Do you use a daily sunscreen when not riding?

shmo

I've been quite lazy with sun protection and until recently only used cream if I was going to be out all day on a beach somewhere and probably didn't bother to reapply. Warning sign for me was an area of sun damage on my forehead which made me take notice what I was doing. Since then it has been SPF 20 - 50 on all exposed skin when going out for a ride or a walk, or whatever.

What surprised me in my readings is that it seems to be commonly recommended by manufacturers (obviously) but also "skin experts" that we use daily sun screen even when not engaging in outdoor activities and spending long periods outside. Even more surprising to me was that this should be done year round even in winter.

I'll be honest the idea of smearing on a sun cream, even a light one, just for a short walk to the shops seems like a strange concept to me. Am I being stupid by not using a factor 15 or so every morning before I go to work?

:?: Confused :?:

jellybellywmb

I put on piz buin all day cream almost everyday but only when sunny and warm weather, even for just popping to the shops, your skin can burn in as little as 15 mins (just remember all the people who say" cant beleive i am burnt, i was only out half an hour") and another factor for me is that i had skin cancer and lost a rather large chunk of my shin getting it removed.

Wear it, what harm can it do,

Splottboy

No, I don't use one.

I want to be the healthiest looking corpse in the morgue...

markmod

Hi having just been diagnosed with cancer (admittidly of the throat) I wouldn't want any one to hear the words the consultant said to me 'i'm afraid it's very bad news' -the earth opens up under you!

Mmmm a bit of Nice smelling suncream or the chance of cancer.... I know which one is the option I would go for trust me.

Tom Butcher

I've started using it in the Summer if I'm going out for maybe an hour or more - whereas is the past I'd only use it on the beach or stuff like that. I use that P20 (i think it's called that) stuff as it's meant to last all day. As kids we always returned from Summer holidays with peeling skin so wouldn't be too much of a shock if that catches up with me at some time.

jellybellywmb

Thats the wierd logic, and dont get me wrong i was the same.
If you went to the beach for an hour everyone puts on suncream, if you washed the car on the drive for an hour,no cream, same sun, wierd how the mind works?

MattC59

Nope.

That said, I may start. My cleaner was caught out with the hot weather the other day. It turns out that she has an allergy to high levels of UV !

Yeah yeah, I hear you say, but even when the factor 30 wasn't working, she applied factor 50. Sunburn ensued as did a visit to the doctors. Nothing I can do about sunburn said the doc. That night, as she had swollen (I've seen the pics of her face) to resemble bright red stay puft marshmallow man (even the places not exposed to the sun..... eeeew !!) and was struggling to breath as her throat had swollen, she was rushed to A&E. Large doses of anti-histamines put her right and now you wouldn't know it had happened.

Three doctors (not her GP) confirmed the allergy and advised the highest factor of sun block at all times in the summer. Not ideal !!

Bunneh

Must admit I don't wear sunscreen, never have. I don't burn at all, although I tan quite nicely but I don't sit in the sun I dislike being warm under a glare of something - I like to look at the sky not squint.

Maybe I should get some cream today, apparently summer's gonna be a long warm one this year (lol heard that before!)

Ben6899

I use P20 all day filter oil. Although I forgot to apply some this morning. I also wear sunglasses nearly every day as my eyes are very sensitive.

inkyfingers

I have quite dark skin and don't really burn but I saw a dermatologist a couple of years ago who said that my skin type is very prone to skin cancer so I use a moisturiser with SPF 8 every day on my face then SPF 20 onj all exposed skin when going out in the sun for any period of time. I can't believe how many people still think that it's OK to just go out and get burnt in the hope that it will become a tan.

Lancslad

Well I havent bothered up to now as i have only been cycling a couple of months but realise after yesterday that even the hour commute home in the sun requires suncream so it's on the shopping list for tonight.

Flasheart

I work in an office so as a rule NO. Riding in summer sunshine ..always. I used to live in the skin cancer capital of the world. Queensland Australia!!!
I have seen skin cancer in lots of forms and the horrific consequences..when I ride I always cover up regardless. Frankly the winter here in the UK is NOT worth worrying about. That may change with the global warming bit etc. but at this point ..nope. It's just a way of the companies flogging more product to the masses.

Scaremongering :evil:

rdt

Regarding P20, be aware that it doesn't have as much UVA protection as some other products - they don't disclose any UVA star rating for it. So you might not visibly burn with it, but you also may not be getting the protection from damage that you may think.

For all-day protection on the bike, particularly if in sunny climes, I've been looking at Ultrasun's products - well pricey though. If sweating a lot, it seems pretty easy to lose much of the protection of suncream, and how many people remember to reapply regularly?

I've had skin cancer on my forehead so am probably a bit more concerned than most people - although probably not as much as I should be. Having said that, if I'm outside, then for much of the year I put a factor 50 on the small skin graft I've got, regardless of whatever else I may use elsewhere.

Be careful!

maddog 2

+1 P20

Ollieda

I will use some on a hot day but most days I just don't bother.

As for "skin experts" suggesting you use it all year round.....I wonder who these experts work for? Sounds like another Ribena tooth kind and GSK dentistal scientists situation!

Matt the Tester

i always forget because i very rarely get sunburnt lol and when it is scorching i always get burnt till im nice and crisp

acidstrato

whilst i agree people should be carefull, especially those with fair skin that burn easily, I think everyday is a tad over cautious. we dont live in australia or africa. we get a couple seriously hot days a year and unless you work outdoors then how much exposure do you expect to get if not riding.

I never wear any in this country unless I will be exposed for long periods. For example, tomorrow is the dragon ride so if it does brighten up it could be 8-9hrs in total but i'll play it by ear when I get up in the morning.

but I should say that I do have quite darker skin than alot of people and I do tend to be more resistant than friends since I go abroad to much hotter countries every summer

Aggieboy

When you go out on a hot day and wear sunscreen, your sweat will make it run off anyway. I think if you're prone to burning you'd be better off with a casquette.

rick_chasey

rdt wrote:

Regarding P20, be aware that it doesn't have as much UVA protection as some other products - they don't disclose any UVA star rating for it. So you might not visibly burn with it, but you also may not be getting the protection from damage that you may think.

For all-day protection on the bike, particularly if in sunny climes, I've been looking at Ultrasun's products - well pricey though. If sweating a lot, it seems pretty easy to lose much of the protection of suncream, and how many people remember to reapply regularly?

I've had skin cancer on my forehead so am probably a bit more concerned than most people - although probably not as much as I should be. Having said that, if I'm outside, then for much of the year I put a factor 50 on the small skin graft I've got, regardless of whatever else I may use elsewhere.

Be careful!

Yeah.

P20 only stops burning, not damage to skin by UV.

Banana boat sport spray has worked wonders for me on the bike. Doesn't seem to sweat out much, and lasts a good few hours (lasted whole days in the Pyrenees for me).

Only tend to use it not on the bike when i'm out in the sun a lot, which, when not on the bike, is unusual.

Sirius631

When out riding I go for factor 35, so that my silly cyclist's sun tan isn't made any worse. That said, when you head off down dusty country lanes you probably gain an extra factor of 10 by all the road dust that adheres to your limbs. It's funny but for some reason I always forget to do my face.

If I was out sunbathing or gardening without a t-shirt on I'd go for factor 15, or lower if I had a better tan as a good tan offers some protection in itself (approx factor 4). When I got shopping its usually jump in the car, quick walk between car and supermarket, and then the same in reverse, so no point specifically putting suncream on for that.

shouldbeinbed

my fur keeps me pasty white, never get brown legs and barely brown my arms. helmet protects the napper and neck from Mr Sun if nowt else.

garryc

Factor 25 on my face (don't forget the tops of your ears!) if I go outdoors from April to September. In general I try to wear long sleeved but light shirts and a hat - a Panama is better than a baseball cap and you don't look like a chav tw*t.

On the bike, high factor for arms and legs, pay attention to the tops of your knees.

When it starts getting really hot and sunny I'll up the factor to 50 for everything.

Sun tans are not cool, and do more damage than you might think.