HN Explorer

Ask HN: Are You Wearing Sunscreen?

27 points by nowandlater ↗ HN
I'm seeing a lot of opinions recently on HN about sunscreen, so I'm looking to poll the community on the topic.

For context - I'm living in socal, I'm cycling 70-100 miles for at least one day, 20-40 other days with at least one rest day, and some days past 12PM (70-100 mile days).

For those who are in the sun for extended periods - are you wearing sunscreen? If so, what are you using? If not, any helpful strategies? Thanks everyone for your advice.

60 comments

[ 43.4 ms ] story [ 474 ms ] thread
LinuxBender
I am not a pro cyclist like yourself but for what it's worth I have seen some thin breathable gear in cycle shops that will act like sunscreen for most of the body without the potentially unknown/harmful chemicals that may be in some sunscreen lotions. I don't know what to do about protecting the face. When I am working in my fields I wear a straw-hat but obviously that would not work for cycling. I believe the safety requirements for children's sunscreen may be different than for adults so maybe that is worth looking into.
ericbarrett
I'm in my mid-40s and have age spots on my hands from not wearing sunscreen while driving long distances. Wish I did sooner.
Nomentatus
No! I follow the research on melanin, which has been revolutionized over the last twenty years. We need UVB and skin cancer is much less likely to kill you if you are a sunseeker. That said, every second day for heavy exposure is better for health and tanning according to another study.
pelagicAustral
I reckon it depends on where you live. I grew up in southern Chile where we don't see that many sunny days, and yet it has the highest incidence of fatalities due to skin cancer [0]. Skin cancer being one of the most common cancers in the country overall (3rd most common) [1].

I can attest, on a clear sunny day in Punta Arenas, the sun will absolutely char your skin after a few hours sun bathing out in the wild.

All of this, of course, due to the hole in the ozone layer present on both hemispheres. You can see the historical dataa showing the evolution of the southern hemisphere and correlate that to the high incidence of skin cancer [2]

One of the tradeoffs of having penguins around I guess. So yeah, down here, sunscreen is a must.

[0] https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-revista-medica-clinica-la...

[1] https://medicina.uc.cl/noticias/cancer-la-piel-uno-los-cance...

[2] https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/ozone-depleting-sub...

Nomentatus
Good point on Antarctica. Weird as it seems, the reseach shows you're six times less likely to die of skin cancer if you're a sunseeker. (Twice as likely to get it; just not die of it.) Plus longevity benefits, etc.
saaaaaam
Can you link that research please?
Nomentatus
This secondary-source article is good but isn't quite on the exact point: https://www.outsideonline.com/health/wellness/sunscreen-sun-...

I think another (earlier?) article in the same magazine might be better. I really need to get my computer setup working again; between Windows hiccups, a failing oldie-but-goodie big box PC and a recent malware scare and spring cleaning, I'm struggline to get reorganized (and my saved, tagged medical article links exceed 50,000.)

pelagicAustral
I'm having issues finding more literature pointing to the fact that more exposure to the sun would diminish the odds of getting skin cancer.

Interestingly enough I learned that darker skin tones, while still being susceptible to, are less likely to develop skin cancer [0]. The population in southern Patagonia is large made of Hispanic descent, in Southern Chile a large portion of the people are light skinned, in stark contrast with the aboriginal population that was massacred on both sides of Patagonia [1][2]. I guess you get what you bargained for.

[0] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10985-sun-exp...

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquest_of_the_Desert

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selk%27nam_genocide

Nomentatus
What I had read is that the odds of GETTING skin cancer were doubled in sunseekers but the odds of DYING of skin cancer were only one-sixth for sunseekers! Melanin appears to be very good at eliminationg toxic molecules, viruses, bacteria, and circulating cancer cells (I suspect this is happening in the interstitium.) Since mercury bonds very well to melanin, and can rip all those nasties apart easily, and we know small amounts of heavy metals (not just copper) improve health and longevity (believe it or don't) maybe this is why: mercury (etc) bound to melanin is used as a garbarator to chew up anything that shouldn't be flowing through the interstitium. (Which then dumps to the kidneys IIRC.)

Still working on reestablishing my computer setup. Mysterious hard drive fail not helping...

dijonman2
I wear a lot of sunscreen and UV blocking fabric. If you don’t you will look pretty gnarly later in life.
danw1979
For me, 43m, white skin, not too fair, UK - I gradually tan without sunscreen (15 mins a day) deliberately in early summer (but not face or neck !) and then can use small amounts of sunscreen just on face, neck and forearms for the rest of the summer if I’m out for hours, or just nose, cheeks back of neck if it’s a short period, or maybe a wide brimmed hat with no sunscreen if possible. I like vitamin D and dislike using sunscreen and having wrinkles, so this is the compromise.

If you’re cycling a lot in strong sun, just slap the sunscreen on your face, neck and arms. Don’t get burnt.

horsawlarway
Yes, but only for prolonged and planned exposure (more than 3 hours). My primary goal is to avoid burns, but not UV in general, given how much recent studies show we need it.
beningrad
I also do a lot of athletics in the sun--cycling, but also climbing and ski touring--where sweat wicking fabric and breathable clothing is crucial. Over the years I've acquired several sun protective hooded long sleeve shirts which don't cause me to overheat. I've got a helmet, sunglasses, and short or pants on, as well, so I end up putting sunscreen on the few parts of my body which are exposed. Bottom half of my face, back of my neck, and bottom half of my legs.
etrautmann
+1 on the sun hoodies. Those are amazing and make being in bright sun much less stressful. Patagonia had great ones, but pulled them for not meeting 50 SPF spec, but the replacements are still somewhere in the mid 30s I believe.
hprotagonist
yeah i have 4 of them that i got at a steep post-recall discount :)
t_mann
Try to avoid sunburns as much as you can. The advice on UV exposure in general has changed recently, I used to put on loads of sunscreen, but going much easier on it this summer.
aynyc
Yes, I wear sunscreen for anything longer than an hour outside. I even wear it skiing.

When I go climbing, fishing or hiking, I have SPF clothes that are fairly breatheable. I reapply every 3 hours or so.

For my face, I use CeraVe Face moisturizer Lotion with SPF-30. For the rest of my body, I use Coppertone 30 mineral sunscreen now because I got them on sale. I usually get whatever on sale as long as it’s minerals based.

cobertos
There is a real risk of sunburn during snow sports. I got the worst facial sunburn I've ever had after a day of snowboarding.
hprotagonist
i wear a rash guard and a hat, and sunscreen on my face. i prefer clothing to sunscreen when i can, just from a tactile preference.

a loose sun hoody (like patagonia’s ) is pretty ideal for cycle touring. For cycling specifically, where you’re out for long periods of exertion, i prefer full coverage clothes anyway because it cuts down on the amount of grit that sticks to sweaty skin. That’s just flat out uncomfortable.

voisin
No. I have read various reports that the majority of people who get skin cancer are office workers who go outside less frequently and then get burned. I never let myself get burned, I try to spend my outdoor time in the mornings and evenings rather than mid day or afternoon, and I eat a healthy diet which I understand is a bigger influence on skin cancer than sun exposure.
e9
I used to run for hours in NorCal and SoCal every weekend and experimented a lot. I found that:

- you should use sunscreen. I use Hawaiian Tropics sports edition or Neutrogina Hydroboost sunscreen (I hate very thick creams)

- sunscreen is not enough. I argue that good hydration and taking antioxidants(fruit/powder juice/supplements like vitamin c and alpha lipoic acid/etc) might be just as important if not more. You can get away with not using sunscreen for under an hour if you do that. I have not tested this for over an hour activities so can’t recommend.

rootsudo
Yes, everyday. As a cyclist, you should know prevention is better than a cure. Do you go out with a spare tube? With a portable pump? With tools to swap a tube?

Doing century rides, sunscreen is right next to having enough water.

Apply our face, back of your neck, ears - arms - legs.

I love biore UV it applies clear and it’s super thin and I’ve never got darker while having it applied. Spots I don’t have sunscreen applied e.g. arms have gotten darker.

Tl;dr Apply sunscreen, it isn’t about gender and it shouldn’t be about convenience. When you’re 40-70 your body/face will thank you.

Also moisturize.

trappist
47m. This time of year (in Texas) I lay out 30-60 minutes a day in a tiny speedo to maximize exposure, and walk shirtless in shorts another 30 minutes, no sunscreen. I'm pretty tan by now which affords significant protection as I understand it. My heuristic has been: we made it a really, really long time with more sun exposure than I can get if I try, before sunscreen was even invented. I might do it differently if I were fair-skinned, or lived at higher altitude or something. During the less sunny months I supplement D3.
palijer
>> My heuristic has been: we made it a really, really long time with more sun exposure than I can get if I try, before sunscreen was even invented

I think your heuristic needs to be updated a bit to account for some recent changes to the environment... Things today are not exactly as they were "a really, really long time" ago.

callalex
We also went a long time without washing anything. A lot more people used to die.
rasse
A long time ago people used to die of other causes much earlier than they could develop skin cancer.
brokenkebab2
I don't think that effects of sun exposure significantly changed since long-long-long time ago as neighboring comment suggests. What certainly changed however is human life longevity. Your tanning strategy should work against burns, and likely has other benefits (e.g. vitamin D). But I suppose your skin still gets damaged, and it makes it age faster. Outdoor workers seem to look more wrinkled after 40 compared to office dwellers. Not sure how the sum of all factors plays here though. Does it worth to look older, but have more natural D (and possibly higher testosterone levels)? Dunno
petre
Usually yes but I don't like it. I prefer anti UV long sleeve clothing, sunglasses and hat or cap.

For cycling I wear anti UV cycling cap under the helmet, thin white arm warmers or long sleeve shirt with zipper collar and 3/4 bibs with sunscreen on the legs and sometimes the face.

For fishing and on the boat I wear long sleeve anti UV shirt with collar, water shorts, surf shoes and sunscreen on the legs and the face.

I was using Avenne SPF 50 but found a better sunscreen in Spain called Sensilis by asking the pharmacist. I usually buy more ocean friendly stuff, it's less water resistant and easier to clean off, doesn't stain the clothes and the wetsuit so badly.

chrismeller
I use a moisturizer that includes SPF on my face every day. When I'm going to be outside for an extended period of time I will also apply a generic SPF to arms, ears, etc. It's not strictly necessary, I don't generally burn unless it's been way over the top, but I would much rather be safer than sorry.

My wife grew up in a country that doesn't have a lot of sun most of the year, so she's firmly in the "burst into flames" category and we make sure she's covered well.

sgtnoodle
Historically, I would prefer to wear cover such as long sleeves, and a brimmed hat. In the last couple years I started taking medications that corrupts my DNA and makes me prone to burning and skin cancer. I've been using mineral sunscreen when I know I'll be outside for an extended time. It seems to work well, and it doesn't feel greasy. It does leave a bit of a white residue, though. I asked a coworker in Hawaii what the best mineral sunscreen is, and she recommended Australian Gold.

I know various older people that got into sailing in their younger years, and they have quite old looking skin for their age.

dzhiurgis
Mineral ones consistently miss their spf ratings when tested, but some must be good. I’d def trust surfers here.
sgtnoodle
I was outside for 3 days straight in Kansas a few weeks ago, without shade from 1pm to 6pm, during an extreme heat warning. I applied 30spf Australian Gold at 8AM and at 1pm. I got just a hint of color on the back of my hands by the end of it. Like I said, I take a medication that makes my burn easily.
latchkey
This probably doesn't solve the cycling issue, but I've taken more to wearing clothes that protect me.

Hat with ear/neck protection and a long sleeve shirts that are made for sun protection and breathability.

When I was cycling more, I'd wear arm/leg covers (you can get stuff that is made for sun protection), gloves and sunscreen on my face.

[1] https://sundayafternoons.com/collections/mens/products/ultra...

[2] https://www.mountainhardwear.com/p/mens-canyon-long-sleeve-s...

jononomo
I have taken to:

1) wearing a brimmed hat as an almost constant fashion accessary

2) almost never going outside without the tops of my feet covered (I always wear laced shoes, never sandals or flip flops);

3) and just being cognizant of the time and my clothing choices.

I absolutely never apply sunscreen and I would be hesitant to do so because I am skeptical that all the chemicals that end up seeping into my bloodstream are doing me any good.

Incidentally, it is amusing how much more respect I get just walking down the sidewalk wearing this hat -- it somehow manages to make me look non-dorky, and people will more commonly nod or even half bow to me or more politely greet me, etc, when I'm wearing this hat: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VS2SFC

jjeaff
I'm guessing it's more likely because it either makes you look older or just makes you stand out more. People feel the need to nod or otherwise acknowledge you when you make eye contact and that probably happens more often when you are wearing an odd hat.
mercy_dude
Male with brown skin. How do I know if I have a sunburn? I guess redness, but for me it is hard to recognize in the mirror because of my skin color.

Does periodic exposure count? Let’s say if I am on the sun for a 10 min and then seek shade and walk under the shade for another 10 and do this for 4-5hrs a day. I am still getting 2hrs of exposure everyday in that manner but giving my skin to heal so to speak, not sure if it makes sense.

thaumasiotes
> Male with brown skin. How do I know if I have a sunburn? I guess redness, but for me it is hard to recognize in the mirror because of my skin color.

Redness is how other people would know. You would know either by the pain it causes or by the fact that when the sunburn heals, all the dead skin peels off.

jjeaff
If you don't know, you've never had one. If you get one, you will know.