Help with Sunscreen, It is Summer in Canada

T

Texas Scrambler

Rookie
Please recommend a sunscreen for the face that doesn't burn the eyes when the sweat starts to flow. I currently use Banana Boat SPF 60 Sport and like the lotion. BUT sweat and sunscreen irritates the eyes. What works for you to gain sun protection and doesn't burn the eyes?

Thanks for the assist.
 
Cobaine

Cobaine

Semi-Pro
I wear a hat so I don’t need to put sunscreen on my forehead.

If you hate hats you should try a mineral sunscreen, but most don’t seem to have the staying power if a sport sunscreen.
 
M

Mac33

Professional
Putting chemicals on your face to be absorbed in to your body - not a good idea.

My sister years back was working in a hospital. One of her friends had a sample of her hair taken after complaining of feeling sick.

The results were the person was full of toxic chemicals well over recommended.
 
M

Mac33

Professional
I use water and only use soap when shaving. No deodorant only water under the arms when showering.

We lived successful for thousands of years without all this cosmetic crap.
 
Stretchy Man

Stretchy Man

Professional
Mac33 said:
I use water and only use soap when shaving. No deodorant only water under the arms when showering.

We lived successful for thousands of years without all this cosmetic crap.
Click to expand...

Water is a chemical and soap contains chemicals. What do you use to prevent skin cancer from the sun?
 
M

Mac33

Professional
The sun is healthy and essential for health - just don't overdo it.

I try to avoid using soap as much as possible but short of living life as a monk some things are necessary.
 
S

SlvrDragon50

Semi-Pro
Texas Scrambler said:
Please recommend a sunscreen for the face that doesn't burn the eyes when the sweat starts to flow. I currently use Banana Boat SPF 60 Sport and like the lotion. BUT sweat and sunscreen irritates the eyes. What works for you to gain sun protection and doesn't burn the eyes?

Thanks for the assist.
Click to expand...
I always come back to Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch.

Mac33 said:
The sun is healthy and essential for health - just don't overdo it.

I try to avoid using soap as much as possible but short of living life as a monk some things are necessary.
Click to expand...
It's essential for health but not if you're playing several hours of tennis outdoors. There could be anything that could have caused your sister's friend to get sicked. Bad water. Bad food. Environmental exposure. Skin cancer is no joke.
 
r2473

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Texas Scrambler said:
Please recommend a sunscreen for the face that doesn't burn the eyes when the sweat starts to flow. I currently use Banana Boat SPF 60 Sport and like the lotion. BUT sweat and sunscreen irritates the eyes. What works for you to gain sun protection and doesn't burn the eyes?

Thanks for the assist.
Click to expand...
I use Banana Boat Sport too. No problems. Do you put it on indoors while you’re dressing or wait until you’re on the court to apply?
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
How far North are you? I believe that the UV index in Toronto gets up to 8 or 9 in the mid spring to mid summer months. Locations further north will probably not get this high. If you can minimize exposure between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM (daylight savings time), then you really don't have to worry too much about sunscreen (especially a high SPF sunscreen). For standard time, that range would be an hour earlier.
 
C

Chas Tennis

G.O.A.T.
I don't like to use sun screen, 'goop up', but after 40 years of tennis and no protection in Maryland, my arms show it. I have wrinkles up to my short sleeves; where covered the skin looks much better/younger. I also have solar purpura on my arms, a sun damage that causes purple bruises for hardly any bump or brush. At least, the bruises are gone in about 5 days. No more tennis without arm protection.

Next, I learned that the sun screen that I was using has widely used ingredients that are killing coral reefs. The active ingredients get into the DNA of the coral and the coral dies. I now use another popular sun screen on my face, neck and hands. Its active ingredients are different. The second sunscreen's active ingredients were said- in a presentation - to be better than the first sun screen's active ingredients. There were other sun screens tested for reef toxicity also but I believe that the others were not as widely used. Search: sun screen Great Barrier Reef effects I believe that reef effects are also known in Hawaii.

In the hottest weather, I now wear only long sleeve white shirts made of polyester. These white shirts are not too hot at 90 f. These long sleeve shirts feel no hotter than a short sleeve shirt at 90f. The manufacturer says not to use bleach but I have washed them a few times and so far they look OK. I have other colors and cotton long sleeve shirts for cooler temperatures. It took quite some looking but I finally found long sleeve polyester shirts - X long - in most colors.

I only have black warm pants and am looking for X-long warm-ups in a lighter color. That shopping is taking a long time, so far with no new pants.

I wear a hat with a brim. I have head this hat referred to as a "C*stco Hat", it's tan. With sweat and sun screen, it gets stained. It is polyester with instructions not machine wash it or bleach it but to wipe with a damp cloth. I machine washed it and it came out OK.
 
Last edited:
PhxRacket

PhxRacket

Hall of Fame
Thinksport, COOLA, Badger natural mineral sunscreen cream, and Suntegrity Natural Mineral Sunscreen to name a few. Avoid spray sunscreens if you can.
 
T

Texas Scrambler

Rookie
mikeler said:
I've used Zinc Oxide for years on my face. My dermatologist said this is the best sunscreen to use.
Click to expand...
More information please on your Zinc Oxide recommendation from your dermatologist? Best for what reasons? Best at preventing sun exposure or lowest in residual toxicity? What is a popular waterproof brand with Zinc Oxide or is it just Zinc Oxide?
 
T

Texas Scrambler

Rookie
r2473 said:
I use Banana Boat Sport too. No problems. Do you put it on indoors while you’re dressing or wait until you’re on the court to apply?
Click to expand...
I put on the sunscreen prior to playing by 30 minutes to an hour. It is all good until the sweat from the forehead hits the eyes with some sunscreen in the mix. It is not terrible but not good either.
 
T

Texas Scrambler

Rookie
SystemicAnomaly said:
How far North are you? I believe that the UV index in Toronto gets up to 8 or 9 in the mid spring to mid summer months. Locations further north will probably not get this high. If you can minimize exposure between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM (daylight savings time), then you really don't have to worry too much about sunscreen (especially a high SPF sunscreen). For standard time, that range would be an hour earlier.
Click to expand...
Calgary. The summer time is spectacular for outdoor sports.
 
mikeler

mikeler

Moderator
Texas Scrambler said:
More information please on your Zinc Oxide recommendation from your dermatologist? Best for what reasons? Best at preventing sun exposure or lowest in residual toxicity? What is a popular waterproof brand with Zinc Oxide or is it just Zinc Oxide?
Click to expand...

The zinc oxide is a physical barrier. It's great for heavy sweaters because it does not wash off easy. In fact, I even will have some on my face when I step out of the shower after tennis.
 
SystemicAnomaly

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Texas Scrambler said:
Calgary. The summer time is spectacular for outdoor sports.
Click to expand...
By "spectacular", are you indicating that the temptation to indulge in outdoor activities during peak UV hours (midday) is difficult to avoid/resist?

It appears that the average peak UV index for Calgary between May and August is about 6 to 7. (But it is possible that it might get as high as 8). These ranges indicates a peak UV index that is high to very high from mid spring to mid summer.

https://www.weather-ca.com/en/canada/calgary-climate#uv_index
 
r2473

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Texas Scrambler said:
I put on the sunscreen prior to playing by 30 minutes to an hour. It is all good until the sweat from the forehead hits the eyes with some sunscreen in the mix. It is not terrible but not good either.
Click to expand...
Ya, I guess I can get a bit of runoff too on really hot days.
 
Raul_SJ

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
SPF rating measures protection from UVB which causes sunburn. Supposedly one can stay out longer without getting sunburn.
But I never get sunburn, so I have no way of measuring the effectiveness of UVB protection.

And then there are deeper penetrating UVA rays which produce tanning/damage. I apply the sunscreen generously but I get tanned in the same amount of time as if I had been wearing no sunscreen.

Sometimes I wonder if these sunscreens are just a waste of money in my case.
:unsure:

what-is-spf-sunsreen-sun-protection-factor.JPG


Sun Protection Factor Explained

SPF measures sunscreen protection from UVB rays, the kind that cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer.
SPF does not measure how well a sunscreen will protect from UVA rays, which are also damaging and dangerous.
Dermatologists recommend using a SPF15 or SPF30 sunscreen. Higher SPFs don't provide much more protection.


How Tanning Happens
The sun's rays contain two types of ultraviolet radiation that reach your skin: UVA and UVB.
UVB radiation burns the upper layers of skin (the epidermis), causing sunburns.

UVA radiation is what makes people tan. UVA rays penetrate to the lower layers of the epidermis, where they trigger cells called melanocytes to produce melanin. Melanin is the brown pigment that causes tanning.

Melanin is the body's way of protecting skin from burning. Darker-skinned people tan more deeply than lighter-skinned people because their melanocytes produce more melanin. But just because a person doesn't burn does not mean that he or she is also protected against skin cancer and other problems.

Tanning Downsides
UVA rays may make you tan, but they can also cause serious damage. That's because UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays. UVA rays can go all the way through the skin's protective epidermis to the dermis, where blood vessels and nerves are found.

Because of this, UVA rays may damage a person's immune system, making it harder to fight off diseases and leading to illnesses like melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Melanoma can kill. If it's not found and treated, it can quickly spread from the skin to the body's other organs.

It’s complicated, but to keep it simple, most dermatologists recommend using a SPF 15 or SPF 30 sunscreen.

Why not use a really high Sun Protection Factor? Sunscreens with really high SPFs, such as SPF 75 or SPF 100, do not offer significantly greater protection than SPF 30 and mislead people into thinking they have more protection than they actually do. Additionally, in order to have broad spectrum protection, the UVA protection should be at least 1/3 of the UVB protection. High SPF sunscreens usually offer far greater UVB than UVA protection, thus offering a false sense of full protection.

https://www.badgerbalm.com/s-30-what-is-spf-sunscreen-sun-protection-factor.aspx
 
Cashman

Cashman

Hall of Fame
In all seriousness - if you're serious about avoiding sunburn whilst being active outside in summer for several hours straight, zinc is your best option. There is a reason all cricketers and sailors wear it.

It ain't pretty, but it stays on.
 
W

whorng

Rookie
Most chemical based sunscreen sold in the US have ingredients that maybe harmful to people and coral reefs.
Avoid Oxybenzone at the minimum.

Physical sunscreen have better ingredients, but
Consumer Reports:
"Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide—so-called mineral or natural sunscreens—are two active ingredients that the FDA says do not need additional safety data. However, year after year in our tests, the sunscreens that contain only one or both of these as active ingredients do not perform as well as the ones that contain chemical active ingredients. Some provide adequate SPF protection but not enough UVA protection, or vice versa."
I think many physical sunscreens do not use enough zinc oxide etc.
Physical sunscreen typically leave white cast if you apply the proper amount to reach the SPF rating. Many people do not apply enough sunscreen...

You also want a sweat resistant sunscreen / designed for sports.

Check out Thinkbaby or Thinksports. Same product just different smell. Top ratings by EWG.
Uses 20% non-nano Zinc Oxide and 80 minute water/sweat resistant.
Get the 3 oz size as starter/test. The white cast mostly disappears after 10 - 20 minutes.
Unfortunately I sweat a lot in 80/90/100 degree tennis and the sunscreen "melts" a little and may stain clothing.

Sun Bum, Blue Lizard, Elta MD, La Roche-Posay are all brands with favorable reviews.
Most brands will have a mineral based line, however; many do not use a high amount of zinc oxide.

Check out the sites below for more info:
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/
https://www.consumerreports.org/sunscreens/best-sunscreens-of-the-year/

I just start researching sunscreens a few weeks ago. Tired of getting darker and possible skin cancer down the road.
Personally I only use SPF 50+, sweat/water resistant 80 minutes, and no Oxybenzone. Preferably less chemicals that are reef harmful.
I went with Thinkbaby on the body.
Also trying out some imported Japanese sunscreens and also picked up some European sunscreens. (Face/body)
Europe has the "best" sunscreens. More stable ingredients and better protections. Unfortunately not FDA approved so not for sale in the US.
Whole 'nother road I will not go down.
 
Raul_SJ

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
whorng said:
I just start researching sunscreens a few weeks ago. Tired of getting darker and possible skin cancer down the road.
Personally I only use SPF 50+, sweat/water resistant 80 minutes, and no Oxybenzone. Preferably less chemicals that are reef harmful.
I went with Thinkbaby on the body.
Also trying out some imported Japanese sunscreens and also picked up some European sunscreens. (Face/body)
Europe has the "best" sunscreens. More stable ingredients and better protections. Unfortunately not FDA approved so not for sale in the US.
Whole 'nother road I will not go down.
Click to expand...

I never get sunburn (UVB rays) but tan very quickly (UVA rays) despite applying generous amounts of Copper Tone Sport Clear SPF 50 sunscreen. The sunscreen has no effect at all in terms of increasing tanning time; get tanned in the same amount of time as if I had not been wearing any sunscreen at all... Apparently deep tanning is not good and indicates skin damage.

This suggests I need more UVA protection. But the product specs do not provide detailed info on UVA protection. The SPF 50 refers to UVB protection...Maybe I'd be better off moving down to lower SPF 30 in order to get more UVA protection. :unsure:

"Additionally, in order to have broad spectrum protection, the UVA protection should be at least 1/3 of the UVB protection. High SPF sunscreens usually offer far greater UVB than UVA protection, thus offering a false sense of full protection."
 
Last edited:
W

whorng

Rookie
Raul_SJ said:
I never get sunburn (UVB rays) but tan very quickly (UVA rays) despite applying generous amounts of Copper Tone Sport Clear SPF 50 sunscreen. The sunscreen has no effect at all in terms of increasing tanning time; get tanned in the same amount of time as if I had not been wearing any sunscreen at all... Apparently deep tanning is not good and indicates skin damage.

This suggests I need more UVA protection. But the product specs do not provide detailed info on UVA protection. The SPF 50 refers to UVB protection...Maybe I'd be better off moving down to lower SPF 30 in order to get more UVA protection. :unsure:

"Additionally, in order to have broad spectrum protection, the UVA protection should be at least 1/3 of the UVB protection. High SPF sunscreens usually offer far greater UVB than UVA protection, thus offering a false sense of full protection."
Click to expand...
Yea it's annoying they are not required to state the exact amount of protection.
I bought the "good" stuff hoping to stop this tanning in its tracks.
Already have significant golfer's / farmer's tan.
 
Raul_SJ

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
whorng said:
Yea it's annoying they are not required to state the exact amount of protection.
I bought the "good" stuff hoping to stop this tanning in its tracks.
Already have significant golfer's / farmer's tan.
Click to expand...

Have you settled on any particular brand yet which particularly does a good job of stopping the tanning (UVA)?
 
W

whorng

Rookie
Raul_SJ said:
Have you settled on any particular brand yet which particularly does a good job of stopping the tanning (UVA)?
Click to expand...
This just came out: La Roche-Posay Shaka Fluid SPF50+
https://www.laroche-posay.com/products-treatments/Anthelios/Anthelios-Shaka-fluid-SPF50-p25310.aspx
Site says, "highest UVA protection achieved on an Anthelios product."
Googling brought up PPD 46, a rating use in Asia and Europe. One of the highest rating.
It says "ultra water/sweat/sand resistant..." Hopefully it's 80+ minutes.
None of the online Euro pharmacies will ship La Roche-Posay Euro sunscreen to the US. Gotta get it from friends/family or "the bay".
La Roche-Posay US products are not the same as the Euro version.
I ordered the non fragrance version a few days ago from redfo-online via "the bay". $20.95 shipped for 1.7 oz from Boston. Yeah, it's expensive...
Either they have Euro connections or pop over to Canada.
Hopefully not fake. (I read there are counterfeit Japanese and Euro sunscreens...)

Right now i'm using the ROHTO SKIN AQUA Super Moisture Milk Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++. But will probably switch to the Shaka once I get that order and/or on those 90+ degree days.
Japanese and Korean sunscreens are tailored towards aesthetics. Word is they aren't as good resisting water/sweat and most use Oxtinoxate.
I have to say the milk sunscreen is so easy and feels good to apply.

As for a body sunscreen I dunno, but I started using Thinkbaby.
I have the Avene Sunscreen Lotion Children SPF 50+ 250ml on order from an online French pharmacy.
Might try the Uriage Bariésun SPF 50+ Mineral Cream 100ml next year / if I run out of sunscreen.
The discontinued?? Uriage Bariésun XP Cream SPF 50+ has a PPD 65 rating (probably the highest), so I think that product line has solid PPD.
 
sredna42

sredna42

Hall of Fame
I have very fair skin, and was a roof plumber, and I'm in Aus.

Came to the conclusion over time that sunscreens barely work.

Wear long sleeve dri-fit tops, collar up, and a hat. Put zinc cream on your nose.

Edit: you can get long sleeve tops with a thumb hole in the sleeves end so they wear like a glove. They are great.
 
Last edited:
C

Curiosity

Professional
Mac33 said:
I use water and only use soap when shaving. No deodorant only water under the arms when showering.

We lived successful for thousands of years without all this cosmetic crap.
Click to expand...

Agree with the avoidance preference. On the other hand everybody smelled horrible many thousands of years ago, and didn't live long enough to have much of a problem with skin cancer...
 
C

Curiosity

Professional
Texas Scrambler said:
Please recommend a sunscreen for the face that doesn't burn the eyes when the sweat starts to flow. I currently use Banana Boat SPF 60 Sport and like the lotion. BUT sweat and sunscreen irritates the eyes. What works for you to gain sun protection and doesn't burn the eyes?

Thanks for the assist.
Click to expand...

Vastly overexposed to sun, I had a few blistering burns as a child spending summers at the beach and boating. I started to get basal cell C's in my late fifties. Three rounds of Mohs surgery, fortunately successful. I got serious about sun protection. It was a challenge. Every summer we spend a month in a very sunny climate, and I play tennis there four or five days a week. So I searched for a very good sunscreen for my face, one that stays dry, doesn't run with sweat. I found one, recommended by someone who plays for a living: Anthelios 45 (non-coloring) by La Roche-Posay. It's a bit expensive, so I only use it on my face. It works very well. After three or four days I get very slight tanning. No eye sting ever. I use typical SPF 30 stuff on all other exposed skin. I apply both types a least 30 min. in advance.
The La Roche-Posay stuff is available via Amazon or from their own site. 4.2 fl oz seems to last me one summer, or nearly so, used on face only.
 
Raul_SJ

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Curiosity said:
. L. I found one, recommended by someone who plays for a living: Anthelios 45 (non-coloring) by La Roche-Posay. It's a bit expensive, so I only use it on my face. It works very well. After three or four days I get very slight tanning. .
Click to expand...

I used to play mainly indoors and had minimal tanning. Whatever deep tan I did get would fade very quickly (weeks).

Then I switched to mainly outdoor play and developed a deep tan. After 4 years the tan still has not faded, even with stretches of time (months) spent indoors.

Apparently deep tan that does not fade indicates permanent skin damage.,:unsure:
 
W

whorng

Rookie
Raul_SJ said:
I used to play mainly indoors and had minimal tanning. Whatever deep tan I did get would fade very quickly (weeks).

Then I switched to mainly outdoor play and developed a deep tan. After 4 years the tan still has not faded, even with stretches of time (months) spent indoors.

Apparently deep tan that does not fade indicates permanent skin damage.,:unsure:
Click to expand...
I'm probably f**ked too. :(
My arms, legs, and neck are quite tanned and I have been lax on sunscreen until recently.
At least my face isn't bad since I use moisturizer twice a day.
Just started using moisturizer on arms, legs, and neck.

I don't think Canadians can get the La Roche-Posay Shaka. :(
Gotta import it too.
 
L

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Trees and buildings for shade. Play 1 to 2 hours before sunset.
Or at night with electric lights.
 
Raul_SJ

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
whorng said:
I'm probably f**ked too. :(
My arms, legs, and neck are quite tanned and I have been lax on sunscreen until recently.
At least my face isn't bad since I use moisturizer twice a day.
Just started using moisturizer on arms, legs, and neck.

I don't think Canadians can get the La Roche-Posay Shaka. :(
Gotta import it too.
Click to expand...

When you say "face isn't bad" , are you referring to tanning? Or to wrinkling? The moisturizer protects from wrinkling?...

My face is very tanned but no wrinkling despite old age. I had thought wrinkling is mainly caused by effects of gravity over time.

But apparently UV exposure is the main culprit? Although I see older guys with perpetual tans that are not wrinkled.
:unsure:


Is a deep tan a sign of stressed skin?​
​
A tan is not a sign of good health, but rather a sign that skin is trying to protect itself from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. ... Exposure to UV radiation from the sun or a solarium increases your risk of skin cancer and ages your skin. In fact, 80 per cent of fine lines and wrinkles can be attributed to UV exposure.​
​
​

​
​
 
Last edited:
W

whorng

Rookie
Raul_SJ said:
When you say "face isn't bad" , are you referring to tanning? Or to wrinkling? The moisturizer protects from wrinkling?...

My face is very tanned but no wrinkling despite old age. I had thought wrinkling is mainly caused by effects of gravity over time.

But apparently UV exposure is the main culprit? Although I see older guys with perpetual tans that are not wrinkled.
:unsure:

Is a deep tan a sign of stressed skin?​
​
A tan is not a sign of good health, but rather a sign that skin is trying to protect itself from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. ... Exposure to UV radiation from the sun or a solarium increases your risk of skin cancer and ages your skin. In fact, 80 per cent of fine lines and wrinkles can be attributed to UV exposure.​
​
Click to expand...
​

Tanning, i'm not old yet. lol.
I think the moisturizers help a lot with UV exposure recovery and/or help with skin health.
Dry skin = have to moisturize.
Yep, UV exposure is the biggest factor. Smoking and substance abuse will mess up skin too.
Check out the article on this 69 year old truck driver.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trucke...-side-of-his-face-after-28-years-on-the-road/
 
Raul_SJ

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
whorng said:
​

Tanning, i'm not old yet. lol.
I think the moisturizers help a lot with UV exposure recovery and/or help with skin health.
Click to expand...

I think you're saying your face is less tanned than arms because you used moisturizers on face in addition to the sunscreen... So even though moisturizers alone do not offer UV protection, the combination of moisturizer + sunscreen offers better UV protection than sunscreen alone.
:unsure:

But using a moisturizing product can protect and replenish this barrier, reducing the look of aging signs and keeping skin looking younger [source: Mayo Clinic:Moisturizers]. ... Sunscreens, on the other hand, are made to protect your skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Why don't all moisturizers include sunscreen? | HowStuffWorks
https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/moisturizing/.../sunscreen-moisturizers.htm
 
Last edited:
W

whorng

Rookie
Raul_SJ said:
I think you're saying your face is less tanned than arms because you used moisturizers on face in addition to the sunscreen... So even though moisturizers alone do not offer UV protection, the combination of moisturizer + sunscreen offers better UV protection than sunscreen alone.
:unsure:

But using a moisturizing product can protect and replenish this barrier, reducing the look of aging signs and keeping skin looking younger [source: Mayo Clinic:Moisturizers]. ... Sunscreens, on the other hand, are made to protect your skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Why don't all moisturizers include sunscreen? | HowStuffWorks
https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/moisturizing/.../sunscreen-moisturizers.htm
Click to expand...
I didn't use sunscreen on my face or body.
Only moisturized my face twice per day or after every wash. None for my body.
Face is light-ish while my arms and legs are dark.
If I play for 3 hours I notice my face gets flush for a few days.
 
Raul_SJ

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
GrandSlam45 said:
I was a surfer in my youth and used a water-proof sunscreen called Bullfrog. The stuff was amazing. I could spend hours out in the water and wouldn't burn.
Click to expand...

That stuff sounds good if it lasts for hours... I need to re-apply every 45 minutes. A pain in the ass.
:(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top