Question:
Complete Sun Block?
Is there such a thing... I want something that the sun can not penetrate through, or would a high SPF, say 50/60 do the trick.
Basically, I have a pigmentation that discolours in the sun and whilst I can get round it by blending in my makeup, I'd rather try and stop it as much as possible.
Any ideas?
Ta xxx
Yes you can get factor 60 quite easily now.
However, it may be useful to know that while the difference between factor 15 and factor 30 is massive the proportionate difference between 40 and 60 isnt very big at all.
I have red hair and fair skin. My mother, brother and grandmother have all had skin cancer and I have to be very very careful. My dermotologist told me that firstly you have to work out how long you can stay in the sun for until you burn without any protection. For me its 3 minutes - however, for you it may be as short as a minute.
If a sunscreen is, say, factor 20 this means it will allow you to stay in the sun 20 times the length of time you normally could before burning. I.E. 60 mins in my case.
However, you also have to factor in the chance that you might rub some off onto your clothes, hands etc (or you might go in the pool or whatever). This means that the importance lies in the re-application rather than the factor.
However, he said that this calculation is valid for up to factor 30 after which the proportionate difference in sun protection between factors 30 and 60 is so minimal that its hardly worth using anything higher than 30. Eg A factor 30 would allow me to stay in the sun for 90 mins but a factor 40 only 95 mins.
It doesnt make much sense but apparently you cant always trust anything over a factor 60 to be a total sun block so the marginal benefit you would get from spending the extra money and having a lotion comparable to emulsion paint on your face isnt really worth it.
He then went on to say how he's worried that people in britain are using too much sun protection and that we have unrealistic expectations of it. The best way is to just stay out of the sun and cover up.
Thanks Dr! No more social life for gingers then!
Is there such a thing... I want something that the sun can not penetrate through, or would a high SPF, say 50/60 do the trick.
Basically, I have a pigmentation that discolours in the sun and whilst I can get round it by blending in my makeup, I'd rather try and stop it as much as possible.
Any ideas?
Ta xxx
Answers:
Yes you can get factor 60 quite easily now.
However, it may be useful to know that while the difference between factor 15 and factor 30 is massive the proportionate difference between 40 and 60 isnt very big at all.
I have red hair and fair skin. My mother, brother and grandmother have all had skin cancer and I have to be very very careful. My dermotologist told me that firstly you have to work out how long you can stay in the sun for until you burn without any protection. For me its 3 minutes - however, for you it may be as short as a minute.
If a sunscreen is, say, factor 20 this means it will allow you to stay in the sun 20 times the length of time you normally could before burning. I.E. 60 mins in my case.
However, you also have to factor in the chance that you might rub some off onto your clothes, hands etc (or you might go in the pool or whatever). This means that the importance lies in the re-application rather than the factor.
However, he said that this calculation is valid for up to factor 30 after which the proportionate difference in sun protection between factors 30 and 60 is so minimal that its hardly worth using anything higher than 30. Eg A factor 30 would allow me to stay in the sun for 90 mins but a factor 40 only 95 mins.
It doesnt make much sense but apparently you cant always trust anything over a factor 60 to be a total sun block so the marginal benefit you would get from spending the extra money and having a lotion comparable to emulsion paint on your face isnt really worth it.
He then went on to say how he's worried that people in britain are using too much sun protection and that we have unrealistic expectations of it. The best way is to just stay out of the sun and cover up.
Thanks Dr! No more social life for gingers then!