This is my skin, unfortunately. And yes, I actually live in Thailand! 😆
Many people look at me and ask, "How on earth do you manage out here with skin like that?" Well, what can I do? No amount of high-SPF sunscreen, no special ointments, absolutely nothing helps me. I burn like a match in the sun within 3 to 5 minutes flat. The doctors told me it’s a severe sunlight allergy, but honestly, I'm still not entirely sure.
Because of this, whenever I'm outside now—whether I'm just walking down the road, going for a swim, or working out in the fields—I have to be completely covered. I always wear tights, a T-shirt, a thick long-sleeved shirt, a proper hat, and sometimes even gloves. It all depends on the activity and exactly how long I’ll be exposed to the open air. I look like a ninja, but it's pure survival!
I didn't always respect the sun this much because I am from Siberia, and we don't have the sun like in Thailand. I actually got these specific, brutal burns during a trip to Laos, and it was a lesson I will never forget.
I was out cycling all day, happily drinking beer, and ended up riding about 65 kilometres through the remote villages just outside Savannakhet. Because the beer kept me relaxed, I didn't even realise how badly I was cooking until it was far too late.
The aftermath was a total nightmare:
7 Days: Completely unable to walk.
0 Movement: I couldn't turn over or move an inch without agonising pain. My lips and chin were blistered and the skin was so tight that every time I moved my lips I felt pain in my eyes and ears.
Hospitalised: I ended up in a local Lao hospital, where the doctors did what they could. They gave me pills, slathered me in heavy ointments, and literally wrapped my legs and hands in bandages.
That is exactly how I had to cross the border and return to Thailand—looking like a mummy (I also had my shins and hands bandaged, but I couldn't find those photos...). In the end, it took about a full year for my skin to properly recover from that single day on the bike.
If there is one thing you can learn from my experience, let it be this: don't drink alcohol in the extreme heat, or at the very least, wrap up completely first—especially if your skin tends to burn easily.
Please take care of yourselves out here. The sun in Thailand and Laos is incredibly harsh, with UV levels off the charts. Even on days when there is a clear absence of direct sunlight—like when it's completely cloudy or overcast—don't let it fool you! The UV rays cut right through the clouds, reach your skin, and you will burn before you even realise it.
Stay covered, stay safe, and respect the tropical sun! 🙏
