sunscreen level??

[Cdn Gal]

Hi everybody, I'm very excited b/c we will be going to Disney in 7 sleeps! My question is...being from the Great White North, what sunscreen level should I bring along since I haven't seen sun since Aug.? Are the sun-rays pretty hot in March? Is anybody bringing aloe with them?? Can you buy aloe in the parks?? I usually burn once in the summer and then tan. I just don't want to go around sun-burnt for the week. Any suggestions?? Thanks

 

[mtmbyck]

Sun will be intense. Even the days in the 70's will feel super hot to us northerners! Use the sunscreen that you use at the beginning of the summer and protect the areas that get exposed the most walking around a park - back of neck, nose, ears. I put a 30 or higher on the kids - and a couple of times a day, and I will use a 15 for us but we have been tanning at a salon to prepare!

 

[Cdn Gal]

Thank you! Do you know if your can buy afterburn products there at the park or at the resort? (Just in case)

 

[dancin Disney style]

To be sun safe never use less than an SPF15. If you have fair skin and burn easily use a 30. I found that the waterproof baby ones are excellent for the waterparks. It is thicker and stays on a bit longer than the adult waterproof types. If it's just for park touring the sprays are convenient and super easy to apply. I also like the stick type for my face.

They do sell it at WDW but it is roughly double the price that you would pay at home. It's just easier to bring those types of things from home. All types of pharmacy products for that matter.

 

[mtmbyck]

Not just at WDW but I find everywhere the sun products and after sun products are VERY pricey around the resorts. They're no dummies. They know we are going to need it. I'd run over to Walmart and grab it before you leave.

Having a hat isn't a bad idea either.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Thanks alot- I was thinking that it would be one less thing I would have to pack, but now I will definetly pack it!

 

[heidia]

Does anyone know if there is a sunscreen product for your scalp available here in Canada? I've found a few online in the states but can't find anything here at Walmart, shoppers, etc..

My daughter is EXTREMELY blonde and fair so I really need to be diligent about protecting her skin.. and I know all too well how bad a sunburn on the head hurts! ouch!

 

[JackJack08]

Does anyone know if there is a sunscreen product for your scalp available here in Canada? I've found a few online in the states but can't find anything here at Walmart, shoppers, etc..

My daughter is EXTREMELY blonde and fair so I really need to be diligent about protecting her skin.. and I know all too well how bad a sunburn on the head hurts! ouch!

My DS5 is a little red head, with of course, the skin to match. I always just use 45 sunblock on his ears, face, everywhere. I have never used a "special" one just for your scalp. BUT she should wear a bucket type sunhat for sure, I wouldn't even think of letting DS go without one.

 

[puppyears]

Yes, I would definately buy a 50 sunscreen for kids and adults too. We Canucks would fry down there. We are going in July (yea, I know) and I would not think of using anything else but a 50. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!! A sunblock is not effective if you put it on AT THE BEACH!!!! You MUST put it on at LEAST 30 minutes before venturing outside. I hear so many ppl getting burned and "Oh, I had 40 on and I burned bad". This is why, lather that stuff on BEFORE going out!! I make my kids stand in front of me in their undies and load it on. Then they have to sit like that for a half hour, then they can get dressed. I take the bottle with me and reapply several times during our outings. They don't get sunburned. AND wear a wide brimmed hat, not a baseball hat-doesn't cover the ears. We were watching the DIS DVD, and hardly anybody in the DVD was wearing a hat, which I found profound, all those ppl in FL with sunstroke, burns, duh.
I also have travel size bottles of aloe vera, everyone has two in their suitcases. If you have a fridge in your room, leave them in there, nice on tired feet and if you miss a spot with the sunscreen. But don't think of going without a 50-Baby Faces is good, what we use, and cheap at Wal-Mart-that is where I get the travel size aloe too. four thumbs waaay up!!!

 

[Cdn Gal]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know you could buy sunscreen with an sps of 50!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Does anyone know if there is a sunscreen product for your scalp available here in Canada? I've found a few online in the states but can't find anything here at Walmart, shoppers, etc..

My daughter is EXTREMELY blonde and fair so I really need to be diligent about protecting her skin.. and I know all too well how bad a sunburn on the head hurts! ouch!

My DSIL has very blonde kids and they will only wear a hat for so long. She found a spray sunscreen called Kineysis(sp???) that she has sprayed on their scalps without it making their hair all greasy. She said the best deal is at Costco...2 bottles for approx $16...Shoppers Drug mart charges $11 for one bottle.

 

[JackJack08]

No hat....and we leave. That goes for DD8 as well. I take a small spray bottle from Dollarama and fill with water and spray their heads if they are hot. We, as Northerners, are also very susceptible to getting "sun poisoning" in the Florida sun as well. Bright, red, itchy patches form on your skin and believe me, it hurts like heck. The more sunscreen the better. DS and DD also wear water shirts when we go to the waterparks or the pool too. If you want to look like you got a tan while you were away, there are lots of great creams out there right now that give you a gradual "tan". Jergens natural glow is a great one!

 

[puppyears]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know you could buy sunscreen with an sps of 50!

Too cool!! Yup, I found a sunblock of SPF 70 at Wal-Mart and I bought 3 bottles just for our trip in July!!! 70!!! amazing. Brand name too, Hawaiian Tropic.
Run, don't walk to your nearest WallyWorld and buy some 70. I paid 9.95 per bottle.

My youngest is blond, and he really would burn. Up here, we wear a 50, down there, now we will use a 70, and reapply often and put on a good 30 minutes before going out.

Don't forget, you are closer to the equator in FL and even on a cloudy day you can burn severely. The rays that burn go through the thickest clouds, so use even if cloudy outside. I had a 3rd degree sunburn about 15 years ago when I went to Toronto Island and I had to go to the hospital, and it was cloudy out. You cannot imagine the pain, I NEVER go anywhere without a good sunblock, NOT sunscreen, you'll still burn!! BEWARE of the bad sun!!

 

[mousy_in_canada]

We use 40 spf and carry the spray on type to re-apply in the parks, super easy to spray it on. We also make sure everyone has a good hat and will be protected. I personally hate how I look in a hat but I hate having a sun burn more so I got a pink Mickey logo hat and I can live with that on.

 

[toesmom]

This was a tip from disney medical staff... use penaten on kids. It will not come off and completely blocks the intense sun. I've used it on my kids who love to skinny dip in grandparent's pool in mid-summer mid-day. Never had issue with suntan or sunburn.

Only needs a little and will stay on most of the day.

At vero beach last 2 summers with blazing heat... penaten applied at pool side and completely waterproof for the entire day. Water beads off on the skin.

And many toddlers are allergic to things in sun screen, while penaten is completely safe on babies and toddlers.

 

[puppyears]

This was a tip from disney medical staff... use penaten on kids. It will not come off and completely blocks the intense sun. I've used it on my kids who love to skinny dip in grandparent's pool in mid-summer mid-day. Never had issue with suntan or sunburn.

Only needs a little and will stay on most of the day.

At vero beach last 2 summers with blazing heat... penaten applied at pool side and completely waterproof for the entire day. Water beads off on the skin.

And many toddlers are allergic to things in sun screen, while penaten is completely safe on babies and toddlers.

You mean the diaper cream stuff???

 

[dancin Disney style]

Too cool!! Yup, I found a sunblock of SPF 70 at Wal-Mart

My Dermatologist said that there is no added benefit to using anything over a 45. What makes a difference is how you use the product. As stated you must apply 20-30 minutes before any exposure to the sun and you must re-apply frequently ie: every 2 hours. Also, most people do not apply enough sunscreeen. An average sized adult requires at least 1/2 cup.

I don't think that I would trust Penaten cream. To my knowledge there is no SPF in it but it does contain zinc oxide. I might consider using it on already burned skin to help sooth it.

 

[toesmom]

You mean the diaper cream stuff???

Penaten can be used for diaper rash, only one of its many uses.

I swear by the stuff as sun cream. And my kids are pastey white like paper.

 

[Tiger926]

Just thought some of you may be interested in the Environmental Working Group's newest sunscreen report on best and worst sunscreens. Keep in mind that Canada, France & Australia lead the way in sunscreen research, and so this U.S. group is slowly studying & testing some of our Canadian sunscreens like Ombrelle & La Roche Posay.

Most of the stuff sold here is garbage & toxic for our skins, especially for children: Coppertone Water Babies, Hawaiian Tropic, No-Ad, to name a few are very toxic as they are full of chemicals that absorb into skin, and they don't protect against sun damage.

Check it out: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens/summary.php

You need broad spectrum (UVA & UVB), reapply often and use zinc or titanium as sun blockers. Kinesys, as mentioned above, is very highly rated, and is available at Costco in a 2pk (scented & unscented) as is Ombrelle (only in Canada).

Here's to you all staying sun-safe, especially your kids! Tiger

 

[bunnyfoo]

I use Neutrogena Dry Touch SPF 55 on my face. My skin gets super oily without sunscreen and this helps to keep it less oily - for a couple of hours anyway On the rest of my body, I use Ombrelle Extreme SPF 30. I tend to use an SPF that's higher than 15 because I use other products on my skin that make it sun sensitive.

One other thing about sunscreen is to be careful if you happen to be carrying Disney shopping bags. I've leaned the bags against my skin and I guess some of the sunscreen must have transfered onto the bags because some of the colour transfered onto my legs and shorts. Looked a little funny - the colour was difficult to get off my shorts.