Going to the beach

Well, here goes nothing. I'm going to the beach. As some of you know, I am beginning UVB (1 treatment so far) and weaning off my topicals. Since I have started weaning, my P has become very very angry! I have been to the beach at least a half dozen time so far this summer and have let my P flag fly high. I'm not feeling so brave right now. Instead of being in the car on the way....here I am. I think what really got me was that my wife was putting Dovonex and suntan lotion on my back before and asked me if I was sure that I wanted to go and suggested that I might want to wear a t-shirt today. I also just red Raynardthefox's thread and started thinking about what will happen when I get there and take my shirt off. Will the small children run? Will people move away from me? Will people stare and whisper behind my P infested back?

Oh brother.....what to do?

Sorry for the rant.

Well either I will be back here real soon or I will let you know how I made out.

:(

Hi Steve.....

Get yourself to the beach. Sun is good your you and that´s the important issue here. Let strangers talk about your back if they want to...at least they´ll have something to talk about ! Swim in the ocean and have a good time !!

I hope to read in your next post that you had a lovely day at the beach!!!!!!

Sunny regards,

Iris :)

Steve-

here is my ra-ra for you!!! :o

I am so jealous you even get to goto the beach today!!!:mad: As I am stuck in my office bldg. looking out at the beautiful weather & wishing I could be in it. (j/k not really mad - just a little sour)

Have a wonderful day at the beach & don't get burnt!!! We will all be wishing we could be there "tanning our spots" with you!!

Steve


What do you care what they think. Chances are you'll never see these people again. If they are regular sunbathers at that particular beach, you may (after a few visits) strike an interest from them and you'll get your opportunity to educate them. The more people we educate----the less stares we should get.


At any rate, go have a glorious day. And don't let anybody ruin it.:D :D :D

Hey, it's your beach too! The oceans and the public swimming pools are here for everyone. Not just the "Perfect Skin People"! It makes me so mad to read posts about people who are shunned for having p. It's not like we did this to ourselves! We didn't ask for this! So go to the beach and have a good time. Who cares what people think. You have just as much right to be there as everyone else! If they feel uncomfortable with your appearance, they can just go somewhere else.

Now that I have vented, I feel better. I wish I could take my own advice and go out feeling so confident!(ha-ha-ha!):p

Go For it.... Steve

Sorry if I in anyway scared you off. Dont let my selfpitty stop you from having a good time. At least go with the shirt on if you start feeling brave take it off if not leave it on. But GO and have fun.

-David

He's not answering ...I think he's there!! ;)

You have to go! If not just for you - for the rest of us too.

Hope your'r there now and missing this. Let us know how it was. I am stuck in my office and trying enjoy the sand, surf and water vicariously through you.

Steve, I hope you decided to go to the beach, it will be lovely. You don't have to cover up or be ashamed of your p. If anyone says anything or stares it's their problem. You are a great person and deserve to enjoy yourself like everyone else. Let us know what you decided!

Carla
xx

Hey Steve,

Here's hoping you are there.:) The problem is that as much as we may try not to care, we do. Me too.

I doubt any children will run away crying.

The light and the salt water are powerful medicine for us. Go get yourself some. If the others leave, more beach for you.:rolleyes:

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement! :)

Well I did go after all…..

I was very self conscious but found a nice spot away from most of the people. It took me a while to get up the courage to take my shirt off, but when the coast looked clear, off it went.

Eventually, I also went in the water. No one went running away but that feeling of paranoia! Ughhh!!! :( I felt like the whole beach was staring at me. The water was a bit chilly and when I came out, I felt like my spots were glowing bright red for all to see!

I have never really felt like this or at least this bad before but for some reason, now I do. I can’t explain why.

Thanks again!
:cool:

I regularily go to a tanning booth. It costs me $29.95 for unlimited tanning. I go every other day and it works.

I live in Florida and the salt water also works wonders. I would strongly urge all those with this problem to soak in salt baths. Combined with tanning booth therapy and regular check ups with your Dertotologist can work wonders.

Keep it simple.. :)

Steve,

Gladf you went and go as often as you can before our beautiful beneficial sunshine is gone and winter sets in.


Do you go to Pt Pleasant?


F.M.

Thanks DBB. I am a bit past that. I do appreciate your support.

I sure wish it was simple!

I'm curious. I moved from NJ to Florida years ago because of my P. It, (sun and salt water), has enabled me to live a much more normal life. How are you "past that" with regard to going to a tanning salon? Believe me, they get a lot of folks with this problem and know it works. I have to force myself to go, because unlike the other people in there, I am doing it for a medical reason and it is more like work than fun. I also "give myself a break from tanning" from time to time to give my skin a little break. Winter is tougher because even in Florida, the water can get too cold. That's when salt water, (I use Epsom salts), in the bath water works. The great part about getting into a stage of remission is that then you put on the shorts and get more sun just walking around. It's tough, but I am a fimr believer that using moisturizers, light therapy, and tar shampoo as a body wash will help just about anyone who tries it and sticks with it. I use Walgreens private label Coal Tar shampoo. It's half the price of Neutragena.

DBB-

Thanks for the advice and I am sure you are trying to help.

I started writing a long reply about everything that you have suggested. Instead let me make it short and sweet, been there, done that!

There is a saying that a lot of P people know:

What works for some, doesn't work for others.

I am glad that you have found a treatment that works for you, I really am. I hate to see anyone suffer from this dreaded disease.

Good luck!

FlakeyMatt-

Yes I do go to Point Pleasent. I live down the shore and it only take me about 20 minutes to get to PP. I have spent plenty of time at Martells in the past. Now I go most of the time to take my 3 year old on the rides. She loves um!

Thinking about coming down?

Way to go Steve. I know just how you felt. I have been going to the beach all summer long. In the begining my "P" was flaring and bright red and flaking. But I decided that I wasn't going to let any one's coments deture me from getting the sun I needed and enjoying the beach and the surf I love.

Right now I am totaly in remission. A comination of the glorious sun and Neoral. Since I have started going to the beach I have seen three or four other "P" sufferers. I realize they are the brave ones, but they, like you are taking your responiblitie for your own treatment and by doing so are not allowing this dreaded thing to control you.

Kep going to the beautiful Jersey shore. I dose wonders for your skin and will do wonders for you mind.

Yeah dude would love to hook up with you down there am busy the next few weekends but lets get in touch after Labor Day weekend!


Rosy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haven't seen on the board in ages. Now I know what you've been doin' since the NPF NYC meeting GLad to hear the sun is treating you right! Keep it up my man!


Flakey Matt

Flakey-

sounds like a plan.

Good to back where its safe and there a re compassionate people who understand what were going through. Thank God for Gunnison Beach at Sany Hook. It took me almost three weeks before I had the nerve to venture onto that beack. I felt like tohe girt in that song the Ity Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. One step at a time. For those that are not fimilar with Gunnison Beach it only clothing opitional beach in the state of New Jersey.

I am not a nudist, but the need for sun and its UV ray all over I decided that the hell with what people think I'm going for it.

The first day I circled the parking lot three or four time then chicken out and went to another beach on Sandy Hook. The next day after a long conversation with myself I worked up the courage to actually go to the beach but didn't remove my bathing suite. Finally the follwing week-end I decide I was going to do it and the hell with every one(US Park Service estimated that there were four thousand people on that beach, that day). I did remove my suite layed out in the middle of the beach in my spotted birthday suit and to my surprise nobody said a work, nobody gave me a look, and after a couple of hours I never gave it a though. It then took me another two weeks before I would go in the ocean. Now I take walks along the waterfront and will even go to the refreshment stand on the beach. I no longer care, I just feel better physicaly and mentally.

I have since seen many distint body types both male and female. All shapes, all sizes and all ages. To date only two people have acknoledged my psoraisis. The first said that his wife also suffered from "P" but wouldn't even go out in public not completly covered and second was a man who like me also suffers from "P" and we just comiserated about our situation.

I'm not saying that doing what I did was the best or right solution but it has worked for me, and that's what counts.

Would love to get together with you guys. Matt and I live in North Jersey, so that's two against one re: location. (Just kidding!) (Any where Hoboken or Jersey City works for me. I can walk. ;)) (I think there's a Hoolihan's on 46, slightly west of Willowbrook Mall. That would be perfect for Matt. ;)) There's some great restaurants in Red Bank and New Brunswick, which are all easily accessible from the Parkway/Turnpike and even by public transportation for those of us who don't drink and drive.

Let's discuss.

Mike

P.S. I'm already booked for the last weekend in Sept. and the first weekend in Oct.

I need to move to Jersey...I feel like the lone ranger here in Florida, city of models.

Rosy,

Gunnison Beach, thanks for the tip. i work outside in all weather, so mine is pretty calm right now. i love summer. my friends from jersey never told me about the clothing optional beach!! you'd think 20 & 30 somethings would be privy.

I am very thankful i can go with minimal clothing at work-it's a wholesale nursery. My biggest problem is getting poison ivy on top of the p. holy smokes, talk about misery!!!! i keep long sleeves and pants in the car for protection.

I am proud that you're beaching it!1

beckysue;)

I know how you feel...My hubby and I had planned a vacation to Myrtle Beach all winter....I am now in the midst of the worst flare since I got P 20 years ago... Before I left I bought some dermablend , but It did'nt quite match my leg color so I was self consious...I did spend time on the beach but tried to be inconspicious....Our room was right about the pool and I longed to go down and swin there but I did'nt...I watched everyone having fun! They even had a lazy river you could just lie on a inner tube and float in a circle!!


My P is only about 5 % coverage and I know thats mild to a lot of you but it sure look like hell to me!!! Mine is mostly on my leags and they have so many spots I can't count them....

Maybe one day I can get back in the pool...



Caution!! Blonde at work!!