52 replies to this topic

[SkyPuppet]

We have a 'summer like' forecast for Blackheath this coming weekend after six or so dismal ones.

Hopefully the following weekend in Sunderland will be good as well.

Felix

I hope so too, Felix
Reading through the Sunderland 2011 topic, looks like there will be a good turn-out for this event! Hopefully nature stays in check for everyone out there.


I completely agree with --Pete, Quincy, and John F - take care of your skin! If possible, get yourself checked regularly at a dermatologist. Skin is the largest organ of the human body! It needs a doctor's attention.
Always always use sunscreen, or cover-up, or both! Spring summer winter fall for me, anytime I'm out in the sun longer than half an hour.
Pay special attention to your face, skin is more susceptible to damage there. Keep your eyes, nose, ears, and lips protected!

[SkyPuppet]

I've got some more sunscreen tips for all you festival-goers!

1. Want to look good at the festival? Get Neutrogena Ultimate Sport sunblock lotion. This sunscreen goes on without being shiny! And it actually has a decent fragrance (for a sunscreen). It also costs 3 times more than most sunscreens! Worth every penny.

2. Going to the festival on a budget? Try Equate SPF 50 Baby Sunscreen (Walmart's house brand), or Banana Boat for Kids (yellow bottle). Both are very good sunscreens. Both will have you looking "greasy" after application, and both will have you smelling like, um, plastic, but protecting yourself from the sun is more important!

3. Begin the day with a lotion-based sunscreen, and use a spray-on sunscreen for re-application throughout the rest of the day.

4. Wash any sunscreen off your palms and fingers! Touching your kite lines with palms and fingers covered in sunscreen will result in sticky, gritty lines! Most sunscreens are water-resistant, so I like to use Dawn or a concentrated dish soap to clean up (try and not wash the sunscreen off the back of your hand, just from the palm-side of your hand).

[SkyPuppet]

Right smack in the middle of summer now, plenty of kite festivals coming up!

Concerning water usage, I'm finding that 1.5 liters of water is lasting about 1.5 to 2 hours of continuous (outdoor) kiting.

When you're out and about, plan appropriately! Nothing will ruin your day faster than a bout of heat exhaustion/heat stroke, conditions brought on by moderate to severe dehydration.

[Khal]

I've got some more sunscreen tips for all you festival-goers!

1. Want to look good at the festival? Get Neutrogena Ultimate Sport sunblock lotion. This sunscreen goes on without being shiny! And it actually has a decent fragrance (for a sunscreen). It also costs 3 times more than most sunscreens! Worth every penny.

2. Going to the festival on a budget? Try Equate SPF 50 Baby Sunscreen (Walmart's house brand), or Banana Boat for Kids (yellow bottle). Both are very good sunscreens. Both will have you looking "greasy" after application, and both will have you smelling like, um, plastic, but protecting yourself from the sun is more important!

3. Begin the day with a lotion-based sunscreen, and use a spray-on sunscreen for re-application throughout the rest of the day.

4. Wash any sunscreen off your palms and fingers! Touching your kite lines with palms and fingers covered in sunscreen will result in sticky, gritty lines! Most sunscreens are water-resistant, so I like to use Dawn or a concentrated dish soap to clean up (try and not wash the sunscreen off the back of your hand, just from the palm-side of your hand).

Great tips on sun protection!

I haven't tried the Neutrogena Ultimate Sport, but I'm a big fan of their Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch formula. It is by far the most comfortable sunscreen I've ever used (and I HATE wearing sunscreen). After application it dries completely, leaving nothing feeling sticky or greasy. The Walgreens store brand equivalent is almost as good (and considerably cheaper).

"Kid" and "Baby" formulas often contain physical (vs. chemical) blocking agents like zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. The plus? Physical barriers don't break down in UV like chemical barriers do, so you don't have to reapply quite as often (though they still rub off). Some also believe that the chemical barriers (and their breakdown products) can be somewhat toxic. The minus? These compounds are what gives suncreen a heavy whitish appearance. I have used the Banana Boat for Kids (yellow bottle) and Banana Boat Baby (pink bottle). Even with the same SPF and same ingredients listed, the Baby has always seemed to work better for me. Not sure why. Note that these Banana Boat products are part physical and part chemical barrier. For an all physical barrier try Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby or it's generic equivalent.

[SkyPuppet]

<snip>
"Kid" and "Baby" formulas often contain physical (vs. chemical) blocking agents like zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. The plus? Physical barriers don't break down in UV like chemical barriers do, so you don't have to reapply quite as often (though they still rub off). Some also believe that the chemical barriers (and their breakdown products) can be somewhat toxic. The minus? These compounds are what gives suncreen a heavy whitish appearance. I have used the Banana Boat for Kids (yellow bottle) and Banana Boat Baby (pink bottle). Even with the same SPF and same ingredients listed, the Baby has always seemed to work better for me. Not sure why. Note that these Banana Boat products are part physical and part chemical barrier. For an all physical barrier try Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby or it's generic equivalent.

Thanks for the breakdown on physical vs. chemical sunscreens!

I will give the Banana Boat Baby sunscreen a try, once I run out of this half-gallon jug of the BB Kids stuff

As mentioned previously in this topic, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide have come along ways, in terms of how they can alter your appearance (remember the lifeguard in the movie Caddyshack, one leg completely white with sunscreen that's over-applied, old-school zinc oxide for sure). The new zinc oxide and titanium dioxide products still take a couple shades of brown out of my tan though. The protection is much better, IMHO.

Unfortunately, as mentioned above, some of the components that make up sunscreen are toxic. In fact, almost every "active" ingredient in sunscreen has been shown to cause cancer within labratory animals.
I wouldn't worry too much about that though. They expose those animals to incredible doses for very extended periods.
Still, I don't chance it. As soon as I am finished exercising (my exercise includes flying the Rev), I'm washing the sunsreen off.

[Khal]

As mentioned previously in this topic, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide have come along ways, in terms of how they can alter your appearance (remember the lifeguard in the movie Caddyshack, one leg completely white with sunscreen that's over-applied, old-school zinc oxide for sure). The new zinc oxide and titanium dioxide products still take a couple shades of brown out of my tan though. The protection is much better, IMHO.

I've always thought it was a pretty neat application of "nano-scale" physics how they do that. Newer manufacturing techniques allow for the creation of large numbers of oxide particles with a very tightly controlled range of sizes. The trick to making "invisible" oxides for sunscreen is to make the particles big enough to block UV wavelengths, but small enough that they don't block visible wavelengths of light. If you look at it in UV light, it's just as opaque as the old stuff. It's still a bit whitish in visible light since the size control isn't perfect and and there is still some scattering.

Unfortuanately as with everything else in life there is a tradeoff. Nanoparticles are relatively new and their safety is not well understood yet. There is some evidence that they can penetrate deeper into the body than larger particles and cause various problems, inlcuding DNA damage. There is just no way in life to be perfectly safe. You've got to take the best tradeoff with the information you have available.

[SparkieRob]

The hat I'm wearing in that pic is the equivalent of an Australian cowboy hat.

Down here they're called Akubra's and next time you're in Australia I'll gladly shout you one. And a Driza-bone as well!

[Chook]

Yeh an Akubra hat for me too.

I use Banana Boat on a "daily basis" as well. I work outside teaching agriculture.

It is the only sunscreen (4 hours in water) I've tried that will give you the protection in humid conditions.

The others seem to be dissolved by sweat and I end up burnt.

Banana Boat is my only choice when welding aluminium, as it safely protects skin that seems to catch all the welding reflections.



Only down side is it's a little greasy and will attract some grit.

[SkyPuppet]

Yeh an Akubra hat for me too.

I use Banana Boat on a "daily basis" as well. I work outside teaching agriculture.

It is the only sunscreen (4 hours in water) I've tried that will give you the protection in humid conditions.

The others seem to be dissolved by sweat and I end up burnt.

Banana Boat is my only choice when welding aluminium, as it safely protects skin that seems to catch all the welding reflections.



Only down side is it's a little greasy and will attract some grit.

Chook, which Banana Boat product do you use, specifically? I like BB lotion sunscreens, but the spray-ons stain my clothes, unfortunately. However, if the spray-on works in high humidity, I might give it a go again.

I recently tried a new Coppertone product, "Coppertone Sensitive Skin" sunscreen lotion, SPF50. I can't recommend this product; sure, just like all sunscreens I've used, it keeps me from burning, but its also less product for considerably more money (compared to regular Coppertone sunscreen), the smell isn't pleasant, and no matter how much I try it will not rub into my skin, making me look like I'm covered in a light layer of lithium grease or crisco or something. Skip this one.

[Chook]

Hi it's

Banana Boat "Sport" Sweat resistant.

This one won't rub in as well though. It gives you a pasty sheen.

As I said it does attract the grit, but is the only one I've had that will last all day.
Being fair skinned, I've already had enough skin cancers removed. So I have to be on the ball, working outside all the time.

Hope this helps, Chook

[Scott_of_melnsct]

jumping back to water consumption...Pre-hydrate. The water you drink the 24 hours before is a major factor in whether or not you get dehydrated. If you are feeling dehydrated on the flying field you are already playing catch-up.

[Chook]

..Pre-hydrate.

I whole heartedly agree. We are trained in this as a volunteer fire-fighter.



As I get older though, I just seem to have to flush it out, all night.

[Aerochic]

jumping back to water consumption...Pre-hydrate. The water you drink the 24 hours before is a major factor in whether or not you get dehydrated. If you are feeling dehydrated on the flying field you are already playing catch-up.

Excellent reminder, Scott!