Practical Aids for Light Sensitivity
UV Protective Masks
UV protective face masks can be a helpful or essential aid for lupus patients with severe light sensitivity, enabling us to stay safe on bright sunny days. The most badly affected may need to wear them in all daylight conditions. And artificial lighting in the blue range can be equally harmful so a UV protective mask may be part of everyday attire.
These days if you go online (or ask someone to search for you) there is a wide range of commercial products. I wear a clear Dermagard mask when the light is subdued and especially if I want to be sociable. But if the light is harsh and I am just going about my business in public, an opaque mask of UV blocking fabric will offer more protection. Despite the array of available products I still make my own or adapt commercial products because my design allows me to have a drink using a straw. I often enjoy a sociable cup of tea through a straw but take care to allow for a hot drink to cool a bit because it is much hotter through a straw. Instructions for masks as follows:
Dermagard Mask
1.Use an ordinary commercial medical mask as a base because it has the useful head attachments. Then put double sided tape across bottom half of forehead headband.
2. Attach a sheet of Dermagard (a bit wider and about 4cm longer than medical mask) onto the double-sided tape. Secure on the outside with duct tape covering the entire headband. Trim edges to same shape as under mask but about 3cm longer.
3. Punch 2 sets of holes on each side. Attach straps with Velcro to secure behind head.
The commercial Dermagard masks I have seen are too long to allow you to have a drink. But with a shorter Dermagard mask and a headwrap that protects your chin area, you can manage it.
Fabric Masks (I use 2 different kinds in combination)
Undermask
Use a mask with chin cover for protection against reflected light from the floor or pavement. (I have found suitable masks online.) Then cut a line across place where mouth is.
Overmask
I make (though probably you can buy these too) a mask from double thickness solarweave fabric with loops to hang from spectacles and side straps with Velcro to secure around back of head.
By combining the shorter overmask with a chin-covering undermask (with slash for the mouth) you can have full face protection and enjoy a drink.
Head and Eye Cover
I wear solarweave head wrap scarves with both kinds of masks. With the fabric masks I wear UV protective overglasses over my prescription glasses and a hat.
In bright sunshine I use a parasol and I always wear the Eclipse badge ‘Made ill by light’ which can help promote understanding and get a more sympathetic response from strangers.
product information
STOCKISTS
Suppliers of Hats and Clothing with an SPF of 40 or above
United Kingdom:
Medical Suppliers
McKinnon Medical Limited
Centrepoint, Chapel Square
Deddington, Oxfordshire 0X15 OSG
Tel: 0844 8005067
Email: [email protected]
web: www.mckinnon-medical.co.uk
J&M Medical
Unit 1, Wheatsheaf Colliery School Yard
Southwick Road, Sunderland
Tyne & Wear, SR5 1DD
Tel: 0191 567 4667
Email: [email protected]
web: www.jmmedical.co.uk
Dermagard Supplier
Bonwyke Ltd
Unit 3
Salterns Lane Industrial Estate
Salterns Lane
Fareham, Hampshire PO16 0SU
Tel: 01329 222299
web: www.bonwyke.co.uk
email: [email protected]
Headscarves
Sunsibility UV Protective Clothing
Tel: 0208 224 2299
web: www.sunsibility.co.uk
Sun Precautions (in America)
Products can be ordered by internet.
web: www.sunprecautions.com
Solarweave Fabric Supplier
(if you want to make your own headscarves from UV protective fabric)
Rockywoods
418 8th Street SE
Bldg A-3
Loveland CO 80537-6477
United States
Tel: 970-663-6163
web: www.rockywoods.com
SIMPLIFIED AND FIRMER UV MASK
We have found a simpler way to attach a UV visor to a standard medical mask.
The Durham Medimask was designed to protect the face while directing UV treatment onto a specific small area. However this mask can be easily adapted for our purposes, turning it upside down and following instructions below:
Directions for Mask:
1. Cut off elastic strap. Seal small slits with small strips of contac or sellotape.
2. Cut off Velcro circles.
3. Place UV mask over standard mask. Secure with strong tape such as gaffer tape (comes in different colours).
4. Make sure you cover the holes at the top of the mask when doing this.
5. Trim sides of UV mask which has flaps which extend beyond medical mask.
This UV mask is firmer and less crushable than the Dermagard film and easier to apply.
McKinnon Disposable Face Splash Shield
Code: GCSS
£60.55 for 24 shields
(P&P; £8.95)
Tel: 0844 800 5067
Using Durham Medimask (UV Shield)
Code: H993
£87.50 for 25 shields & VAT (VAT exempt for disability)!
(P&P; £5.50)
Tel: 0116 235 8818
UV ECLIPSE BADGE
Eclipse Badges are available from LUPUS UK with the words;
“Made ill by Light” (for opaque masks) or “Made ill by UV Light” (for clear Dermaguard masks).
This helps to explain to onlookers the reason for wearing a mask. Find out more HERE.
