Gyroscopic Investing

How do y'all protect yourselves from the sun in the summer?

Having just spent my first summer in New Mexico, I've browned up quite a bit. I have pretty good sun genes, as I mostly brown rather than burn, but considering that I'm intending on living here for a long time, I don't want to be a leathery prune when I'm 50.

I know myself well enough to admit that I'm not going to put on sunscreen every day. I already wear a wide hat and have a crazy farmer's tan, so I'm thinking that protective clothes might be more effective anyway than rubbing who-knows-what chemical on myself.

Any suggestions? Anyone like the UV-protective clothes? Or just wear long sleeves?

Hmm, if you already have a hat, I don't have anything to add. I wear a Tilley in summer. Sometimes teenagers snicker at it, but adults wearing the same hat have given a nod.

The other evening, Stephen Colbert said, "Speaking of people of color. John Boehner..."

I use a zinc based sunscreen as advised by my dermatologist. I use it in small amounts mostly on my nose. Chemically based sunscreens available in the United States are not really good for you and may be carcinogenic. Europe has better ones but they haven't been approved here by the FDA. I'm sure that there must be a way of acquiring them but as I've been using my zinc based lotion I haven't really tried.

I am allergic to most sunscreens and burn relatively easily, so I wear long sleaves and a Tilly hat.  I also use a product (recommended and sold by my dermatologist) formulated with micronized zinc oxide and octinoxate on my nose if I am going to be outside in the sun for more than a half hour or so.  I wish I knew during my sun worshiping years what I know now - but then again, my dermatologist and plastic surgeon would not have had my contributions to their incomes. 

... Mountaineer

[quote=dualstow]Hmm, if you already have a hat, I don't have anything to add. I wear a Tilley in summer. Sometimes teenagers snicker at it, but adults wearing the same hat have given a nod. [/quote]

Tilley hats are great, and come in a variety of flavors, some more fashionable than others.  I have two (one narrow brim, one wide brim) and keep an emergency $20 bill in the "secret" pocket of each.

none... unless i am at an event or location that involves much longer periods of exposure than i am acclimatised to, then i wear a waxed cotton sail cloth hat and what ever type of sunscreen  my wife hands me...
(its probably some posh high end makeup/skincare brand, she tends to be discriminating about skin care stuff)

Mountaineer wrote: I am allergic to most sunscreens and burn relatively easily, so I wear long sleaves and a Tilly hat.  I also use a product (recommended and sold by my dermatologist) formulated with micronized zinc oxide and octinoxate on my nose if I am going to be outside in the sun for more than a half hour or so.  I wish I knew during my sun worshiping years what I know now - but then again, my dermatologist and plastic surgeon would not have had my contributions to their incomes. 

... Mountaineer

Mountaineer,

1.  octinoxate

Octinoxate, also called Octyl methoxycinnamate or (OMC), is a UV filter. It can be absorbed rapidly through skin. Octinoxate has been detected in human urine, blood and breast milk, which indicates that humans are systemically exposed to this compound [1,2]. Octinoxate is an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen and can disrupt thyroid function.

2. I use the micronized zinc stuff myself, but I don't think anyone knows for 100% sure if the micronized zinc or whatever is for sure safe.  IT is one of the best options.

EWG.org has a report on all suncreen ingredients that is worth reading.

Benko wrote: EWG.org has a report on all suncreen ingredients that is worth reading.

Yeah, go to the Skin Deep section - http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Good stuff. A relative of mine works for them.

Benko wrote:

Mountaineer wrote: I am allergic to most sunscreens and burn relatively easily, so I wear long sleaves and a Tilly hat.  I also use a product (recommended and sold by my dermatologist) formulated with micronized zinc oxide and octinoxate on my nose if I am going to be outside in the sun for more than a half hour or so.  I wish I knew during my sun worshiping years what I know now - but then again, my dermatologist and plastic surgeon would not have had my contributions to their incomes. 

... Mountaineer

Mountaineer,

1.  octinoxate

Octinoxate, also called Octyl methoxycinnamate or (OMC), is a UV filter. It can be absorbed rapidly through skin. Octinoxate has been detected in human urine, blood and breast milk, which indicates that humans are systemically exposed to this compound [1,2]. Octinoxate is an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen and can disrupt thyroid function.

2. I use the micronized zinc stuff myself, but I don't think anyone knows for 100% sure if the micronized zinc or whatever is for sure safe.  IT is one of the best options.

EWG.org has a report on all suncreen ingredients that is worth reading.

Thanks for the info.  Now I have to decide if I want endocrine disruption or more of my nose chopped out!  What a choice.  This stuff is the ONLY sunscreen I've tried that I don't break out like a bad case of poison ivy.  I'm old enough and use it infrequently enough that I think I'll stick with the sunscreen for now.  You did give me something to consider .... one more example that nothing is risk free.

... Mountaineer

I'm no expert, but I've seen my aged father get a lot of minor skin cancers removed from his face and head over the past couple of decades.  It is a cumulative thing.  My dad's lifetime of outdoor work has been compounded by his past 40 years of winters in the Florida sun.  You can't wait till the damage is done to start using protection. 

My skin and genes are not bad in this respect.  But in my 50s I'm already seeing early signs of too much exposure on my arms, neck, and head.  All this to say, wear a big hat, and use sunscreen on exposed skin anytime you are spending a good bit of time in the sun.  IMO.  And, you don't need to research the perfect methods.  It's pretty simple.

I Shrugged wrote:   It is a cumulative thing.  My dad's lifetime of outdoor work has been compounded by his past 40 years of winters in the Florida sun. 

Yes, it definitely is a cumulative thing. PointedStick, my dad grew up where you live now, and has had several bits of cancerous and precancerous skin removed. I guess it didn't help that they moved to Florida some years ago.

dualstow wrote:

I Shrugged wrote:   It is a cumulative thing.  My dad's lifetime of outdoor work has been compounded by his past 40 years of winters in the Florida sun. 

Yes, it definitely is a cumulative thing. PointedStick, my dad grew up where you live now, and has had several bits of cancerous and precancerous skin removed. I guess it didn't help that they moved to Florida some years ago.

Yeah, that's exactly why I want to start taking it seriously now. I know worrying about skin cancer 30 years in the future isn't very Millenial of me, but I've always been an old soul.

lol