Sun protection and surfing

May 19, 2005 6:10 AM

Can anyone recommend a sunscreen (or alternative option) that will offer good protection for my face and scalp while I am in the sea. Balding scalp can make it difficult to get cream all over, and constantly being in and out of waves can be a problem for keeping stuff on. Any products would need to be stuff I can buy in the UK.
posted by biffa to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

I know I've seen spray-on sunblock. I also have a spray for my hair that contains sunscreen (dyed hair does not like the sun).
Maybe some combo of the two?

Waterproof sunblock is good, but it still needs to be reapplied regularly.

If you have sensitive skin go for a face-specific sunscreen, it's generally milder.

Not being in the UK, I don't really know what brands you have compared to the states, so I can't offer much in terms of specifics.
Since you'll be in the water, why not just put the sunblock on your head? Any style is pretty well killed once water is added to the mix.
posted by Kellydamnit at 6:45 AM on May 19, 2005

Plain old zinc oxide is the best and cheapest.
posted by crapulent at 7:52 AM on May 19, 2005

BullFrog is waterproof and stays on until you use soap to get it off. I haven't used it in a few years, but the 'style' I used was a clear liquid, halfway between an oil and a gel. It will definitely look like you have product in your hair, but it really works. You may have to shampoo twice to get it all out, but it sure won't come off in the water. It was originally designed for surfers, I believe.
posted by juggler at 8:27 AM on May 19, 2005

i have short ("number 2" to "number 4" shaved) hair. if your similar, have you tried just rubbing suncream all over your head? seems to work for me, but i don't swim.
posted by andrew cooke at 8:38 AM on May 19, 2005

Anthelios Spray has the Mexoryl SX and XL, which are pretty much the best UV ray filters out there. (Unfornately for those of us in the US, Mexoryl is approved for use everywhere in the world except the United States. Still waiting on an FDA decision later this year.)
posted by 4easypayments at 8:55 AM on May 19, 2005

Wouldn't it just make more sense to wear a bathing cap? You can swim and be easily spotted at the same time.
posted by plinth at 9:09 AM on May 19, 2005

If you're going to be surfing someplace relatively close to the equator (and you're typically not in the sun all day), get something that provides the best protection you can find, and literally cover yourself in it. I went to Puerto Rico about a month ago to surf and brought some of the Neutrogena SPF 45, because it doesn't feel greasy when you put it on (I HATE that about normal sunscreen). After day 1 of surfing, my sunburn was AWFUL (I missed day 2!).

After laughing at me at the local dive shop, they recommended this stuff (panama jack surf and sport spf 75). I am pretty sure I read something somewhere that anything over a certain SPF is pointless, but I wasn't about to risk it again.

So what I ended up doing was using the non-greasy spf 45 Neutrogena stuff on my face/ears/head (just rub it all over your scalp, it rubs in surprisingly well), and the panama jack 75 everywhere else I could reach, especially the back of my legs. I'm not sure if you're going to be surfing the whole time, but I wear a long-sleeve rash guard in the water, so I don't have to worry about my arms/back.
posted by ilovebicuspids at 7:26 PM on May 19, 2005

Cheers all, I thought I'd posted a bit more info but apparently not. I'll be surfing way north of Puerto Rico but think I'll try and get some of Panama Jack stuff.
posted by biffa at 3:10 AM on May 20, 2005