Sunscreen Guide

Please ignore this link to the pseudo-science group that claims that pretty much everything can/will kill you. Their claims about the bad ingredients are completely dubious, and they lead you instead to buy expensive, less effective products from Amazon...and no surprise, they make money on each referral.
The only thing worth listening to is the reminder that high SPFs are pointless. Use a 30 or so, and reapply often.

Beyond that, buy anything on sale at the store. Don't mess with skin cancer.

 

Couple of things here, courtesy of my dermatologist:
- Broad spectrum sunblocks with either microfine zinc oxide (z-cote) or parsol (avobenzone) provide better UVA coverage - the UV that is present year-round, accentuates sunburns, and passes much deeper into the skin than UVB.
- Mexoryl is a sunblock ingredient that is better than almost anything available in the US, but it's not available in the US except through the internet.
- Most people use sunblock more sparingly than is done in SPF determination tests, so the average user only gets about one-third to one-half the SPF on the label.
- Start applying 20-30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply 20 minutes after exposure has begun.

 

I think it's useful here to differentiate between sunblocks and sunscreens, the former being minerals in suspension (zinc or titanium oxides) that makes a simple physical barrier, the latter being chemicals that are consumed by uv exposure but look and feel better.

Zinc oxide is generally considered safe even for babies (desitin). Are the chemical ones unsafe? I doubt it , but the best sunscreen is one that you'll actually use, not one that you've bought but don't put on because it looks or feels bad.

 

The best skin protection is clothing. UV rays do not go through fabric very well. A round hat and a thin long sleeve shirt is far more effective than any sunblock or sunscreen.

 

Although true, as referees we tend to wear short sleeve shirts most of the time (I prefer long sleeve up to about 85deg). And even though we are now allowed to use hats, you are still going to be dinged or perceived as unprofessional for wearing a hat on any game that matters. Additionally sunglasses are very effective in reducing UVA and UVB rays but we are not allowed to wear them. Thankfully I wear contacts that have sun blocking capabilities.

 

Thin shirts/pants of light cotton is just under 10 SPF, dark just over and most synthetic materials is just a little more. So unless you buy clothes that are designed to stop the sun or are using thick/layered clothing then you are usually better off using sun screen when the sun is blazing.

 

I live in North West Arizona. I have always warn a referee ball cap, and sun glasses [light enough tint that you can actually see my eyes, but dark enough to keep from squinting!]. I use UVA & UVB block, and you should see my face now as I am going thru the Fudex cream program right now. feels like a soldering gun on my face all the time. make sure you use something. and a note to you bald headed guys, if you wear an ball cap, and there is mesh on the back half-no protection there.
Rod in AZ

 

I've had surprisingly good luck with Heliocare pills. They were originally recommended by my former dermatologist (now retired - having your physicians retire on you is one of the several irritating things about getting older), and confirmed by my present one.

You use them to supplement, not replace, sunscreen. I don't take them daily, only on days when I'll be in the sun a lot, like ref'ing and fishing days. One in the morning, then one as I leave for field or stream.

So what do they do? Well, in my case, I've long had a mild sun allergy which meant that when I'd get a bit of sunburn I'd develop an itchy hive-like rash, especially on my forearms and backs of my hands. Since I've been using these pills (a couple of years now) I don't seem to burn as easily, and better yet I haven't had that rash even once.

Placebo effect? Who cares, if it works?

EDIT: I tried several times to embed a link to the pills on Amazon behind "Heliocare pills" in the text above, and every time the link got hijacked to an ebay listing. What's up with that?

Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Heliocare-Oral-Capsules-60-capsules/dp/B001E25USU/