I have actinic Keratosis and both my parents developed skin cancer on their face (Dad had it on arms, face, head, ears, legs, ..) Mom had 5 mohs treatments on her nose for skin cancer ( I think this was squamous cell).

I was also advised to wear a hat to block the sun from my face (broad rimmed) and do this sometimes. I should do it much more than I do. I have seen older women with wonderful skin who of course probably are genetically inclined to have this type of skin but also protect their skin with hats and even parasols sometimes!

i have uva uvb polarized sun glasses
 

i wear 50 spf when outside on the weekends and just a 15 during the week even when i am not outside. but it doesn't sound like 50 is even enough if taking this drug. i may have to try something else...

try
 

Wearing a hat with a wide brim to over shadow your face. Perhaps that will help. You'll know if you go outside and your face turns bright red no matter what you do if you can be in the sun even if you've taken precautions. I don't think sunscreen alone will help or at least it didn't help me and my ethnic heritage is Italian so I do tan rather well (not normally burn with normal sun exposure). That is to say not that I should be tanning just I don't normally turn into lobster skin.

not for me
 

i dont think this med is the right one for me. i can nix beer and wine but my fun in the sun that is the only thing i can enjoy.