What is the minimum amount of time if going out into the direct summer sun for you to consider applying sunscreen?
Perhaps 10 to 15 minutes.
About half an hour, but having had melanoma I apply liberally and frequently.
[QUOTE][/QUOTE]It depends on many factors, both environmental and personal.
intensity of sun (location, time of day)
dress, condition of your tan,
10 minutes unprotected in our New Mexican sun is enough to give me a red that fades to tan. Any more time and I need sun screen or I will feel the pinch of sun burn. I might get 15-20 minutes of time in the sun when I am visiting family in southwest PA. As already mentioned, it is as much personal sensitivity as it is environmental. If you have a history of blistering or peeling sun burns your risk is greater.
Im a pale skinned ginger…I dont leave the house if the sun is shining without at least 30SPF already applied.
I live in Florida, frequent the beach, and never apply sunscreen.
I wear long-sleeved collared shirt, jeans, and a hat everyday. No need for sunscreen.
Same for me in Arizona, though I’m beginning to consider it more frequently. I’m still young and arrogant so it hasn’t been pressed home yet.
If going out on a long ride, I use sun sleeves and leg coolers. They have the addd advantage of extra cooling if you pour water on them.
Not being a fan of wrinkles or skin cancer, I use kiehl’s Facial Fuel SPF 15 on my face and neck after I shower, and hit the areas not going to be covered by clothes (hands, arms, head, etc) with something like Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunscreen Spray 30 before I go out.
The times I use sunscreen the most are out at the ranch.
Out there…you have to be careful what you choose. Some sunscreens are too oily and I look like a sugar cookie after running the tractor for a few hours! LOL the dirt accumulation makes it hardly worth wearing.
Also, some sun screens have scents that attract mosquitoes and horse flies - this creates another problem out in the wild.
One thing I have found that give me insect repellant and sunscreen that is not overly greasy and stays in in the sweat is Bullfrog Mosquito Coast. If you need sunscreen, bug protection and something that stays on when you sweat a lot…this works pretty well.
I used to be that way. Now I have to see my dermatologist 2 or 3 times a year, and have lots of freeze and stitch scars.
Now when I am out for more that a couple minutes I were long sleeves and pants, a hat and even sunscreen gloves.
Depending on what I am doing, I might even wear a balaclava. And I wear 70SPF on any exposed areas of my face.
Fishing guide clothes are some of the best for all day exposure.
Long sleeves are very hard to do here in South Texas at this time in the year! LOL
Yes…the “fishing guide” stuff made by Columbia comes the closest to being comfortable in this climate.
This is how I rolled for pretty much my entire life, but now at 30 I’m rethinking that. I’ve been applying sunscreen everyday before work to all exposed areas starting this year. I’d rather not get melanoma.
It isn’t hard to do when you already have problems with skin cancer. I do it all the time. It beats the alternative.
I sometimes work outside. I’ve never seen a coworker use sunscreen, even during all day projects. I used to be self conscious about using it but there’s no reason for that so I slather it on liberally around break time before the real exposure begins.
I was the same way when I was stationed in Guam. I used the deep tanning oils (2-4 SPF) until I got brown, then I felt I was “protected”. 10 years later my wife (a physician who sees peoples’ skin abnormalities rather frequently) expresses concern with the appearance of some of my moles.
Some variant of Ocean Potion is always in my range bag. It’s good stuff.
I know too many people in their 40s and 50s - including an olive-skin woman of Greek descent - with melanoma not to take precautions.
Hmmm… on Sundays I go on longer bike rides, almost always around 3 hours or more. Sleeveless jersey, because it’s so fookin’ hot here, but the sun is blazing down on clear days. Can’t imagine how hot sun sleeves & leg coolers would be!
Every other afternoon after work I go for a bring walk after work too, for an hour. I’ve started putting sun screen on my arms, but guess I need to start spraying my hairy legs too- when cycling as well, I guess.