sunburned fingers - has this happened to anyone else?

oreocookeee · Joined: 09 Sep 2010 Posts: 4

I had a pretty typical session at third avenue last friday, but afterwards i developed the worst sunburn of my life, but only on my fingers. I was sailing pretty late so I doubt it happened from direct sun exposure.

I can only guess is that somehow I was sailing at just the right angle with the sail rigged just right to act as a reflector to focus the sun on my fingers on the boom.

Its now four days later and I'm still recovering with blisters all over my fingers.

I'm wondering if this has ever happened to anyone else, or if it might a common thing too look out for?

rigatoni · Joined: 25 Feb 1999 Posts: 498

I haven't sailed down there in a while but I recall the water quality being pretty suspect from time to time. Maybe you are having a reaction to something in the water. Jet fuel?

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Maybe it's a combination of sun and chemicals.

cgoudie1 · Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 5:45 pm Post subject:

Sounds like chemistry to me also.

-Craig

windsrf · Joined: 01 May 1998 Posts: 464

Photosensitization can occur from ingested or injected chemicals/drugs, etc. Might also be some sort of allergic reaction? I seriously doubt it would be due to sunlight being concentrated by your sail though. Would be much more common experience if so?

carl · Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area

I have been sailing Coyote/3rd/Stick for many years and never heard of any
chemical thing like that, and sun late in the day just not possible to burn that much.
Did you go hiking recently? The poison oak is really ripe now.

cbknap · Joined: 03 Jun 1997 Posts: 373

Agree that this sounds more like a chemical you touched. Brake fluid, paint stripper, even used oil can do this. Use rubber/plastic gloves for anything inorganic. If condition persists see your doctor. Seriously doubt you sunburned your fingers sailing.

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Yeah, one time I was jogging through poison ivy and afterwards took a leak. I thought I'd sunburned my Pekar. Doctor had a big laugh.

Windreamer · Joined: 07 Jun 2000 Posts: 15

I always wear gloves while sailing, but one time after sailing,I took off the gloves and obviously my sunscreen had washed off. I was also on an antibiotic that causes sun sensitivity. My hands looked like they were chemically burned after only about 45 min.

dsgrntlxmply · Joined: 16 Jun 2010 Posts: 255

I'd suspect poison oak or other contact dermatitis, or contact with or ingestion of a photosensitizer. I once was prescribed a course of doxycycline for malaria prophylaxis, and was cautioned to wear clothing with full coverage and to stay out of the sun as much as possible.

There was a bizarre report in the medical literature some years ago of a case of severe sunburn in someone who had been scrubbing a teak deck with large quantities of lime peel/juice. Lime contains psoralens, which are photosensitizers.

That said, on Maui and Bonaire I have ended up with little patches of sunburn in the area between my rashguard sleeves and my gloves, and in the little open triangular area delineated by the glove strap.