Sunscreen

[clasonater]

I do not like using sunscreen for a lot of reasons, but I got burnt up today and I figured it was time to start using it.

What do you guys use/recommend?

[amb1995]

I don't personally use it (even being less than a quarter native American helps) but I'm sure you can't go wrong with the copper tone sport. It's supposed to be water/sweat proof and sprays on for a quick application. 

[LittleBlue]

I'm Hispanic and have a dark tan complexion, but I still burn very easily (still trying to figure out how). I always hated wearing sunscreen goop from the bottle, but I'm okay with the spray on sport stuff. I find that it works well with sweating and it doesn't run all over the place. When I'm on the plate I usually do my arms and the back of my neck. On the bases I do the same and add a sunscreen stick for my face. I know some very pale people who never use sunscreen and I can understand why they want to be tomato red for the next week. On the other hand, I know some people who reapply half way through a 7 inning game. To each his own.

[mbkcoach]

The spray on sunscreens of today are not that bad just spray it in and go. No big deal. 

[Thunderheads]

coppertone sport 45 spf ....spray .........

[ZebraStripes]

I use copper tone sport lotion.  The spray works, but if you are spraying it near your uniform, you can and will stain any lighter colored areas.  My wife had skin cancer and I have been checked for it myself.  We are red heads so we burn easily.  

[TheRockawayKid]

I go with the spray, mostly. The regular goop isn't bad, though. 

I'd advise putting it on well before putting on your uniform shirt. Give it a few minutes to dry and all. Also a slight recommendation to bring a piece of paper towel tucked in your back pocket. This comes in handy in case you need to rub your eyes for any reason, and don't want to get sunscreen in it (I did an entire half-inning with one eye. It's not fun). 

But seriously. Like the song says, wear sunscreen.

[bighouse]

Bullfrog. The best hands down

[clasonater]

Thanks for the recommendations.  I'm white. I am outside everyday and I have always tanned up easily.  But this weekend, my nose really took it.  I don't know if it was the elevation or what but it hurts more than a normal sun burn.

[Umpire in Chief]

Bullfrog. The best hands down

​I like the Bullfrog too. Getting both sun protection and insect protection is a huge plus. 

 

BTW. I highly recommend using sunscreen no matter your complexion. Just because you are not "burning" doesn't mean the damage isn't being done. 

[NWA_UMP]

We have a couple fellow blues in our group that are much darker then I am....we were all getting ready for the day one weekend and he asked to borrow some sunscreen. Us light skinned guys just looked at him and made a joke about a "brother" needing sunscreen. He looked at us and said "just because I'm black doesn't mean I don't get a sunburn" and he lathered up just like the rest of us. As a group, we are very careful to use sunscreen since our main assignor has had skin cancer removed at the ripe age of 58. Use it!

 

[MikeSafari]

I forgot to pack mine in the first tournament I worked last season and paid the price. I looked like a lobster for a week.

Now, some Banana Boat SPF60 and an SPF50 stick travel with me to every game. I always try to put it on before I leave for the field, to make sure it's not still drying when I get there (also, you're supposed to put it on 15 minutes before sun exposure anyway).

Will never go without it.

[kylehutson]

So I guess the correct answer to the OP is "whatever sunscreen you actually use".

Personally, I use Wal-Mart SPF30. I have Native American ancestry and don't usually have a problem with sunburns. That being said, I don't go on the field without it even if it's cloudy and only a single game (since my first all-day tourney which was too much for even me). With my haircut, if I don't use sunscreen I end up with a goofy-looking tan line - the only time I wear a baseball-style cap is when I'm on the baseball field. Other times I go without or wear a wide-brimmed hat.

[noumpere]

This is from a press-release; emphasis added.  If you subscribe to consumer reports, you can get more details

 

Yonkers, NY – When shopping for sunscreen, SPF (sun protection factor) is usually an important feature for consumers.  Consumer Reports recently tested 34 sunscreens and found almost a third of them didn’t meet the SPF claim on their labels, missing the mark by anywhere from 16 to 70 percent.

But there’s good news too: many of the sunscreens Consumer Reports tested met their SPF claims and some of the most effective products were also the lowest-priced.

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Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 lotion, $10.50 (8 ounces), Equate (Walmart) Ultra Protection SPF 50 lotion, $9.00 (16 ounces), and Banana Boat SunComfort Continuous Spray SPF 50+, $11.00 (6 ounces), all delivered top-notch protection and met their SPF claims.

 

Consumer Reports’ highest-rated sunscreen, La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-in Sunscreen Milk (SPF 60), received a perfect score of 100 but cost the most of those tested – $36.00 for a 5-ounce bottle.

The full report, which also features proper sunscreen-applications tips, complete product Ratings, and more, is available in the July 2015 issue of Consumer Reports and at www.ConsumerReports.org.

SPF is a relative measure of how long a sunscreen will protect a consumer from UVB rays which can cause sunburn and contribute to damage that can lead to skin cancer.  Most dermatologists and other experts recommend using a sunscreen that delivers an SPF of 30 or higher, which blocks 97 percent or more of the sun’s UVB rays.

Consumer Reports found that eight of the eleven sunscreens that didn’t meet their SPF claims had an SPF below 30. For example, Yes To Cucumbers Natural SPF 30 had an average SPF of just 14.  Sunscreens from Babyganics, Banana Boat, CVS, EltaMD, Hawaiian Tropic, Walgreens, and Vanicream also had SPF levels below their claims and less than SPF 30.

“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires sunscreen manufacturers to test their products and label them correctly,” said Trisha Calvo, Health and Food Deputy Content Editor for Consumer Reports.   “Our findings are troubling because consumers may not be getting the amount of SPF protection they think they’re getting. On top of that, people often do not apply the right amount of sunscreen, fail to reapply it frequently enough, and don’t minimize their sun exposure, which could potentially put them at risk for overexposure to the sun’s rays.”

Consumer Reports measured SPF levels in the sunscreen samples by applying different products to panelists’ backs and having them soak in a large tub of water for the amount of time the products claimed to be water-resistant.  When the panelists got out of the water, their sunscreen-coated skin was exposed to ultraviolet light.

 

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Although they didn’t meet their SPF claims, three sunscreens still had an SPF higher than 30 and are worth considering: Coppertone UltraGuard SPF 70+ tested as an SPF 59, Coppertone ClearlySheer for Beach & Pool SPF 50+ tested as an SPF 37, and Banana Boat Sport Performance with Powerstay Technology SPF 100 tested as an SPF 36.

 

Aloe Gator SPF 40+ landed at the bottom Consumer Reports’ sunscreen Ratings. While it rated excellent for UVB protection that would suppress burning, it earned poor marks for protection against UVA rays, which are constantly present during the day no matter the season and are potentially a more insidious threat to health than UVB rays because they penetrate deeply into the skin.

Natural Sunscreens

Though “natural” has no real definition on a sunscreen label, the term is often used to refer to products that contain only the minerals zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients.  Mineral sunscreens are less likely than those that contain chemicals (such as avobenzone) to irritate skin or cause allergic reactions.

Consumer Reports has found that these so-called naturals are also less likely to offer skin the complete protection it needs. Out of the five mineral sunscreens tested, only two met their SPF claims.  California Baby Super Sensitive SPF 30+, $20.00 (2.9 ounces), didn’t receive high enough scores to be recommended, but it was the only mineral sunscreen that got a good rating for UVA and UVB protection; titanium dioxide is the active ingredient.  Goddess Garden Organics Sunny Body Natural 30 also met its SPF claim, but didn’t earn high scores for UVA protection.