Sun Protection in Caribbean
 

Taking my first trip to the Caribbean in early November. I'm pretty fair-skinned (I can tan a little, but I have to do it gradually, using SPF 8 or 15 sunscreen). My question is: Should I use a higher SPF in the Caribbean than I normally do (I live in North Texas) in order to keep from getting burned?

Thanks.

Most definitely. The sun is stronger here and you will burn quicker than at home, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time in the sun. I speak from experience as a Texan who moved to the Caribbean almost 13 years ago.

Bring at least 30, possibly 50, SPF sunblock along and have fun!

ditto statia. the sun is stronger as you are closer to equator. plus the reflective thing from the water and sand. apply liberally and often to avoid a burn which could dampen your whole trip.
not that i really advise this but i have been known to hit the tanning beds before i go to sort of jump start my pale winter skin color.

Anything over 15 is arguably a waste unless you want complete no-tan coverage. Start with 15 and sunbathe early or late in day. Stay outta the mid-day sun is you're esp sensitive.
Start now with a pre-sun conditionner that has the active ingredients tyrosene and/or copper peptides will raise the melnanin layer in your skin, as does the sun. Not a replacement for SPF sun stuff but will give you a higher protection to start with...

melanin in above

consider buying special sun protection garments such as Sunveil - www.sunveil.com. They really work.

We use a 30 , and have for years ..... Pharmacists and dermatologists consider those with Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide provide the best coverage . And Tiv. , we still manage to tan whether we want to or not !!!

Thanks for the important tips. That has been one of my concerns, as someone who burns easily (I wear 45 in the U.S.). I'll have to be extra-careful, I know!

Everyone in our family wears at least 30 SPF and tans just fine, as well. Actually, I've been burned wearing 30+ after not applying it often enough when in and out of the water.

Exactly !!

Wow! Thanks for all the responses; they're very helpful.

Follow-up question: How should I go about doing both the sunscreen and insect repellant? The only combination products I could find only have 15 or 20 SPF, and your responses to my original post make it clear I will need at least 30 SPF. Do I just rub on waterproof sunscreen and then spray on some repellant on top of that?

Thanks again.

Don't use the combination insect repellant / sunscreen. There are not equal amounts of both and you could get an uneven tan. Plus, during the day, on the beach, etc. I never wear bug spray, only at night or hiking, but not on the beach or at the pool. Have fun!

I agree that you probably wouldn't need to use both. Insect repellent would be needed more at night or when hiking, as MIM said.

If by some chance you do have to use both at the same time, I would apply sunscreen first and then a spray on insect repellent.

Just be sure to re-apply sunscreen after any length of time in the water.

Depending on where exactly you are going , during the day in the sun you probably will not need bug-spray . They would be a bit more bothersome at dusk , nipping at your ankles under the dinner table !!!! Unless of course you are travelling to an island notorious for no-seeums !!! I find the bugs a LOT more bothersome here in Canada than down south .......

I am olive skin, Italian, and still use at least 30spf to start with. We reapply all day if going to be out from early am til dusk(usually the case). I tan very nice even with sun screen. When we bathe it all off, and go to dinner, we use our favorite "fragrance"-Mosquito Milk. It is a roll on bug repellent, found on many islands and it works very well. We put it around our ankles, neck anywhere we know we are prone to bites. I hope this helps!
virginia, I also jump start my tan a bit(have a tanning bed at home...:)

Dawn and dusk are skeeter and no-see-um time, esp. on beaches. Ticks can also be a nuisance if you hike. Deet-based repellants often work best/there are some new non-Deet repellants just launched this year. Apply SPF sun lotion first, then anti-insect spray.
If you tan easily, you can start with SPF 8...

As a person of Irish extraction, I am extremely fair skinned and tend to burn and freckle with any kind of sun exposure. Despite that, however, I usually use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 for my body and a special oil-free one with SPF 23 (odd, I know) for my face. I only take direct sunlight early in the morning or late in the afternoon and reapply at regular intervals. The only times I've ever been sunburned in my many trips to the Caribbean were in places where the lotion just didn't get to -- the crease where my arm meets my torso being a notorious one, and the tops of my feet being another one. Usually I come home from a Caribbean visit with more intense freckles on my face and faint strap marks from my bathing suit but nothing more.

I read a Consumer Reports-type review of sunscreens once upon a time and it said that anything over an SPF of 15 didn't really make much difference in sun protection. THat has certainly held true in my own experience, but whenever I'm responsible for someone else's sun exposure, I do make them wear higher SPF lotion, as my granddaughter can attest. But she came home from Tortola without sunburn.

I am intrigued by pre-sun conditioner, as recommended by tivertonhouse. But, have not been able to find it or locate a brand name. Any help would be appreciated.

Caribbean sun is not like the sun we get in the northeast or even like north Texas. I would use no less than SPF 30 even to pre-tan. I am olive-skinned and tolerate sun well but I wouldn't chance it. We use SPF 45 and reapply a couple of times if we are outside all day. We had a friend visit us in January and he got sun poisoning from cavalier use of sunscreen.

I would start out with at least a 30 and it depends how far south you are in how close to the Equator you are. I apply my sunscreen before I get dressed for the day, this way I don't miss any areas that might get explose when the bathing suite rides up and doctors recommend you apply sunscreen at least 1/2 hour before you head out in the sun so it can sink in and do its thing.

As far as bug repellant goes, I would use a separate lotion and you more than likely won't need it on the beach, although some beaches have sand fleas or something that bites and some people get bad reactions (me) and some people are not affected at all (my husband). Again it depends on how lush the place you are going to is and if it is the rainy season or not if you will need it at night, but I always pack bug repellant as it comes in small containers and doesn't take up much room in suitcase. You may want to pack liquids like sunscreen/bug repellant in a Ziploc type of bag incase they leak during travel.

Take along lots of sunscreen because it is very expensive to buy in the Caribbean if you run out.

Have a good vacation.