Sunscreen, Who's Using What?

Sunscreen is a little uncomfortable, however, look at the options. Getting things burned/cut off is worse than being a little greasy.
Zinc is the better option and now it's been revealed an ingredient in sunscreen, oxybenzone, is harmful to the oceans and reefs.
My derm recommended Elta MD sunscreen which I use on face, neck, ears and Neutrogena zinc on my arms.
 
H2oChick said:
Sunscreen is a little uncomfortable, however, look at the options. Getting things burned/cut off is worse than being a little greasy.
Zinc is the better option and now it's been revealed an ingredient in sunscreen, oxybenzone, is harmful to the oceans and reefs.
My derm recommended Elta MD sunscreen which I use on face, neck, ears and Neutrogena zinc on my arms.
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Good point...
Not that I'm any kind of expert but I did write the article a couple years ago: http://imtbtrails.com/magazine/?p=594
 
We use the yellow bottle Neutrogena stuff you get in packs of two at Costco. If it's late in the day...I usually won't use it...but if it's midday or hot out...I'll spray my arms, back of my neck, ears, and use some creme on my nose.

This year at Sea Otter...I sprayed my entire head. My head is shaved so after a few hours...I get cooked...like last year...and the year before.:rolleyes:
 
I'm not too picky about what I use... But it's usually Banana Boat. I keep a tube in the garage and in the car. I've been using the sun sleeves more and more over the past year, and feel funny without them now. They keep the sun off on the hot days, feel cooler with a breeze, and also function as a light warmer if it's not cold enough for the real arm warmers. And, I didn't get poison oak on my sun sleeve covered arms, but all over my uncovered legs! :thumbsdown: Poison oak sucks.

So... For those who go the sun sleeve route, what do you think about the knee sleeves? I just ordered a pair to try.
 
None.

Best protection in order:
Stay out of the sun
Physical barrier (sleeves, hats)
Natural pigment (tan)

The damage occurs when you burn. A person like me who tans readily but rarely burns is best protected by my bodies natural defense mechanisms. But if you go straight to burn, that won't work for you.
 
Cornholio said:
I've spent a lot of time at the dermatologist's office and tried many sunscreens but still haven't found the "one."

I was on a hunt for Bullfrog today but the grocery, drug and surf shops at the beach didn't have any. Does anyone still use Bullfrog? I've noticed they have a land and sea variety and would like to hear any results from users. I remember Bullfrog being the best when I was growing up and used it a ton as a pool man in the late 90's early 00's.

So what do you use?
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If you are interested I wrote something about this in: PSA: Skin
 
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kazlx said:
By far the best stuff I've used. My buddy that fishes got me started on it. Goes on super easy, light, 30 sec after you can't even tell you applied. Little pricey, but lasts long enough for me.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018SC8VW/?tag=imtbtrails-20
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that is a special product: Waterproof and sweatproof? So it will not rain on you when using this and more important you will not sweat either. Do you believe everything you read?
 
I wear sun sleeves most of the time. https://www.rei.com/product/129032/pearl-izumi-sun-sleeves

They actually keep me cooler than going without since they absorb sweat and it has a greater cooling effect when it evaporates than it seems to when it evaporates from skin. Can also pour water on them from my camelbak, which helps too.

I wear coppertone sport on my face, neck and top of my head.

For longer and/or hotter rides I'll wear a bandana under my helmet which keeps the sun off my face. As with the sun sleeves I can soak it in cold water to help cool me down. The bandana also helps absorb more sweat so my helmet pad doesn't get saturated as quickly.
 
A custom visor and a face shield made from a SPF t-shirt sleeve do more for me than any application. But I do also wear some kind of sunscreen along with that. Any zinc-based sports-type 50 SPF is good.

I’ve been cut on and everything else a bunch of times, including on my face, so I speak with some authority here, sadly. Rule 1: pick parents with pigment. 2: all the other stuff you hear.

MTB non-FF helmet visors are a joke. I get a 4x8’ piece of plastic wall board at Home Depot for $20 and chop to hearts content with shears. Fasten your creation to the existing visor with pop rivets or other minimalist hardware. I put one on before the AZT and it has now moved from that helmet to my next one for all trail riding. A visor isn’t just for sun. A generous visor can ward off eye damage on overgrown trails.

If you want to get serious, block the sun before it reaches your face. One day the masked-man look will be cool; right now it looks creepy but I don’t care.
 
mike said:
A custom visor and a face shield made from a SPF t-shirt sleeve do more for me than any application. But I do also wear some kind of sunscreen along with that. Any zinc-based sports-type 50 SPF is good.

I’ve been cut on and everything else a bunch of times, including on my face, so I speak with some authority here, sadly. Rule 1: pick parents with pigment. 2: all the other stuff you hear.

MTB non-FF helmet visors are a joke. I get a 4x8’ piece of plastic wall board at Home Depot for $20 and chop to hearts content with shears. Fasten your creation to the existing visor with pop rivets or other minimalist hardware. I put one on before the AZT and it has now moved from that helmet to my next one for all trail riding. A visor isn’t just for sun. A generous visor can ward off eye damage on overgrown trails.

If you want to get serious, block the sun before it reaches your face. One day the masked-man look will be cool; right now it looks creepy but I don’t care.
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Let's see a picture of that custom visor!!! :D
 
Last September I had a procedure done due to many pre-cancerous spots on my face from sun exposure. It was unpleasant to say the least, and I don't ever want to have to have that done again. It's some kind of cream they put on and then you sit under a heat lamp for 10 minutes to activate it. It burns. One of the few times in my life I can say the pain was close to 10/10. I can't imagine what severe burn victims go through. The procedure was effective after a couple weeks of staying away from light and heat. All the skin and blotches peeled off, and I'm much prettier now (that's not saying much...)
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I lather up heavily with some sunblock stuff the doc gave me, and always wear a long sleeve sun blocking shirt. When in the sun and not on the bike I wear a wide brimmed hat. To @mike 's comments, I wish there was a way to incorporate such a wide brim on the helmet, but it would probably get in the way. (Would also love to see pics of your home made visor @mike). @Tom the Bomb has a great method for keeping it off the back of the neck too. I have sensitive eyes and the sunblock burns like hell if it gets in them, so will be watching this thread for more ideas on blocking sun before the "suntan lotion" has to work.
 
That sucks Dave. I do not put sunblock on my forehead as the sun rarely gets me there because the helmet covers it. Thus not dripping in the eyes. ya Mike has a very cool hand made visor. A buddy of mine is a very fair skinned red head and he uses a sunblock by Cereve. He swears by it. I use Sunblock by Neutrogena works pretty well. What did your doctor recommend ?
 
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