Protection against the sun

[Mossy 757]

After a couple of sessions acclimatizing, our local sun intensity is so low I could surf in shorts and T all year long and do nothing but get a nice tan. It's so low here, and people spend so little time outside that latest medical advise is to take VitD supplements to make up for it!

20 minutes in the sun in Cyprus and I was actually blistered, despite waterproof SPF50.

Where do you live?

[BillyKP]

I take Beta Carotene capsules. I find it helps quite a bit, its not total protection. I can tolerate longer time in the sun and dont get burned as harshly. The capsules are like a liguid gel inside. Not the lighter "powder-like" dry pills.
Someone told me about it in Cabarete once. Gives you a nice even dark tan and doesnt "wash off" because it is working from the inside out. Be curious to know if anyone doctors etc on the forum has more info about taking Beta Carotene liquid capsules. You can get it at the health food store. So its not some kind of chemically based sunscreen product. From what I know its more like a natural food. In the tropics Beta Carotene rich foods grow in abundance, grapefruits, watermelon, mangos, papayas....so important to eat plenty of those too I think.

[BillyKP]

I should add that it has to be in your system for a couple weeks first...so 2-4 capsules a day

I live in Ontario. So will use this in summer, and if head south on any kiting trips.

[Peter_Frank]

After a couple of sessions acclimatizing, our local sun intensity is so low I could surf in shorts and T all year long and do nothing but get a nice tan. It's so low here, and people spend so little time outside that latest medical advise is to take VitD supplements to make up for it!

20 minutes in the sun in Cyprus and I was actually blistered, despite waterproof SPF50.

What is "our" - which country ?

To early bird2, there are many sunscreens that stays on very reliable, some of them more expensive sometimes.
But difficult to make a list, as how could anyone compare, or express in the forum here, "how good" they stay on during crashes on a full day ?

Maybe there has been made some tests that compares, does anybody know ?

I use sunscreen here in Denmark, it is needed in the summer here at 56° latitude.

PF

[jeromeL]

Usually I am in full wetsuit + sunscreen but in summer and in Caribbean getaway I wear a lycra + sunscreen + a hat.
I don't remember the brand of the hat but it's similar to the Dakine indo surf hat.
Quite a kook look but works well for the few days of sun I ride in...
Protects most of the face, maybe the chin gets a bit of sun.
https://www.amazon.com/Dakine-Indo-Whit ... dakine+hat

[Bushflyr]

Surf mud and Vertra. The only 2 sunscreens that REALLY work. As an albino that gets moon burn I should know.

Also, just stay out of the sun mid day. I show up early, get a couple hours in and be off the water by 10. The early crowd is way more mellow and fun than the afternoon kooks anyway. But I do realize that this doesn't really work for thermal sites.

[early bird2]

Thanks everybody .
RESULTS SO FAR : - HOO-RAGS rated 30 UPF
- NAROO MASK X5S
-BIKER MASK
-GATH HELMET EQUIPPED WITH RETRACTABLE FULL LENSE
- INDO SURF HAT
- LONG SLEEVE LYCRA CLOTHES

SUNCREENS : - ZINC PLUS 50 UV
- SURF MUD AND VERTRA

PILLS : - BETA CAROTENE

TIPS : - RIDE EARLY AND LATE IN THE DAY

[jeromeL]

Thanks everybody .
RESULTS SO FAR : - HOO-RAGS rated 30 UPF
- NAROO MASK X5S
-BIKER MASK
-GATH HELMET EQUIPPED WITH RETRACTABLE FULL LENSE
- INDO SURF HAT
- LONG SLEEVE LYCRA CLOTHES

SUNCREENS : - ZINC PLUS 50 UV
- SURF MUD AND VERTRA

PILLS : - BETA CAROTENE

TIPS : - RIDE EARLY AND LATE IN THE DAY

don't forget the FaceKini

[kiterocky]

Be careful with pills betacarotene if u smoke sigarettes...https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20155614

[alexeyga]

I don't know what happened to these guys, but it used to be possible to order it online:

10_hp-pro-royal-blue.jpg (27.35 KiB) Viewed 945 times

http://exit.mu/headpeace/index.html