Best Sunscreen for fair skin?
 

Hi everyone, Just curious what's the best sunscreen for very fair skin? Last year I used Total Block 65 for my face, Rit sunguard on my clothes, and Banana Boat SPF 45 for my body. I wear a hat, cover-up and sunglasses (except when in the water). I also avoid the mid-day sun as much as possible, and don't lay-out. Unfortunately, even with all my precautions I still got sun poisoining (but no sunburn) my last 2 days in Kauai last year. Big-time bummer. Is there anything else I can do, short of not venturing out doors?

When I've gotten too much sun, I wear my Columbia long-sleeved tropical shirt made to provide sun protection while keeping you cool. I always keep on a ballcap and sunglasses...even in the water. I bought my shirt at the Bass Sportsman's store in Islamorada in the Keys.

But, it sounds like you have something else going on if you are gettin sun poisoning without sunburn. I'd consult a dermatologist.

I broke out in a red rash one time on a warm but not hot day on a mountain lake at 3000' elevation. Can't remember the name of the condition, but the dermatologist knew at once what it was.

At the very least he/she could recommend the best sunscreen for someone as fair as you.

I'm in the same boat - red hair and the very fair skin that goes with it! I tend to layer the suncreen. My moisturizer has it, my foundation has it. I use a hat and wear the sunblock clothing. I really don't like the way sun blocks/screens feel but I wear them anyway. The one item that I use that is not advertised to guard against the sun I found by accident. I use Prescriptives
Line Preventor. My husband and I went out of town one weekend and we accidentally left one bag sitting in the kitchen - my makeup, sunblock, hat, the whole nine yards. The only thing I had with me was a small container of the LP that I had in my purse. We went to an outdoor art fair and I knew I was cooked. By the time I got back inside to check the damage I discovered that I was pink everywhere except where I had applied the LP. I asked a sales associate about it later and she said that it must be because it is a shield against free radicals, etc, etc... Anyway, long story short, I use it religiously now,even on my hands. Of course, I don't sit out in the sun or anything, and I even have a parasol. I'm just trying to keep the damage from getting any worse. They say most damage is done by the time you are 20, and that was a long time ago for me! :)

I forgot it say that the actual sunscreen that I use on my face is from Dr Dennis Gross. It is formulated for the face. I order it from his web site.

Hawaiian Tropic has an Ozone SPF 70. They sell that in Florida. The best defense if you want no sun exposure is the sunscreen, the hat (get a wider brim), sunglasses and long sleeved tops and pants - linen or silk (fabrics that breath). Cotton is terrible when wet (slow dry) and you're more likely to want to get out of wearing it after a while. Saying all that it is nearly impossible to not get some sun exposure in the tropics or anywhere for that matter.

What do you mean - sun poisoning? If you got no sunburn, then the goop and clothing did the job. If you are referring to the headache, nausea, fatigue that comes after spending time in the sun for some people (including me), then all the goop in the world will not work. Not sure what causes it - for some the logical explanation is dehydration - but it effects some people even if they consume enough fluids to float away.

As far as sunblock, most people do not apply enough. It is supposed to take about 2 ounces to cover a person - and if you look at the amounts in bottles, that is a lot of sunblock.

I'm very fair skinned and I use Bullfrog. I grew up in a coastal area, spend huge amounts of time outside and always got burned. Once I switched to Bullfrog, I never got a burn again. Even in Maui...spend an entire day swimming and snorkeling, reapplied twice during the day and barely got any color, let alone a burn. It's awesome stuff. I wear it all year round and haven't had any trouble.

Walgreen's Ultra sunblock was highly rated by CR. I have used it in Panama, CR, USVIs and BVIs and in the mountains of Central Mexico. Once a day application was fine even snorkling and diving, 'tho I don't sunbathe.
M

Not sure if this is what you mean by sun poisoning, but my kids had a bad reaction to an SPF 45 brand name lotion two years ago. They were teens at the time, and it wasn't sunburn-- their skin got inflamed and really hurt them. Even after thoroughly washing off the sunscreen in the shower, their skin was painful for a day or two. I assumed it was a chemical in that sunblock. We applied aloe and Benadryl gel, which helped just a little.
I wonder if it's better to use an SPF 30 and re-apply it often, rather than trying to use a 45 or 60--?? It's fun having fair skin isn't it?!!

I really like Shisheido Ultra for the face (SPF 55). It's not as greasy as some, and I put it on my face and hands every day. I also keep their sunscreen compact in my purse for extra protection. Were you on any medication while in Hawaii? While taking meds during an illness, I noticed the little sticker that said "avoid sun", but went about my gardening, walking, etc. anyway. I had trouble with sun poisoning and now have sun damage. I am now very diligent avoiding sun exposure. Starrsville is correct in recommending a dermatologist.

The last time I went to the beach I forgot the beachbag that contained my sunscreen. So, when I arrived I ended up getting baby sunscreen (waterproof, not irritating and SPF 60) and I will never use anything else. No burn on my face, and I'm a red haired, fair skinned, green eyed girl.

The problem with most of the other sunscreens I tried previously was that it irritated my skin and wore off in the water. I would break out, and I am prone to sun blisters on my lips.

Some medications advise limited sun exposure --are you taking any of these?

I'm a skin cancer survivor. Sounds to me like you are doing everything you can...which everyone should. I think you may have a special skin problem which you need to see a dermotologist for.

To everyone, PLEASE use sunscreen. A tan means that your skin has been attacked by ulta violet rays, sort of like a black eye means you have been punched. There is no such thing as a healthy tan.

I second the suggestion for Bullfrog. Nothing gets through it, and it only comes off in soapy water. As I remember it, it was invented by a chemist for his little girl, who had platinum blond hair and blue eyes. I stopped getting a tan years ago when too many friends developed skin cancer, and I can still go to the beach with Bullfrog. ((S))((*))

I guess some people were a little confused by my sun poisoning comment. The technical term is Polymorphous Light Eruption (PMLE) or sun allergy, or sun poisoning depending on who you talk to. It's not an allergy or poisoning, it just indicates hypersensitivity to the sun. The most common symptom is a hive-like rash, for me on my hands and arms.

Since I know I have PMLE I always apply sunscreen every 2 hours, wear long sleeves, a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, long pants, swimshirts etc. I also use a sun block for my face that is made for people with Lupus or skin cancer. It's called Fallene Total Block 65, it blocks all forms of light.

Consumer reports recommends Banana Boat sport, which is what I used last year. But the CR report is rather old, so I was just curious what others were using. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I think I'll invest in some Bullfrog and a couple others just to see what works best for me!

anna - I am a sales rep that calls on dermatologists and have been doing that for about 9 years with several diferent companies. Almost any dermatologists that I talk to recommends Total Block as the best sunscreen out there so sounds like you were using the right product.

One big issue about sunscreen is remembering to reapply. The SPF number only means how long you can stay in the sun without burning. So after an hour you should put your Total Block on again. Suncreens also protect only against UVB rays (they cause the redness). UVA and other rays are also damaging although they may not cause burning.

Someone else mentioned being on medications. Check out Total Block's website totalblock.com. They list medications that might have a reaction with suncreens. Seems like a pretty long list!! I don't work for Total Block but one of my friends did and I am constantly talking to my Drs. about sun damage.

I have hypersensitivity to the sun too, Annahead. My favorite sunscreen is Sunceuticals Special Defense. It has block-out in it. However, sunscreen is just a back up for people like you and me, you really need to be fully shaded. I've found I'm only fully protected with a hat, sunscreen, long sleeves, etc. Still, my greatest find so far, and a real life saver (and vacation saver) is the sun umbrella I got from Sun Precautions, a company that sells protective clothing and accessories for those with sun issues. Sure, you first have to get over the self-consciousness of strolling the beach (and everywhere else) on a gorgeous day with an umbrella. But I'm past that...it sure beats being sick. Good luck to you.

Bullfrog.

No contest.

At my lake in Michigan I have to cover myself at all times unless I am actually in the water. I too am the only lucky one in my family to have inherited my dad's very fair red hair skin. My siblings all get tan and don't burn(but that still isn't good for you.) I have burned so badly in the past- that I blistered (shoulders/ears too) several times before I was 20 and a few times afterwards so I have just learned to cover up besides the sunscreens. Every hour reapplying is really a stretch if I am out boating in/out of the water.

I'll try the Bullfrog - where do you buy it? Haven't seen it in my neck of the woods? I have used Total Block. Does Bullfrog last longer if you get wet? I find many products are washing away in an instant. From the name, it sounds like it may last.

Oh yes, I did use that Walgreen's Ultra Sunblock as in the above post, as well. It is good, and it did work in the Caribbean last month. But I didn't swim much there, and I'm really looking for something that lasts in water. If it's "heavy" or oily, that's ok. Does Bullfrog come in different forms?

Bullfrog is a SPF 36 Gel that surfers swear by. I figured if they say it works, I'm on board.

It guarentees waterproof, sweatproof, UVA/UVB protection and it dries instantly. If saltwater doesn't take it off, it is pretty good.

If you don't have a surfshop near you, try Walmart.

Thanks!

Geez, I think I'll try Bullfrog too!!!

www.bullfrogsunblock.com

"BullFrog Sunblock delivers all-day waterproof sun protection with just one application."

"Up & down the California coast, the "locals" tell about it. An incredible creature called BullFrog. While it started out on dry land, its destiny was determined by the water. World class surfers soon claimed BullFrog "an amphibious wonder" providing them with sun protection which was as durable in the water as they were, defying the elements of time and the scorching sun. Today on the beaches from Malibu to Maui to Miami, BullFrog is the trusted one for those who face hours in the sea and sun. Whether you swim, sail, bike, jog, snorkel, hike, ski, or merely splash around, surfer-tested BullFrog is a reliable companion for trusted sun protection.

BullFrog, just ask surfers, for you and for your kids, it's the World's Best Sunblock."

I use Skinceuticals Sport SPF 45 which is sweatproof and waterproof and contains the physical barrier zinc (Z-Cote) while many lotions use a chemical barrier. I get it from an aesthetics dept. in a cosmetic surgeon's office but it can be found online as well.

I use Skinceuticals too, it's great stuff. In my earlier post, I called it Sunceuticals. Oops. I just used my last drop over my vacation last week in Florida. Can't decide whether or not to try the highly recommended Fallene Total Block for something new...

I too suffer from PMLE, and it sounds like Bullfrog may be something that may help me. However, I also like to get a tan over the summer months, and was just wondering if you still get a tan while using Bullfrog, or does it completely block all tanning?

Put it this way, I spent two weeks on a sailboat in the Bahamas one June. I was outside on the boat from sunup to sundown for two weeks solid. I used Bullfrog and only Bullfrog the entire time. I never once burnt and came home with a savage tan:-D

If it will prevent PMLE, and still be able to get a tan, I'm buying Bullfrog!! Nothing more disappointing than waiting all year for a vacation at the beach, then having to limit your sun exposure due to a severe rash from PMLE!!! Thanks, Go Travel, hopefully you've just saved my vacations from now on.

What is PMLE?

It is short for Polymorphous Light Eruption, or sun allergy. It looks like small, watery blisters of the skin. It happens early in the year when you first expose the skin you've had protected from the sun during the winter months. Usually hits the chest, upper arm, shoulder area. Typically goes away in a week or so, and the skin "hardens off' after being exposed to the sun a few times. But when it first hits, more sun exposure usually makes it worse. That is why I'm looking for a sunscreen/block that will protect from the outbreak of PMLE. Go to the beach in May, and after the first day I have to be careful about removing my shirt because of the PMLE and it getting worse.

This is probably too late, but here goes: Having Lupus for many years has been challenging,too. I also react to many of the harsh sunscreens (the ones that probably work the best)and have great difficulty finding the right ones.(I have to use different sunscreens or sunblocks in different areas,e.g.ONLY titanium dioxide on my face,Bullfrog Superblock Lotion 45 on my arms (cannot use Bullfrog gels that are SPF 36-go figure!) I'm sensitive to the Fallene Total Sun Block and it was a very expensive experiment, I'll say. My dermatologist is one of the best and he has difficulty finding one that doesn't cause me irritation of the skin. Bullfrog Spray is the greatest thing for my child who has a tendency to burn like a redhead because her skin is very fair. So, my advice is to experiment with the cheapest ones that work the best-Bullfrog products and Panama Jack's SPF 75 before moving on to the expensive stuff. Hope this helps someone.

In addition to applying a liberal portion of sunscreen you need to reapply it at fairly frequent intervals (as much as every 90 minutes if you are perspiring or swimming-even if it says waterproof, I believe). I know a number of the sunscreens already mentioned state they provide great protection, but unless they contain Parsol 1769 (avobenzone), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide they are not protecting anyone from both UVA and UVB rays. It's criminal the way the FDA allows companies whose sunscreens are not properly formulated to claim their products offer skin cancer protection.
Adding antioxidant-rich moisturizers under the sunscreen can help. It's even possible that a vitamin supplement containing PABA can help protect you. I heartily recommend the wonderfully formulated non-irritating products from Paula's Choice (www.cosmeticscop,com)

My favorite is not available in the US. I buy it in Canada and the UK...
Here's an article about it:

Burn, baby, burn

The other thing we worried about in Montana was being toasted by the sun. Only a fool goes out without sunscreen these days, and spending hours in the middle of nowhere digging up dinosaur bones would have left us in bad shape without it.

So, like everyone else, we slathered on our SPF 45 and 48 sunscreen and kept ourselves sunburn free. And believe me, if you missed a spot, you knew. (To be accurate, I bet most people didn't "slather" it on. Using sunscreens properly require that you use plenty, something most people don't do.)

Anyway, about sunscreens: Some work by physically blocking the sun from your skin; think zinc oxide and white noses. But most of us — those unwilling to look like some strange tribal warrior — use the typical chemical sunscreens that absorb the nasty ultraviolet (UV) rays.

See, those UV rays get your pigment cells (called melanocytes) to produce melanin, which makes you tan. Trouble is, those melanocytes are easily damaged by UV rays and can cause skin cancer. (UV rays are a form of ionizing radiation, which makes them Bad; see my column on the subject from April.) The tanner you are, and the more often you tan, the greater your chances of cancer.

Here's the thing about sunscreens: Even the ones with the high SPFs — like the 48 we used in Montana — only block some of the UV rays, the ones known as UV-B. The other major kind, UV-A, are less powerful but there are more of them. (UV-C is the most powerful, but is absorbed by the atmosphere.)

But it's the UV-A rays that can age skin and cause skin cancer. In fact, it may be the primary cause of skin cancer; it's possible that sunscreen only prevents you from burning, but doesn't protect your cells' DNA from damage. (A five year study at the Queensland Institute for Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia, found that using sunscreen didn't reduce the risk of melanoma or basal cell carcinoma in adults.)

All this leads us to Mexoryl.

Mexoryl was developed by scientists at L'Oreal. (Yes, you read that right. L'Oreal has one of the most advanced dermatological labs in the world.) It blocks UV-A rays, something other companies weren't able to achieve because the chemicals would break down too quickly. With that problem solved, L'Oreal started selling products with Mexoryl back in 1993.

Today there are lots of sunscreens using Mexoryl (either Mexoryl SX or XL), and they provide far, far better protection than those that don't.

But Mexoryl isn't legal in the US. The Canadians have it, the Europeans have it, that Japanese have it, the Australians have it, the Mexicans have it, the South Americans have it — but not us. It was, in fact, submitted for approval to the FDA on June 28, 2001, but still that approval awaits. And so do Americans.

Well, maybe not. Today there's this Internet thing you may have heard of, which allows you to shop around the world and buy these better sunscreens easily. (People have been selling it in major cities for some time, in fact, although it's an 'under-the-counter' product.)

A quick Froogle search will come up with about two dozen places selling major-brand sunscreens with Mexoryl. They're not in the States, but they're happy to provide you a price in Yankee Dollars; some even offer free shipping.

There's plenty of speculation about whether and when the FDA will approve Mexoryl (the agency itself can't comment). Till then, you have to decide what's more important: Listening to the FDA, or preventing skin cancer. I know which way I go.

I am fair too - what you are doing is fine, it not to good to get super obsessed with something you can't avoid. what is so stupid are the people who stay outside for hours and use no protection and get burned then complain and want sympathy. The more you expose your skin gradually to the sun daily (30 minutes at a time), the better your skin gets use to the sun and can protect itself naturally. Even the fairest skin can get a slight tinge of color over time which is natures way of protecting itself.

Stephanie:
I would question your advice. According to dermatologists, tanning is the display of damaged skin. AND, the damage is cumulative over your life time. Your skin may toughen up like protective leather, but that ain't the way I want to look!

Sunscreens with Mexoryl are the way to go. You cannot get it in this country, but you can order it online from Canada. I get Ombrelle from L'Oreal in spf 15 with Mexoryl,which blocks 92% uva rays. I think I pay 17 per bottle from Canada, but it is worth it.

I have sensivite/fairer skin and used to get red bumps on my skin, which is called sun poisioning. It is a combination of things, irritating sunscreens and your skin getting too hot. Go into the water and cool your body down as often as possible. Since I lowered my spf and go into water often, I no longer have this problem. My dermatologist told me the higher SPF, the more irritating it is. She explained to me that SPF = the amount of time you can spend in the sun before getting burned. I use 15 and reapply often. I never ever burn, and never get dark, which I prefer.

Also the best way to prevent sunburn is to apply sunscreen after your shower in the morning to your ENTIRE body. You do get sun thru your clothing and bathingsuit. Many people do not use enough sunscreen either...really slather it on and rub it into your skin. So many people wait to get to the beach or outdoors to apply which is wrong...sunscreen actually takes a good 30-45 minutes to work. By applying it first thing all over your body, with a lower SPF, you will be protecting your entire body and not irritating it. If you use an spf 15 you should reapply every 2 hours.

I know everyone is different, but this is what really works for me. I am not a doctor but it sounds like annahead is irritating her skin with harsh sunscreen due to the high spf. Try lowering the spf, reapplying often and cooling you skin in water.

Ohh forgot to add....sunscreen turns into cement on your skin. It binds with oils, dirt and sweat. It is very important to thoroughly cleanse the skin with mild soap and a washcloth or a scrunchy thingy. The buildup of sunscreen on your skin will also cause irritation which leads to the red bumps. When I am on a beach vacation, I take a shower in the afternoon to scrub all the stuff off, then start all over again. I only do this if I am out in the sun all day...the sunscreen gets gross after a while.

Also, for a face sunscreen, I use Murad oil free tinted spf 15. It does not clog pores, and it looks really good on your face. I change this every 2 hours or so by either washing my face or using proactiv face cloths.

All these things work for me...It might sound excessive but if you hve sensitive skin, it's what you gotta do.

My youngest is blonde and blue-eyed and very sensitve to the sun. We use Coppertone Sport (48) because it is non-greasy and long lasting.

In addition to protecting your skin from harmful rays, protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses!