Sunscreen at Disney?

[disneyfor3boys]

We're definately bringing tons of sunscreen with us to Florida, but I was unsure whether I should get a higher SPF or not. We normally use 30 SPF on the kids, but do you folks go for the highest number on these southern trips? Do we need to apply more frequently than at home? I usually slather and slop the kids with sunscreen about every 2-3 hours at home, and definately after swimming. Any advice here?

Also, DH gave me 15 tanning sessions to use before our trip. Will I still require a very high SPF sunscreen? I tan very easily (I could count the number of burns I've had in my life on one hand), but I want to make sure I'm prepared.

Thanks!

Laurie & boys

 

[Kermit]

Personally, I don't ever use an SPF higher than a 30. The chemicals in the higher ones are so strong that they always cause an allergic reaction in me.

The best way to prevent sun damage is to wear sun screen properly and limit sun exposure. Sun screen should always be put on at least 30 minutes before you hit the sun. It should be put on thickly enough that if you put one tiny little drop more, it wouldn't rub into your skin. The average adult should use about 1 oz, which is enough to fill a shot glass. Since most bottles have about 6-8 oz, and most families don't use more than one bottle a week, most people use way too little, which offers less protection than the number on the bottle. You should reapply about every 2 hours and any time you sweat or get out of the water. Of course, it's also important to wear the proper clothes and to try to stay out of the sun as much as possible during the brightest part of the day.

I'd wear sun screen even if I were tanned. You will still get skin damage even if you don't see a burn.

 

[ahutton]

I think SPF 30 is plenty, assuming you reapply regularly. Things to watch that I have missed are the most sensitive places, like the backs of knees, tops of knees and elbows, ears, the part in your hair, back of neck... Those areas will get a lot more exposure than they usually do. I love the Copertone Sport brand, it seems to stay on better and doesn't feel slimy on my skin. Plus it comes in a spray on version which is much easier to get on the kids than cream.

 

[mbb]

...make sure you do the top of their feet.

 

[llp479]

Last year I found Hawaiin Tropic SPF 30 in a stick. It was the about the size of a trial size deodorant. Perfect size to carry in a pocket and reapply througout the day. Worked great on ears!

Posting this here reminds me that I need to see if I can find one for our March trip. Bought the big bottle of sunscreen, but didn't look for these.

 

[briarbud]

As someone who is high risk for skin cancer, I would urge you NOT to use a tanning booth, but to use tan in a bottle instead.

Also, please bear in mind that a high SPF will protect you from sunburns, but not from premature aging of the skin or skin cancer (which tanning booths can also cause). To do that, you MUST look at the ingredient list and make sure the sunscreen contains one of these ingredients: Parsol 1789, Avobenzone, Zinc Oxide, or Titanium Dioxide.

Sadly, in the U.S. sunscreens are rather deceiving in that the front label only tells half the story (someday the proper legislation will be passed but who knows when!). The SPF ingredients prevent UVB rays (those that cause burning) but not UVA rays (those that cause premature skin aging and skin cancer).

Putting on proper sunscreen daily is actually the best anti-wrinkle cream out there!

You can check out the "sun essentials" section under "Learn" on this website for more info. on this: www.cosmeticop.com

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[NotUrsula]

The FDA no longer allows sunscreen to be labeled with an SPF higher than 30, even if the formula rates it. They can label it "30+" but they can't use a specific number. The FDA contends that when you go higher than 30, the exposure times that you get using that SPF mathematical formula are inaccurate.

I agree with the previous poster, whatever sunscreen you buy, read the active ingredient list carefully and make sure that it is provides broad-spectrum protection against BOTH UVA & UVB radiation. A nice side benefit of doing this is that you will find that you literally feel cooler with a properly-applied broad-spectrum sunscreen on your skin, b/c part of that hot feeling in direct sunlight is caused by your skin cells literally cooking. For days spent in theme or water parks, if each adult isn't going through a 12 oz. bottle every 2 days, you are not using enough of it.

We always carry 2 products, a wax stick for our faces and ears, and a spray product for the rest of the body. (Neutrogena's wax stick can be found in the cosmetics aisle at any time of year, btw.) We reapply once an hour; one of the best opportunities to do it is while waiting in ride lines.