How do you stay so TAN?

[Rerun]

I get this comment all the time.  "Where have you been, you're so TAN".  I know years ago people on dialysis had a bronzy cast to their skin due to some chemical they used, but I know we don't use it anymore.

Why is my skin more tan than normal people?

[MandaMe1986]

Maybe your just lucky.   

[Savemeimdtba]

lol I don't know... I always get "why are you so pale?  Are you sick?".  So, I'd definitely choose tan instead!

[okarol]

A yellowish hue to the skin and dark hyperpigmentation to sun exposed areas have also been seen in many chronic renal patients.
-- http://www.aakp.org/aakp-library/Skin-Problems-Kidney-Disorders/

 Hyperpigmentation Health Article  http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/hyperpigmentation

[Rerun]

A yellowish hue to the skin and dark hyperpigmentation to sun exposed areas have also been seen in many chronic renal patients.
-- http://www.aakp.org/aakp-library/Skin-Problems-Kidney-Disorders/

 Hyperpigmentation Health Article  http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/hyperpigmentation

Thanks Karol.  That was an informative article.  Everyone should read it to be reminded to use sun screen.  I do use sun screen so that is not my problem.  AND I don't mind being tan as I have always been a sun person (although I never see it in Spokane).  It is just odd that people comment on it the last few years.

When I went back to Sacramento in early March EVERYONE commented on my tan.  Weird!  They do see the sun!

My skin is probably so "damaged" that it just is a tan color.  With the transplant drugs for 17 years and now dialysis again my skin is in bad shape.  I see a Dermotologist on April 8, so I'll see if he has an explanation.  Oh, never mind I don't want to hear him BLAB. 

[petey]

Rerun,
My Marvin is exceptionally tan, too!  (Maybe the two of you are kin!)  Marvin has always, always tanned very easily and very quickly (I, on the other hand, get sun burn after sun burn -- I can't take any sun).  When he was on the transplant drugs (2000-2003), his neph told him to use sun screen every time he went outside (summer, winter, spring, and fall).  So, we got in the habit of lathering Marvin done before going outside -- but he would still tan, tan, tan.  His neph fussed at him for being so tan and told him he must NOT be using sunscreen -- but he was and lots of it!

Marvin's been off the anti-rejection drugs since he went back on dialysis in 2003, but he's still using sunscreen by the gallons.  And, he's still so very tan.

I tease him and tell him he's part Native American because he's so tan.  Secretly, I'm jealous.  I have lots of freckles and my only hope for a mild tan is if all my freckles join together! 

[kellyt]

I've never been tan in my whole entire life.   If it weren't for my freckles I'd have no color whatsoever!

[Stacy Without An E]

I was told by the nurse at Dialysis it was because of the Vitamin D injections I receive from time to time.  I'm trying to save my skin as I age, so its nice to have a little color with spring nearly upon us.

[circleNthedrain]

Good question rerun...I'm in the same boat.  People still ask me "where did you get that great tan?"  All my life I've had it, even though I'm indoors most of the time now.  People ALWAYS come up to me and start speaking Spanish!!  I've been an outdoor person all my life (until recently) but come on!!

[okarol]

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=13279.0 new related article

[Rerun]

Thanks Karol.  I'll look into what Stacy said about vitamin D also.  I get that Vitamin D injected into my lines like every session.

[Adam_W]

I've always had fairly dark skin, especially in the summer, but the only change in my skin since I started dialysis is now it gets very dry. Because of my naturally dark skin colour and dark hair, it hasn't been unusual for people to think I'm Hispanic or Arab (which led to an awkward incident when I was crossing into the US from Canada, which involved basically an interrogation).

Adam

[paddbear0000]

I couldn't get a tan if my life depended on it! I go straight from pale to burn. Thankfully I've only gotten one burn in my life and that was on my left forearm from driving 8 hours straight. I actually ended up with sun poisoning and probably nerve damage (my graft is in my left forearm and I can't even feel the needles going in). I try to avoid burns like the plague because skin cancer runs in the family.