The season for sunburn!

[landsmith2001]

I was wondering if anyone knows of a decent sun screen that is suitable for our line of work...
something that doesnt have to be applied too often and can withstand sweat and wiping of the brow etc..
My face is looking 10yrs older than it should due to excessive sun and I have brown patches on my forehead and nose.

Its time for me to start caring a bit more, so if any of you use a decent one or know of a decent cream, let me know
Cheers ???

[TarmacLady]

There's a product sold here in the colonies called Bullfrog -- not greasy, and waterproof enough to last through a day at the beach. It's the only stuff we use in the Florida sun -- the best!

They have a UK Subsidiary:

Chattem (UK) Ltd.
Ringway Centre
Edison Road
Basingstoke
RG21 6YH
Hampshire
Tel: 01256 844144
Fax: 01256 844145

Perhaps you could contact them and see if Bullfrog is sold there.



Edited By TarmacLady on 1178829595

[lutonlagerlout]

just as an aside i tend to keep covered up now but the sun damage is already done for me
another product i highly recommend is trust deodorant
you apply it once every 3-5 days to your armpit hair and voila no smell nada for at least 3 days,you still sweat but there is some kind of herbal stuff in it that stops bacteria forming,plus you can wash shower bath etc as normal
anyway here is a link for it
cheers LLL :;):



Edited By lutonlagerlout on 1178833291

[bobhughes]

Of course you could wear a big cowboy hat:)

[lutonlagerlout]

who has been talking bob?
LLL ???

[flowjoe]

One of our lads had an op for skin cancer on his face a couple of years back, 30+ years of one week summers caused it so he was told.

I bet the stats shoot up over the next few years though, apparently its part of early training in Oz and NZ for the young lads to cover up when out on site.

Different climate i know but its never talked about over here, first sign of a bit of sun and all you see on site are blokes showing of their milk bottle torso`s.

[Dave_L]

Of course you could wear a big cowboy hat:)

We were talking about this yesterday - could you imagine a tarmac gang turning up in cowboy hats? We'd be laughed outta town!

[IanMelb]

One of our lads had an op for skin cancer on his face a couple of years back, 30+ years of one week summers caused it so he was told.

There was something in the news a week or two ago about sunscreen not being any real protection about solar-induced melonomae.

I'll see if I can dig the article out although it isn't the the thing that most sun worshippers want to hear.

[bobhughes]

I, like most people, believed that exposure to the sun causes melanomas but after reading this thread I did a little research and find that the connection is controversial.

Do a search for "solar-induced melanoma" and you will find many learned articles which point out that there is no empirical evidence to support the theory; and there is plenty of evidence pointing the other way.

The most complete data on melanoma and sunburn come from six studies from Australia, Europe and North America. These studies suggest an association but say that the effect is modest. They emphasise the point that episodic exposure seems to be more risky than constant exposure. (Marks R, Whiteman D. Sunburn and melanoma: how strong is the evidence? Br Med J 1994; 308: 75-6)

I found this on http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/sunlight.html#N_14_ and is seems good to me:

Cancer Prevention

So what should you do to protect yourself as much as possible against these cancers? Summarizing current research the following recommendations appear reasonable:

• Most important: the best protection is a natural suntan.
• DO try to develop a moderate natural suntan unless you have extremely sensitive skin and burn easily. Regular and moderate unprotected sun exposure in the early morning or late afternoon will help maintain a protective tan and keep your vitamin D stores at an optimum level.
• DO build up a tan slowly over, say, a week. Aim for no more than a slight pinkness each day. You should never tan so much that your skin peels off.
• DO remember that sunlight is strongly reflected from sand, snow, ice, and concrete and can increase your direct sunlight exposure by 10 to 50%.
• DO cut down on the polyunsaturated fat in your diet.
• DO see your doctor if you spot any unusual moles or growth on your skin -- particularly if they are irregular in shape, bleed, itch, or appear to be changing. Most skin cancers can be cured if caught in time.
• DO NOT use a sunscreen but DO use a moisturiser on your skin. Put it on at least fifteen minutes before going into the sun to allow it to penetrate the skin. It is a good idea to put this on all over your body before you dress to go out. That way you don't miss bits such as the 'bikini line'.
• DO NOT shower in the morning before going out to sunbathe. The oils naturally produced by your body during the night are a good protection.
• DO NOT shower for at least an hour after you have sunbathed. Vitamin D formed by the action of the sun on oils on the skin need time to be absorbed.
• Forget 'aftersun' products. They are expensive and unnecessary if you have followed this advice and not allowed your skin to be burnt. But after you have showered, do use a moisturiser.
• DO NOT wear sunglasses that filter out 100% of the ultraviolet light. They may protect you against the development of cataracts, but they stop UV entering the eyes – and that is much more important as UV through the eyes prevents cancer.

[Tony McC]

could you imagine a tarmac gang turning up in cowboy hats? We'd be laughed outta town!

We had a rakehand at one time who insisted on wearing really dark sunglasses while spreading the blacktop. The agent on a site where we were topping the footpaths pulled him to one side and asked him whether he was a real rakehand or just a welder doing a bit of moonlighting, and from that day on he was always referred to as "The Welder", much to his annoyance.

He never took off the RayBans, though!

[TarmacLady]

Sorry, Bob -- if that's your choice, it's your choice, but after twenty-five years of living in the Florida sun, I'll keep with the sunblock and staying covered up. There will always be conflicting evidence, but I've not yet seen any that changes my mind about this issue.

I've been told that the UV exposure in Florida is several times more intense than the light that reaches northern climes, so it's rather a test lab for sun exposure.

I've now reached the age that I am beginning to see my contemporaries (at 40ish) showing up with plasters and sutures where funny-looking moles used to be -- and these are the folks who spent most of their time when we were younger splayed across the pool deck or the beach, roasting in the sun. Most of them didn't burn, but spent their summers toasted to a deep mahogany - and strictly by observation, and not scientific study, it seems to be costing them now.

Incidentally, I (the one whose German-Welsh skin simply doesn't tan at all -- some call me melanin-impaired)
am also the only one of the lot who doesn't have any wrinkles or leathery skin, either. Guess who was siting under a huge umbrella all those years ago? This isn't a haHA on them -- I'm genuinely worried about them, and wish that they weren't dealing with melanoma on a regular basis, because I want them to be around with me for a long time to come.

Like I said -- none of this is scientifiic -- just observations over a couple of decades in the sun.

By the way -- we do go to the beach and sit out by the pool, and work in the garden -- but we make sure we are covered.

[Tony McC]

What I can't understand about Florida, and I admit I've never been there, is just how that freckle-covered redhead, Horatio Caine from CSI Miami, manages to spend all his time out in the midday sun and never, ever has so much as a tan, let alone a burn.

[IanMelb]

BBC News has this quote, however I can't yet find the original News Story I was thinking of ...

Skin specialists say too many people mistakenly believe they can stay in the sun for longer if they use high-factor sun screens.

But significant skin damage can be caused, even if sun screens prevent burning.

Experts' advice include staying out of the sun between 1100 and 1500 BST, covering up with a T-shirt, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, using a high-factor sun screen and drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.

[landsmith2001]

Firstly thank-you for all the replies I have recieved from starting this thread...a lot of usefull info has been recieved.

Iam a bit confused by the conflicting evidence and am not entirely convinced that leaving off the sunblock to be a good idea, but in my favour I do tan very quickly and to a very dark colour. Assuming that to be protective has reduced some fear.
But the sun has definately done a lot of damage to my face, so i wont under estimate its potential to do more...
Im gonna slap on the bull frog and hope for the best.

[lutonlagerlout]

What I can't understand about Florida, and I admit I've never been there, is just how that freckle-covered redhead, Horatio Caine from CSI Miami, manages to spend all his time out in the midday sun and never, ever has so much as a tan, let alone a burn.

well spotted guv ,a ginga like him would fry in bedfordshire let alone florida
i been to Fla a few times and it amazes me to see lads working in 120 F heat,unbelievable
cheers
LLL