Summer wear for the sun-challenged

[Yen]

I'm a blue-eyed redhead, which basically means that I burn just thinking about the sun's glorious rays. If I'm going to be in the sun for more than an hour, I use SPF 50 or greater (less than an hour, and I can usually not burn with SPF 30, depending on the time of day). I love REI brand sunscreen, but it's a bit pricey, especially considering that I simply cannot go in there without coming out with about 32 things that weren't on my list. It's not super greasy, and it's pretty good at staying on. Otherwise, I use good old Coppertone Sport and reapply every 60-90 minutes, depending on sunniness, sweatiness, etc. I usually wipe down with a wet wipe before reapplying - allows the sunscreen to get into the skin, rather than sit on top of a layer of grime. At the end of the day, I'm still slightly pink, but it fades overnight, and I'm ready for the next day of riding with a few extra freckles.

Thanks for the cute testimonial. I have your hair, but my eyes are green. I'm able to tan but I got too much sun while I was young (beach, parents' pool, taught swimming outdoors for a whole summer ...) that I try to avoid it altogether now. I just want to be out as long as I want without having to run for cover and since I haven't sun-bathed for years, my legs and arms are white. I had my first skin cancer (basal cell) removed last year, so I have to be very careful now.

And, this goes for anyone -- not just redheads! Fortunately, they're no longer picking on redheads as the group most at risk for skin cancer. Now, they usually say "freckles and blue eyes", which can be any hair color. Fair-skinned is fair-skinned..... also having red hair doesn't raise the risk any higher.

[KnottedYet]

Red hair, freckles, green eyes.

Malignant melanoma.

First doc I went to said I was too young to have skin cancer and refused to do anything about my funny mole. Told me I was too stressed and said I must be picking at it because of stress. (far as I knew I didn't mess with it at all, but the doc must be right, right?)

Second doc, much later, saved my life.

Sunscreen and protective clothing is nice, but get an annual skin check (ALL of your skin!) too.

[Yen]

Red hair, freckles, green eyes.

Malignant melanoma.

First doc I went to said I was too young to have skin cancer and refused to do anything about my funny mole. Told me I was too stressed and said I must be picking at it because of stress. (far as I knew I didn't mess with it at all, but the doc must be right, right?)

Second doc, much later, saved my life.

Sunscreen and protective clothing is nice, but get an annual skin check (ALL of your skin!) too.

Yikes! Glad you found a second doc. The first one should have his/her license taken away!!!

[rij73]

Red hair, freckles, green eyes.

Malignant melanoma.

First doc I went to said I was too young to have skin cancer and refused to do anything about my funny mole. Told me I was too stressed and said I must be picking at it because of stress. (far as I knew I didn't mess with it at all, but the doc must be right, right?)

Second doc, much later, saved my life.

Sunscreen and protective clothing is nice, but get an annual skin check (ALL of your skin!) too.

So sorry you had to go through that!

DH had a funny thing on his nose that his dermatologist insisted was not skin cancer. He saw this guy every month for four months for something else, and the guy kept insisting that it was nothing to worry about. Well, finally *I* insisted that DH demand a biopsy, and guess what? Basal cell carcinoma! I was soooooo pissed at that doctor. If it had been melanoma, I don't know what I would have done...

[firenze11]

Red hair, freckles, green eyes.

Malignant melanoma.

First doc I went to said I was too young to have skin cancer and refused to do anything about my funny mole. Told me I was too stressed and said I must be picking at it because of stress.

What's with doctors assuming that because you're young you can't have anything wrong with you? Thankfully you followed your instinct and didn't just trust him/her.

I'm also very pale, blonde hair, blue eyes. I've been using L'oreal Ombrelle sunscreen for a few years because it has mexoryl in it. I put it to the test in Italy last summer when there was a heatwave in Rome. (It felt a lot like standing in front of an oven - and I'm no stranger to heat/humidity). It lasted a long time even though I got quite sweaty at time and I never got a burn. Amazing for me.

It's great to know there are cycling clothes with SPF protection in them as well. Thanks for starting this thread Yen. Learn something new everyday.

[Yen]

...It's great to know there are cycling clothes with SPF protection in them as well. Thanks for starting this thread Yen. Learn something new everyday.

I'm glad I started it too, and that it is benefiting others. It's a serious subject we don't want to think about, but I'd rather think about it and take precautions now than have big regrets later over something I can prevent.

Team Estrogen sells some SFP 35 long sleeve jerseys (see link on page 1 of this thread). We got ours from Skin Savers (before I learned that TE also carries them), though I noticed they are quite a bit more expensive than the ones TE sells.