Sun Cream after treatment

Hi Bearcarer I would say now is the time to start applying your sun cream.  I saw plastic surgeon 6 weeks after skin graft and flap surgery for histology report and check up.  I took my sun cream with me and he told me it was an excellent one and dont go out without applying from now.  I use it every day on my face as part of make up routine. It is Boots No 7 facial sun cream Factor 50.  Whatever you use it must now always be Factor 50.  Good Luck and hope things go well for you. These facial skin cancers are not nice are they. x

Great thanks. I put some moisturizer on then suncream on top. Just have one bit still bit red where scab was but its definitely decreasing every day.  Once that goes will start with just moisturizer as using vaseline at mo. No not nice . I worry bout going out now. Cold also hurts. To be fair I worry bout everything lol. Might go get make up tips once that last bit goes. Also hope your journey is going well x

Hi Bearcarer I know how you feel as I worry about everything too.  The wind hurts my face and the one I had done right by my eye near the tear duct waters quite a bit in the slightest wind,  Hubby has had to put a tissue in the air vent in the car as I just cant stand it in my face. Yes I put moisturiser on then suncream.  Apparently Boots No 7 and Macmillan do a free make up lesson if you ask in store. I havent been but I read it on the Macmillan site.  I also use No 7 Factor 50 foudation.  It is so hard though as you do your make up go out and if you are out for over 2 hours, need to reapply sun cream and you take off all your make up.  But hey ho we can cope if that is all we have to worry about,  Keep in touch  Where do you live, I live in Derbyshire xx

Yes I have seen they do that at boots. You can book online. I think I saw one you can put on over makeup. Though I may have imagined it. Yes nice to chat to someone in a similar situation. Others don't understand. I am in essex. 

Hi Bearcarer, I’m in Essex as well. Following thread as 8 days post skin graft on face near my eye. My glasses cover my skin graft and are protecting the area until I can use sun cream . My eyes were donor sites and very sensitive and vision not great so not planning to go anywhere except hospital for a few weeks. I’m still applying antibiotic cream to edge of graft so not using anything else yet. When were you told you could use moisturiser and Sunscreen?

At my last wound check they said to start doing moisturizer when the wound at the bottom of my nose matched the top. Basically less red and more skin like. I'm at 8 weeks but i had a massive scab so has taken longer at bottom. Thinking of starting moisturizer now. They said bout suncream but never said when. I have skin flap so not sure if rules are different. Only just properly going out. Wore some today with a cap.  Looked a loon not a hat  person. But needs must. 

I know what you mean re hats! I have a straw hat and my son recommended a baseball cap. I just feel people are staring at me even at the hospital! With a hat I feel more stupid! 
I know I have to change but it’s difficult. I need to ask more questions at clinic this coming week. 
thank you for your reply. I will add anything useful I find out. 

Hi Bearcarer and 60s babe  I think if you have flap sugery or skin graft, moisturising and sun cream is about 6 - 8 weeks when the grafts have healed as they need time to attach.  My skin graft had an horrendous large scab on it after I had stitches removed after 7 days.  It seemed to get bigger so I emailed a picture to my plastic surgeon and he told me to massage it lightly with vaseline to get the scab off then leave it until I saw him again after another 4 weeks, at which time it was looking better and told me to massage with bio oil as often as I could and do it quite hard.  Sun cream regime started from then as I wasnt going out much when it was so horrendous looking.  Ithink you have to be careful for a few weeks to let the skin settle down.  A friend has just had one removed on her shoulder and they told her to massage it 4 times a day from day 1. She has just told me after a week she had to go to AandE last night as it has gone septic and is now on antibiotics. She didnt have flp or graft surgery, just removal and stitched. Seems a bit soon to me so now it is infected. xx

Hi everyone, I've just seen this thread. I had surgery in December on my nose and all healed up nicely now.  My consultant said to not put anything on the wound until the scab had gone and new skin formed underneath (I did, it got infected, note to self to listen to people who know what they are talking about). 

I put factor 50 on every day but had the same issues about reapplying, I have since found a Garnier factor 50 spray that can go on over makeup, I now carry this with me in case of impromptu sun exposure. It is widely available, Garnier have also started doing reasonably priced factor 50 moisturisers that have got good reviews in the same range. I also have some tinted Supergoop, that makes me look like I've been in Ibiza for a month so saving that for the summer!

Hats...I don't suit hats but am getting used to wearing them but still feel really self conscious! I've got a few different styles now and try to remind myself that no one else really cares what's on my head. My favourite so far is the Solbari bucket hat, it's really light and can be easily stuffed in a bag for when a hat free moment is required.

I hope everyone is doing OK. It's taken me / is taking me a long time to get used to living in a new way outdoors, but getting there, it's not easy xxx

Thanks for the information. I had that spray before I had skin cancer and forgot about it! On the shopping list! I feel like a vampire at the moment and scared of sunlight! My issue is wearing protection on a daily basis rather than just when it’s quite hot!.  In the park or on the beach I’m less self conscious but other occasions I’m very aware ! 
just a change of mindset!  My skin graft is hidden by my glasses  , but I was reminded at the OPD clinic that getting bigger sunglasses might be good. Unfortunately very expensive as well as I’m quite short sighted! Better than another skin graft I think!  I’m going to order a big hat with SPF for very warm sunny days and try a baseball cap. I like your idea of several hats . 
thanks x