Sunscreen brand

imported
#1

Hi Everyone! I just got some small pre skin cancerous growths taken off. These are due to being light skinned (redheads unite!; there is new research about us & skin cancer; but hey we’re wonderful!) & growing up when there wasn’t any sunscreen. (I’m 50) I usually wear sunscreen; SPF 30 when I’m going to be out; but I’ve never found a kind that’s both effective & not too grossly sticky. Those of you who wear it; what Brand do you use? I tend to sweat a lot; so it has to last. I just hate the stickiness of the stuff! When I was at the ocean in July, I constantly re-applied it; but still got a bad burn on my legs (they usually don’t see the light of day!) Any ideas? I usually have the worst problem w/my face area; & my hairline is where the small growths were at; & where I sweat alot. Thankfully they got them; & I will monitor them. My brother had a Melanoma removed; so I take it seriously; just don’t want to feel gross either. Ideas of non sticky but effective brand names appreciated.

leah

#2

Bullfrog has worked well for me. Not greasy, stays on until you wash it off. I used it extensively kayaking in Hawaii - the best I’ve found.

chiefduffy

#3

I face the same things. I also have melanoma history in my family. After spending a LOT of time in the sun, in the Caribbean, Baja, and the American West Coast Trail and field testing every non-greasy sunscreen I could find, I’ve settled on one. Gee, this is starting to sound like a sponsorship. But I have to tell you, because I want you to be healthy.

Nutragena is by far the best I have tried. It actually feels good and clean when you put it on. Here’s the bottle I buy:

http://www.neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_110.asp

It’s more expensive, but it does not have titanium and is very worth it. Give it a try.

Tha Wookie

#4

thanks both of you! I’ve tried bullfrog; one kind was great; the other was a gel that felt non greasy; but was really gritty! I thought it was just me (maybe it went old), but then read a review on it…said it was “oddly gritty”. Can’t have it all I guess. I’ll try the Nuetrogena. Coincidently, I just bought their makeup for the 1st time today; it has sunscreen in it. Have a good day all!

Leah

#5

I sweat profusely when I hike and sunscreen just will not stay on for long. If I am going to be in an area where I will be in the sun for long stretches (as opposed to in the heavy foliage) I wear a wide brim hat and long sleeve shirt and pants. If you go to a fishing outfitter they have clothes that people who fish the flats in the tropics wear. The clothing is lightweight and quick drying and not very hot. With your history I would consider wearing this type of clothing in addition to sunscreen.

Big B

#6

BB- That’s right, a big hat is essential. I should have mentioned that I ALWAYS hike with an ultralight umbrella. I used it to block sun, not rain, 80% of it’s use. I would have quit the PCT desert or skipped ahead without it. Becuase I also sweat a lot (gallons when hiking) I like to have my shirt off, and usually the hat too, becuase it traps heat. An umbrella provides shade without trapping much heat. Therefore, you can be skimpy and sexy (well, it might not be sexy :wink: ) But it works! And it covers much more than a hat.

Tha Wookie

#7

Just remember what the Bedouin wear…pretty much a variation of what Big B said. The Bedu probably had more experience in the sun than just about anyone. Modern Bedu, not so much.

Guess whatever works for you…just cover up! Be it by sunscreen, umbrellas and/or clothing.

FWIW, like the big hat, long sleeves myself. As with Big B, I tend to sweat off sunscreen. Don’t like futzing around with an umbrella, but that is just me. I also lucked out because have a bit of a tan naturally which helps a with sun protection. Again, though, whatever works. Just keep yourself protected!

Alas, unike Wookie, I don’t hike with my shirt off. Only because I would scare too many people. :smiley:

Mags

#8

You guys all crack me up! Thanks for the thoughts. I cover up most of me; which is why I baked my stark white legs at the ocean! I just need to find a hat to wear. But mainly I’m looking at sunscreen now.

Actually I’m not thinking as much re this topic after I found out today that I ripped my rotator cuff in a big way last winter. After doing lots of PT & on &off pain; I finally got an MRI done on it…the bad news got delivered this am. Dr said that he’d lean towards doing surg; but also said I wasn’t doing too bad; & that sometimes folks do ok w/o it. Still sucks big time. But I’m not in too bad of shape; & the Dr said it was up to me…If I do the surg; it’s 6 wks of no driving; off work. He said it’s a “no fun” surgery too. I may end up asking the hiker community if anyone has had this surg. I’m not too upset…fits under the “sh-t happens” category of life. At least I’ve got a job, friends, insur; a place to live; etc. Much to be thankful for. Just is complicating my life.

Take care all!

Leah

#9

Leah,
I use No-Ad sunscreen because it is cheap but works well. It is available at Walmart and comes in various SPF levels - all the way from 4 to 45. Give it a try.

Hey Wookie - Go Dawgs!!
See you at Dot’s Bar and Grill.
Sidetrack

Sidetrack

#10

Just a lookout. Sunscreen above your eyes is a no-no. Guess what happens when you sweat. The sweat carries the sunscreen right into your eyes. It stings like hell. Sadly, I speak from experience. If you don’t wear a hat, use a bandana folded or rolled wide or a sweatband covering your forehead instead.

I second the Bullfrog. I’ve used it for years and it’s great. The gel is non-greasy, it dries fast and lasts a long time. I never had a problem with grittiness. I’ve found that if you rub it in too hard you will begin to remove dead epithelial cells and dirt. Maybe that’s where the grittiness comes from. The other drawback is that it is citrus-scented. That may mean it draws more insects.

I had a torn rotator cuff about ten years ago. I don’t know how much different your injury is, so I’ll just tell you what happened with me. I had a bone spur (on my dominant side) that was tearing the rotator cuff every time I lifted my arm above shoulder level. I was in a lot of pain when I did that and it was impossible to do any workout or exercise involving my upper body. Working with computers and dealing with some RSI in that arm didn’t help any, either. I had PT and it didn’t help so I went ahead and had arthroscopic surgery. It was outpatient. I went home just as soon as I stopped puking from the anesthesia and I could get someone to remove the IV. I went back to work the next day wearing a sling.

I lived in NYC at the time so driving was not really an issue. Had I owned a car with a stick shift, I probably would have waited a couple of weeks to drive, but an automatic probably would have been OK within a week. I had no residual pain; I didn’t even take any of the Percoset the doctor prescribed for me. I did physical therapy for a couple of months. Two or three months after the surgery, I was back to my normal workouts.

The only drawback is that the range of motion is only about 90 to 95 percent of what it was. Of course, I can only tell when I put my arms down and around my back and try to touch between my shoulder blades. Otherwise – completely back to normal.

disco

#11

Hi Disco…thanks for the info. I’m real glad that your surg. & recovery was (relatively) quick. I talked with the dr re: this. He’d initlally thought that I MIGHT be able to have arthrithscopic surg.; He said that this surg. is relatively easy; that I’d be off wk 10 days. Unfortunately the tear is way too big. He used the words “Massive tear” in his report. It all sounds not so good, eh? My PT told me to believe the Surgeon; said it was not fun surgery…painful & long recovery. Despite it all; I’m keeping my spirits up. It’s oddly, not too painful right now; so I’m putting it off for a while. He & PT couldn’t believe that I’m doing as good as I am. Thanks & Bless you for writing!

Leah

#12

Hi all,

Quick question and then some new research:
First, is there a problem with titanium di in sunscreen, as per comment above? What is it?

Second, wanted to note that there has been a lot of new research reported lately. The WP carried a story about two months ago noting that most sunscreens only stopped uvb rays, the short wave rays that cause burns. The uva rays, the long wave rays that damage collagen and cause long term wrinkles and possibly cancer as well, continue on through to the underlayers of the dermis.

The point was that you may need to re-assess your level of spf protection. I recently came across some sunscreen that was a 54 or so and said it worked also by scattering the rays back to teh sun, and prevented both uva and uvb. I’m still looking for something more serious. A hat has been good, though I don’t know if it is sufficient, just that it is not messy.

Best,

Aes

Aeschylus