Dandruff the size of quarters and blistered lips...

United States
August 25, 2008 11:46pm CST
We went camping near the Jersey Shore with my husband's work. We spent two days on the beach while they practiced their water survival techniques. This time I thought I was being smart and wore sunblock. Well, apparently I didn't get near my hairline and my face fried all around there. I also burned the top of my head. I put sunblock SPF 50 on my legs but the bottoms still burned badly. I chalked it up to the OFF Family bug repellant that I was dousing myself with every 60 seconds. I really think that the bugs LIKE that stuff! There were these big flies with green heads and not only would they dive bomb you; if they bit you they would leave a big bruise! Thankfully we were in a different spot the second day and didn't have to deal with the blood thirsty flies! Also in my grand wisdom, I kept feeling like my lips were getting dry so I would apply lip balm. One of my chapsticks had sunscreen in it and one didn't. Guess which one I was using? The day after we got home my bottom lip developed a huge blister. I may as well have been smearing butter on my lips and cooking them out there! Ouch! So now I have a giant blister that was finally starting to heal, until my 2 year old playfully bashed her wrecking ball head into my lip send my teeth right through the healing skin. The blood started pouring and now we are back at square one. My head is peeling and looks like huge disgusting dandruff flakes. I keep picking at it of course because I know it is there. I have run a comb through it several times to get it out. Right now I just tell my friends. "Yeah, I know it's gross. Feel free to stare." LOL Ever feel like hiding?
2 responses
• United States
2 Sep 08
I can tell you're not a native (I grew up here, so I guess my skin is tougher). I cringed during the part of your story where your two year old broke your blister open-ouch! My story is quite funny now (but not then!). Two years ago I was running in flip flops TO CHURCH (yes I said church!) and tripped, landing face down on the pavement. I was dripping blood from a scrape under my nose, so I sat for a half hour and made my way in. I thought everyone was staring! I even drove to the ER that afternoon (my daughter had to help me shift since I hurt my right elbow)--and the doc said, "oh you're going to have a black eye". Ugh! I went to a local make up store to get special concealing makeup. I had a black eye for about two weeks and had to admit that I fell running to church! I fought the pavement, and the pavement won..I fought the pavement, but the pavement won.
• United States
2 Sep 08
I am not a native you're right. I have lived here for 3 years now. I grew up in Michigan. The funny thing is, I lived in Mississippi for 7 years before moving here. It is hotter there but I guess I was used to it and took more precautions when I went out. I hardly ever go outside for more than an hour or two here. And with it not being as hot I forget about sunblock. You're right, the painful stories are so much funnier at a later date!
• United States
2 Sep 08
I remember never getting burned growing up, but then I went to Florida on my senior class trip and everyone told me to pack a higher SPF...silly me, I didn't think so and went with my usual 8 SPF. I fell asleep outside to get a tan on my back and ended up with sun poisoning so bad that my roomie had to put me to bed! I missed the luau that night, peeled like nobody's business, but did have a great tan on my BACK for prom! How vain I was!
• India
26 Aug 08
Oh dear, you sound like you had a tough time. :) Well, I have never been camping. But I do a lot of gardening, so I am out in the open all the time. I guess sunburn and blisters and what nots are real problems in Western countries. I live in India, which is boiling hot most of the time. I go out into the sun at the peak of summer for grocery shopping and things, and my skin just turns a bit black. I don't get blisters and dandruff. I hope you will be back to normal soon. :) Cheers and happy mylotting
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Aug 08
My husband is Mexican and our daughter is olive skinned like he is. They both tanned without even the slightest hint of pink, while I turned the color of a tomato. LOL I wish I didn't burn so easily.