Sun Protection

[Kath]

Been out in the sun a lot lately 8-) and getting tanned despite religiously using SPF25 sunblock, so I'm wondering what type of sun block others use?

[BorderReiver]

Kath

Trousers,long sleeved shirt and a hat or shemagh.

Oh,and factor 30 minimum sun cream,any make. :-P

[Stew]

Naughtily, nothing!
:-?

[Stuart]

factor 50 (or the highest i can find in the chemists)

I very rarely use sunscreen though if its sunny i wear a wide brimed hat (or shamagh) and long sleeves/trousers..... oh and sunglasses

and stay in the shade where ever you find it



Growing up in a desert teaches you a great deal of respect for the sun

[SquirrelBoy]

Although being a red head, I find I only need a factor 15. If I will be out all day long I will use a factor 25.

[Roving Rich]

Stu - are you sure thats you, not the "high planes drifter"
Yep big brimmed hats are the way forward. Keep the rain and sun off your head, face, ears and neck. Also essential kit for all us Trackers.

I got very badly burned a couple of years back inspite of keeping my tee shirt on. It was all itchy, only you couldn't scratch it. Drove me mad, i had cold baths , wet towels, got plastered with calamine lotion. Fiona found me curled up whining in the linen closet and a took me to hospital , who only suggested what I had already done and steriods ?! In the end the remedy was Herbal - and not legal... :roll:

Cheers
Rich

[JFW]

What's Sun?

JFW

[JFW]

Seriously though I generally wear a wide brimmed hat, long sleeved shirt and a bandana, don't often use sun cream but if I do its normally the kids stuff at factor 30 - 50.

JFW

[Stuart]

yep thats me :-) that ones from the Sini desert

I find an shirt with a t-shirt undernear + hat + long trousers to work well in hot temperatures below 37 degrees (it was quite cool whilst i was in Sini)

but remember that in very hot and dry climates the air temperature is often hotter than your core body temperature (core temp 37c)

so exposing your skin to the air is not going to cool you down but heat you up!!!!!

in this sort of heat you need to wear layers to insulate yourself from the surrounding air just as you do for the cold (think oven glove)

if the temperature is above 37degrees than i start to look like the little picture on the left

inside all these layers you will be a humid 37 degrees which sounds hot but is better than being exposed to the air which is 45 degrees (or more)

also when wearing a wide brimed hat and shirt remember to button your shirt all the way up to stop you burning a neat triangle at the base of your neck where you left your shirt open and remember to cover your hands as the backs of your hands will burn

[Roving Rich]

Thats a very good tip Stuart, and one we rarely need in the UK. I believe the mecury touched 40 degrees last summer tho :shock:
Rich

[Strider]

i've heard that using factors much above 30 isnt a good idea as the chemicals contained in them arent good for your skin.. factor 30, applied regularly is what i was recommended.
However i havn't the experience of say living in a desert but what i do know is that for sunburn... vinegar soothes the pain greatly(worked for me)

Just my, possibly misinformed, input...

[PC2K]

i dunno what factor i use, don't use it much, just keep in the shade.

If there ain't no shade, you can always position adi between you and the sun :-P

[Kath]

I'm confused by all the contradictory info over the last few years about effects of the sun. Is getting a tan as bad as getting sunburn???

[Kath]

If there ain't no shade, you can always position adi between you and the sun :-P

):

Trouble is he never stands still long enough to do that!

[BorderReiver]

I'm confused by all the contradictory info over the last few years about effects of the sun. Is getting a tan as bad as getting sunburn???

Yes,tanning is a sign that your skin is trying to defend itself against damage :-(

[Kath]

Yes,tanning is a sign that your skin is trying to defend itself against damage :-(

Thanks, Mike. So gradually getting a deeper tan is a sign that my sunblock just ISN'T working then. Need to look into a stronger SPF!!

People often talk about a tan as if it's ok if it's built up gradually, and I know some people go on sunbeds trying to "protect" themselves before going on holiday!!! :shock: :roll: Can't believe people still use sunbeds at all these days!

[Rhoda]

I spent the whole day in the sun the other day with factor 15. I didn't burn but when I take my clothes off I look like I'm wearing a white vest :rolmao:

You guys are right though the higher the factor the better and tanning in any form is bad for your skin. I should know better, I always underestimate the strength of the sun over here. I think the trouble is we get so excited when it stops raining that we get a bit carried away.

There are some real lobsters walking around Cornwall at the moment!!

[PC2K]

Tanned skin does protect you beter against the sun...

i have never been burned, the diffrence between the cover and uncoverd is noticible, but not nearly as extreem as others. Maybe it's the gene's i got from my parents, they come from a hot and shiny place...

[bushwacker bob]

In the end the remedy was Herbal - and not legal... :roll:

Cheers
Rich

works for me too!

[Mikey P]

Should that be 'Bushwhacked Bob' then? :shock:

I picked up a weird skin condition on ops last year - it's called solar ertucaria or something and means I'm allergic to UV A light! It's controllable through anti-histamines and is gradually getting less frequent as I build some resistance but it looks like severe nettle rash/prickly heat and people run away.

I'm getting to the point now....

...when I went for some allergy tests, the skin specialist told me that you only actually tan for 20 minutes; anything after that is damaging your DNA and bringing you closer to skin cancer - it doesn't make you any browner. She said the best things for outdoor activity are long-sleeved shirts, hats, etc. Some companies are offering 'UV resistant' materials. You can still get your 20 mins of sun in for your tan but cover up after that. The 20 minutes is cumulative so can be 4 lots of 5 minutes if you want. If you're working in/near water, a waterproof sunscreen is advised.

My issue is the price of sunscreen in the UK: as far as I see, it's holding you to ransom over something that could save your life. The cost puts people off and they go out and risk skin cancer. At least the government could take VAT off or something.