Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

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ICantHearYou
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Re: Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

Post by ICantHearYou »

MaryinColorado wrote: Mon Jun 26, 2023 12:31 pm
For anything left that's exposed - generally face and neck - my go-to USED to be the Neutrogena SPF 100. But, my dermatologist said I really need to be using a zinc sunscreen. I really like Elta MD's UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41. (It is lightly tinted which is a nice bonus. No, not tinted like makeup, just tinted for ghostly whiteness avoidance.) For me, the key is simply being super cognizant to reapply every couple hours.
Why is zinc sunscreen better? I use Supergoop Play, and it doesn't have the bad chemicals that other sunscreens do (to our current knowledge). I used to use zinc sunscreen, but stopped after it ruined so many of my instagrammable pictures.
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justiner
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Re: Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

Post by justiner »

ICantHearYou wrote: Mon Jun 26, 2023 1:09 pm I use Supergoop Play, and it doesn't have the bad chemicals that other sunscreens do (to our current knowledge). I used to use zinc sunscreen, but stopped after it ruined so many of my instagrammable pictures.
I guess it depends on what ingredients are "bad chemicals" to you. Zinc/titanium is a physical barrier between your skin and the sun; it doesn't break down as the chemical sunscreens do - usually after 30-90 mins - which is why you always need to reapply.
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spoony
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Re: Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

Post by spoony »

pvnisher wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 7:41 pm Paired with zip off pants (which you can open up a bit and vent), you get coverage without chemicals.
Venting is good for heat management, but make sure to close the vents before too long or to apply sunscreen on skin that is exposed by your vents...ask the weird sunburned patch on the back of my thighs how I know this.
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randalmartin
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Re: Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

Post by randalmartin »

Some of the bad stuff present in a lot of sunscreens,

1] Oxybenzone - is an endocrine disruptor. This means it interferes with your hormones and affects your body’s ability to regulate biological processes. Oxybenzone was recently banned in Hawaii and Key West

2] Octinoxate - Another toxin banned in Hawaii and Key West, octinoxate is linked to endocrine disruption as well. It’s also been linked to reproductive toxicity in recent animal studies.

3] Homosalate - Linked to both reproductive and developmental toxicity, homosalate is an organic compound that can also cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. While this chemical absorbs UV light to protect your skin from damaging sun rays, a study found that when human breast cancer cells were exposed to homosalate, they grew and multiplied 3.5 times more than normal.

4] Parabens - Parabens can disrupt hormone function as well, which has been linked to a higher risk for breast cancer and reproductive toxicity.

5] Phthalates - More endocrine disruptors! Phthalates can hide under the guise of “fragrance.” Because fragrance “recipes” are considered proprietary, they are not legally required to be disclosed on labels.
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MaryinColorado
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Re: Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

Post by MaryinColorado »

ICantHearYou wrote: Mon Jun 26, 2023 1:09 pm
MaryinColorado wrote: Mon Jun 26, 2023 12:31 pm
For anything left that's exposed - generally face and neck - my go-to USED to be the Neutrogena SPF 100. But, my dermatologist said I really need to be using a zinc sunscreen. I really like Elta MD's UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41. (It is lightly tinted which is a nice bonus. No, not tinted like makeup, just tinted for ghostly whiteness avoidance.) For me, the key is simply being super cognizant to reapply every couple hours.
Why is zinc sunscreen better? I use Supergoop Play, and it doesn't have the bad chemicals that other sunscreens do (to our current knowledge). I used to use zinc sunscreen, but stopped after it ruined so many of my instagrammable pictures.
I may not get this exactly right, but I believe zinc oxide actually bounces the rays since it sits on the skin rather than soaking in. So, it's a more effective true barrier. The tinted zinc sunscreen is great; there are several brands including CeraVe who make a tinted one, although I found CeraVe's to be more like "makeup type of tint", i.e., more noticably tinted.
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Carl the Cuttlefish
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Re: Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

Post by Carl the Cuttlefish »

The hood really does help with hat. I was out this last Sunday during a 14 UV index day up Lake Fork Peak NM and just put some zinc on my lower face and upper front neck with one small reapply and had 0 burn or hot feeling. That was with my winter shell, which works decent above treeline when it's windy, but got toasty in the trees. So I bought a sun hoody y'all recommended! Thanks for all those links! Will use during Zapata Lake hike near Blanca tomorrow!

As others have mentioned, Zinc is better cause you can eat the stuff - they sell it in the vitamin section in a different from. And it reflects instead of absorbs. There's a time and place for the other sunscreens, like the Labor Day picnic type of stuff when you don't want to scare all the ladies away or you want it to wash off easier, but for hiking where you're gonna be out from 10-3 zinc is the better bet.

Makes you wonder what the heck all those beachgoers in Florida do... what an unhealthy activity, god! For the life of me I've never figured that one out.
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Virtulale
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Re: Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

Post by Virtulale »

Well, I also use zinc, after once getting sunburned on my neck and couldn't move properly for a week. It was hell! Moreover, now there are so many creams, why not use them and protect yourself? I also try to support myself with pills containing biotin and keratin like https://www.amazon.com/Biotin-Vitamins-Collagen-Keratin-Supplement/dp/B09RKDGYJD and hyaluronic acid to retain moisture in the skin. For healthy skin, you need not only to protect yourself from the sun, but also to nourish it from the inside. I just don't get folks who intentionally bake themselves on the beach.
Last edited by Virtulale on Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
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nyker
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Re: Sunscreen / UV avoidance advice

Post by nyker »

If it's really in midday sun or on reflective snow, I'll have SPF 70+ on, and probably a ballcap and balaclava (if warmer, will be more like those lighter/stretchy fishing balaclavas where you're out in zero shade for hours and have sun reflecting off the water also)