Sun Screen while you bike

[abc]

However, the Colorado sun is quickly changing things. I don't leave home without it.

We're drifting from bike seat to bike computer and to sunscreen on this one!

Can't agree more about the Colorado sun. The only time I was really alarmed about sun and got really anal about sun protection was the 3 years I lived in California. The sun was strong and was out all the time! And there's hardly any shades on most of my riding routes! :(

Here in New York? It's overcast half the time and rain the other half! (yes, I'm exaggerating a bit). Most importantly, the road AND trail I ride on have TREES!!!

 

[Little Lightning]

I spent most of my life in cloudy and hazy conditions at low elevations but I still have sun damage.

"Even on a cloudy or hazy day, the sun's rays are present and impacting the skin" quoted from Beautypedia.com https://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/sun.asp?ID=163

 

[abc]

I spent most of my life in cloudy and hazy conditions at low elevations but I still have sun damage.

"Even on a cloudy or hazy day, the sun's rays are present and impacting the skin" quoted from Beautypedia.com https://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/sun.asp?ID=163

There's probably sun demage regardless. But I wonder what the "demage" is? Wrinkles or skin cancer? That's a big difference. I'm not sure I trust cosmetic promotion site for "balanced" view (as claimed on their site) on such an issue.

 

[Little Lightning]

Danger is both skin damage and skin cancer.

Is information from Ohio State more believeable?

"People who enjoy the sun know that severe burns are likely on hazy, overcast, cloudy-bright days. This effect is called sky radiation. The UVB rays, especially, scatter throughout molecules in the atmosphere and cause burning. Because sunlight seems less intense, less bright, and less warm, individuals normally take fewer precautions and thereby increase the potential for a bad sunburn. Be aware that tanning and burning can occur on hazy days when the sun does not appear to be shining brightly".

https://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-Fact/5000/5550.html

 

[abc]

Same article from Ohio State:

"Individuals with dark complexions, especially those with olive, brown, or black skin, can remain in the sun for longer periods before burning occurs"

Yep! I believe that.

In my earlier post:

Granted, I can survive without sunscreen and lip balm since I'm pretty dark to begin with...

:D

 

[Little Lightning]

I scored 13-18. "Type III" on this scale. Sunscreen for me!

https://www.skincancer.org/content/view/321/10/

 

[abc]

Much better for me: 24 or 25 depends on how I answer a couple of the questions (tyep IV or V).

Either way, I can afford to not be the least bit worried, except perhaps when I'm skiing at high altitude (thin atmosphere), or kayaking on the ocean (no shade and lots of reflections).

Most of my score come not from my natural skin color but their ability to tan quickly and stay that way.

I'm not that dark in the winter. But I turn into "a big chunk of charcoal" (as my Mom love to say) in an instant as soon as the sun hits me. That "natural sunscreen" had served me well. I almost never get burn. I actually purposely expose myself to the sun on cloudy days so to "maintain" the production of that "sunscreen" evenly over my face/arms/legs. I do use suncream in an attempt to stop those funny looking tan lines from developing (so far failed, since I tan so fast and so dark in shade)!

 

[ski&bfree]

I'm type IV which reads:

Type IV: You tend to tan easily and are less likely to burn. But you are still at risk; use sunscreen with an SPF of 15+ outside and seek the shade between 10 AM and 4 PM. Follow all other Prevention Tips from The Skin Cancer Foundation as well. (See www.skincancer.org). Check your skin head-to-toe each month, paying careful attention to any suspicious growths, and make sure you have an annual professional skin checkup.

I have to admit though, I am a lover of the tanning beds. I don't do it as often as I used too, in fact, I rarely go tanning anymore. Now that I am biking I am getting more tan, even though I bike in the mornings.

 

[LilaBear]

I got almost zero! Yikes.

I know I'm at risk and have been trying to be careful about protection. Luckily I spent a large part of my life in soggy England, where the only requirement we have from skin is to be waterproof.

Here I am, new to the Colorado sun and wearing SPF 30 every day, and a sun hat if I'm outside. I'm worried about skiing, it seems harder to be diligent about cover in the cold. Also, my ski is so sensitive it tends to turn purple when I ski .... not a good look. I might just wear a face mask full time!

 

[Robyn]

I'm a Type III. I try to remember sunscreen but I'm not great at it. And, a lot of the time I end up wiping it off either when biking or skiing. Oops.

 

[abc]

One thing the snow does very well is reflecting the sun from below. Same problem with water. I learn quickly I need to apply sunscreen from top AND bottom. Places we don't usually think about: bottom of chin, back of ear & neck, etc.

Most recommend re-applying AT LEAST at lunch. Probably more often if you're fair skinned. I lost 80-90% of my tan in winter (lacking regular sun exposure). So I use sunscreen religeously just like anyone else. At lunch, if I'm taking the goggle and gloves off, I add sunscreen to my hands and under the part under the goggle. At such high altitude, hard lessons come quickly and painfully when I forget.

It's summer that I can afford to be relaxed about it, thanks to my summer tan. Both the cloud (water vapor) and the haze (water droplets) helps. So does trees, which we have abundent here in the east coast. So it's a bit hilarious when I get all freaked out if I forget my sunscreen in the winter, but just shrug if the same happens in the summer.

 

[Consuela]

I wonder what kind of UV protection smoke and smog provide?

BTW, BFree, are you getting the "biker tan" by now? That is the front knee to mid-quad and the back calf get tan, while the front shin and back hamstring area stay pale... as well as the lovely sock tan line...

And once you start wearing gloves, you will have that nice tan line, too!

PS. If the others haven't convinced you to wear gloves yet, I will be happy to tell you a story about the first time I got to play trail-medic that will make you get in your car and go buy some tomorrow. That's probably for the "New to Biking" thread, but couldn't resist the shameless plug for safety equipment.

 

[altagirl]

I'm also a type IV. My bike tan in summer is crazy. I have a glasses tan, a stripe across my lower back that gets DARK, and then body armor tan = stripes in an X across the backs of my calves and the pattern of my body armor on my arms. I don't wear armor all the time so it's usually in varying stages of notice-ability, but you can usually see it.

I do wear sunscreen though, at least most of the time.

 

[SnowHot]

I'm also a type IV. My bike tan in summer is crazy. I have a glasses tan, a stripe across my lower back that gets DARK, and then body armor tan = stripes in an X across the backs of my calves and the pattern of my body armor on my arms. I don't wear armor all the time so it's usually in varying stages of notice-ability, but you can usually see it.

I do wear sunscreen though, at least most of the time.

 

[Jilly]

Yeah, SH, I can just imagine. Like raccoon eyes we get in the winter. I'm picturing white X's, on a tanned leg. I need sunscreen all the time. Very fair, burn within 20 min of getting outside. I wear what we call "invisible closet" spf 45 or 60 in the summer. Winter goes down to 30. And since I'm on the water, its worst, like snow.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Ditto me here, too, Jilly. With the cumulative damage (some of it requiring medical intervention of the minor surgical encounter) to prove it. Not worth it. Hindsight.

Hawaiian Tropic makes a good SPF60. Had it on during an all-day sail last summer, came away from it without even looking like I'd left the house. Good stuff. Some manufacturers now making 70, I'll try that as well. Had a dermatologist back in the Midwest who had NEVER been in the sun ONE DAY, and at 40+, her skin was absolutely gorgeous. Mine? Never mind.......let's just say I'd look a LOT younger, and definitely do from the neck down.....don't get me started. Her philosophy was that all tans are skin damage. Period. Not just burns. So I haven't had a smidgeon of one in about 15 years. Too late.

 

[altagirl]

Ditto me here, too, Jilly. With the cumulative damage (some of it requiring medical intervention of the minor surgical encounter) to prove it. Not worth it. Hindsight.

Hawaiian Tropic makes a good SPF60. Had it on during an all-day sail last summer, came away from it without even looking like I'd left the house. Good stuff. Some manufacturers now making 70, I'll try that as well. Had a dermatologist back in the Midwest who had NEVER been in the sun ONE DAY, and at 40+, her skin was absolutely gorgeous. Mine? Never mind.......let's just say I'd look a LOT younger, and definitely do from the neck down.....don't get me started. Her philosophy was that all tans are skin damage. Period. Not just burns. So I haven't had a smidgeon of one in about 15 years. Too late.

That's great in concept. But even when I wear SPF 50 - I still get tan. I'm not going to give up sports for the sake of pretty skin... I'll be wrinkled and happy from all the skiing and riding I've done when I'm old thank you very much. :p

 

[abc]

That's great in concept. But even when I wear SPF 50 - I still get tan. I'm not going to give up sports for the sake of pretty skin... I'll be wrinkled and happy from all the skiing and riding I've done when I'm old thank you very much. :p

Same here!

Actually, some dermotologiest can be quite behind their time, too. Remember the doctor who allow Mr. SnowHot ski with a cast on his hand? Many doctor probably would had him staying home instead. Guess who's right as far as keeping him healthier overall?

 

[ski now work later]

I scored 13-18. "Type III" on this scale. Sunscreen for me!

https://www.skincancer.org/content/view/321/10/

I've tried to get on the skincancer.org site a few times, from this link and just going to the home page, and I'm getting a "hacked" message and some . . . music. Anyone else experiencing this?

 

[Consuela]

That's great in concept. But even when I wear SPF 50 - I still get tan. I'm not going to give up sports for the sake of pretty skin... I'll be wrinkled and happy from all the skiing and riding I've done when I'm old thank you very much. :p

I also get tan while wearing sunscreen, which I've always thought was odd. I've only had up to 45 SPF though... haven't seen the 50 or 75 yet.