I have a question for those mainly living in a warm climate. How do you look after your scar in the sun. Do you keep your legs out of the sun or do you pu something on the scar. Everything I read says you must keep the s ar away from the sun. I am not sure what to do. I do quite a bit of sunbathing usually, mostly abroad. Thanks.
Haven't heard that advice Susan. I live in Australia and spend 8 months of the year in shorts, so it's going to be quite a challenge
I read that the scar will darken a lot of you sit in the sun and that you should cover it?
Total block on the scar - very dangerous to do otherwise.
Anything in particular?
I've lived in Tucson for the last 35 years. Both my knee replacments healed very nicely. I didn't use any kind of scar creams just use common sense and your body will do the rest.
The scar lacks pigment and therefore burning can cause the skin to thicken, the scar will discolour and be more visible. There is plenty of advice online and any medical practitioner will tell you the same - use high factor or block one the scar to be safe.
I also live in northern NSW near Byron Bay.. I just use 50+ sun screen nothing special! I just have to be careful that my thighs don't get burnt as I have no feeling in my outer thighs due to multiple hip replacements???my scars are a very faint white line.
I must ask my surgeon. Seeing him on Tuesday. Least of my worries at the moment. I am four weeks post surgery and having the other knee done in four weeks. No sun in oz at the moment so I have plenty of time
Susan, I've been told no direct sun on my scar for a year. That's not a problem for me, I'm very careful anyways of getting too much direct sun.
Its vital that youkeep the scar out of the sun, this is new skin. Would you allow a babyout in sun? I used to work at a burns & plastics unit and the advice was always cover up for 2 years. I went on a cruise at 4.5 mths and got crop trousers so the knee was covered.
Hi,
I live in Perth, Western Australia. It's hot here.
I was told never to let the sun on my scar as the Rays could destroy the cells that make the scar.
i put the 50+ cream on if I have to go out.
Caz x
I asked. Sunscreen. The scar will burn. It's new skin. But, ask doc.
So are you planning on basking out in the sun? I thought you were referring to a short walk or a few minutes under an umbrella.
It took a full year before all the swelling in my knees to go away and in that time I just went for short walks and continued working on my range of motion.
I wouldn't chance full exposure under the sun until the all the stiches are removed and the wound is completely healed.
Yes I am going to Turkey in June. I will be 7 months post Tkr by then. My scar is still quite thick in places and raised so don't want to take any chances. I just wondered what people do in hot countries. Obviously they don't sunbathe as we Brits do, who hardly ever see the sun, unfortunately. I will probably Google and see what I can find. Thanks.
Sue, you are brave!!!
Glad to have read this post. I live in Tenerife. . lots of sun . .usually wear trousers, so no problem, but hadn't really thought through the question of the sun on the scar. I will now, and if I am going to show my knees to the world, it will be with a good sunscreen. I do occasionally go to the beach (not that often these days) so it's useful and interesting advice. . .as always on the forum!!
I know that a tan is lovely and feeling warm all the way through is fantastic when you live in the UK and it is such a rarity - but as well as burning your new skin on the scar, it damages all of your skin and massively increases the risk of skin cancer, so why not swap over to a high factor cream for all of your skin? You still feel a lovely bit of heat but without the risks. I'm now a factor 50 girl whether I'm in Brighton or the Maldives....
Be careful with factor 50 If it contains zinc or other metals it can cause damage. The metals heat up and can actually burn your skin.
South Africa have banned anything over factor 30 which aparently the highest one needed
I think studies in sunblock as opposed to cream - that is the ones that block both UVA and UVB contain zinc in a form which does not degrade in sunlight and hence does not pose a risk. There is a risk of Vitamin D deficiency if you do not expose your skin to sunlight at all of course - it' s a minefield! Lovely tan vs cancer and ageing risk vs vitamin deficiency.....still at least we'll have great knees.