Althouse: It's not enough to wear sunscreen.

August 2, 2010

It's not enough to wear sunscreen.

You have to put it on right!

67 comments:

chickelit said...: You sure that's not just an enormous hickey?; 8/2/10, 3:14 PM
Original Mike said...: Meade needs practice.; 8/2/10, 3:14 PM
Opus One Media said...: Ow.; 8/2/10, 3:15 PM
Bru said...: Ouch! And, yes, with your fair skin, you definitely need to apply the lotion properly.; 8/2/10, 3:15 PM
Original Mike said...: Speaking as a red head, I am not imnpressed. I've had worse from a 60 W bulb.; 8/2/10, 3:15 PM
Phil 314 said...: Speaking as someone who never tans, use the spray; 8/2/10, 3:17 PM
Scott said...: Ouchie.

You can get Dermassage skin cream with SPF15 sunblock in it. I love the stuff.

You know, if you had a lace top of some sort, you could get all sorts of cool patterns on your skin.

Or maybe design one with holes in it. Look like a leopard.; 8/2/10, 3:18 PM
Anonymous said...: I've read that you're supposed to apply enough sunblock to fill a shot glass. I think that rule is for when you are wearing a bathing suit, but the point is that most people do not apply enough.; 8/2/10, 3:20 PM
Original Mike said...: Or, I could suggest the obvious: Wear a shirt.; 8/2/10, 3:23 PM
Pastafarian said...: Speaking as someone recently returned from the blistering giant microwave oven of North Carolina: Coppertone Sport, 80 spf Ultra-sweatproof.

You know you have enough when you can't quite smooth all of it into a clear film, and you can actually see the white liquid. Had I tossed a handful of glitter into my face, I would have looked like one of those sparkly Twilight vampires for the last 2 weeks.

Don't mess around with sunburns when you have a complexion like yours, Althouse. It's not good for you.; 8/2/10, 3:24 PM
Pastafarian said...: Scott said: "...SPF15 sunblock..."

15? 15??

That's not sunblock. You probably actually increase your exposure with that stuff -- shit probably works like a thin-film Fresnel lens. You'd probably be better off basting yourself with herbed butter.; 8/2/10, 3:28 PM
MamaM said...: At least your wings didn't melt. Fly on.; 8/2/10, 3:28 PM
traditionalguy said...: I percieve that you are afflicted with serious redheadedness. Your skin will never tan, but it will only turn a darker shade of red. At least having blonde hair makes this disability worth it.; 8/2/10, 3:30 PM
Triangle Man said...: I agree with Pastafarian, Scott is trying to murder you with his recommendation for a homeopathic SPF.

Go with one of the modern mist sprays with SPF 45 or 50. The new sunblock is Helioplex and blocks UVA as well as UVB.; 8/2/10, 3:35 PM
traditionalguy said...: Pastafarian is right. The SPF rating simply gives the minutes of exposure before the burning starts. An spf 15 lotion gives only 15 minutes protection, while an spf 80 gives an hour and twenty minutes protection.; 8/2/10, 3:37 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I *did* use spray. I had bad aim.

And it was 100 SPF. It worked fine where it was on.; 8/2/10, 3:45 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I was a redhead before my hair turned white. I'm a blonde the way many older women are blondes ... in preference to white and because it's easier to do white hair blonde. The white roots don't show.; 8/2/10, 3:46 PM
Triangle Man said...: @tradguy

The SPF of a sunscreen is the amount of solar radiation required to cause a burn relative to no sunscreen. Multiplying the number by 1 minute only works if you would normally burn with one minute of exposure to sun without sunscreen. That is going to depend on the individual, and where they are. I doubt that even the fair Professor Althouse would burn in a minute in Wisconsin. Perhaps in Arizona.; 8/2/10, 3:47 PM
Big Mike said...: Huh? I thought that was the reason women got married, was to have someone to put on the sunscreen.

Of course Meade can now slather on the aloe ointment.; 8/2/10, 3:48 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Orig Mike:

I can beat that.

I have to wear sunscreen whenever I watch Hawaii Five-O on the TV.; 8/2/10, 3:50 PM
knox said...: I've read that you're supposed to apply enough sunblock to fill a shot glass.

That tip comes directly from sunscreen manufacturers, no doubt! ; ); 8/2/10, 3:52 PM
Original Mike said...: AJ: Did I mention that the bulb was off?; 8/2/10, 3:56 PM
Original Mike said...: "I've read that you're supposed to apply enough sunblock to fill a shot glass."

This scientist has to ask; Over what surface area?; 8/2/10, 3:58 PM
The Dude said...: At least you weren't wearing shorts.; 8/2/10, 3:59 PM
Kensington said...: Yeesh. Burny McBurnerson.

I drove 1,000 miles during the massive heatwave that hit the East Coast last month without any sublock, and by the time I reached my destination, my driver's side arm was basically boiling.; 8/2/10, 4:02 PM
Kensington said...: You'd be surprised at how hard it is to find sunscreen at interstate toll plaza visito's stations.; 8/2/10, 4:03 PM
JAL said...: Ouch.

With the stuff nowadays-- even the No Ad version -- I have managed to go where Pasta went and come back looking like I'd been at the movies all week.

But my childhood is a bright red memory.; 8/2/10, 4:07 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Mike: You win heh.; 8/2/10, 4:07 PM
David said...: That's Meade's job, right?

Damn, that looks like it hurts.; 8/2/10, 4:10 PM
rhhardin said...: I just slowly tan, from year round bike commutes, as the sun heads northwards in the spring.

I can't remember having a sunburn since I was a kid. That was from sudden beach visits.; 8/2/10, 4:15 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Meade did 2 things:

1. Got me the sunscreen.

2. Pointed out the sunburn (which I hadn't noticed, so I guess it didn't hurt too much).; 8/2/10, 4:24 PM
caplight said...: My one daughter is a red head. That used to happen to her when we would vacation at the beach. We had to be sure we slathered every square inch with sun block. The life of red heads--beautiful yet so fragile.; 8/2/10, 4:27 PM
Bob_R said...: Doesn't Obama have a tax for that?; 8/2/10, 4:30 PM
caplight said...: Oh, BTW, temp right now 98 degrees. Heat index 107. I'm going home and puttin' on some man shorts!; 8/2/10, 4:30 PM
traditionalguy said...: @ Triangleman...You maybe right. I was quoting my Chinese dermatologist friend who said he worked on the Panel that created SPF ratings. He may have been trying to scare redheads. But with a "Factor" used to multiply the "Usual time it takes you to burn", then how does one know anything? The thickness of the skin is 40% of that time number, so that the March sun always burns the skins thinned during winter that would not burn as fast in the second and third exposures of the season.; 8/2/10, 4:36 PM
mesquito said...: Mira la guera. Que lastima.

I'm Norwegian, but I tan beautifully.

Try aloe.; 8/2/10, 4:56 PM
kjbe said...: I have a younger sister and brother who are redheads, and myself still a natural blonde even at 50 - so I can relate.

Better aim or SPF shirts are in order.; 8/2/10, 4:58 PM
chickelit said...: Althouse wrote: [Meade] Pointed out the sunburn (which I hadn't noticed, so I guess it didn't hurt too much).

It may even look rather apeeling in a couple day's time.; 8/2/10, 5:03 PM
Big Mike said...: Now Meade gets to rub on the aloe.; 8/2/10, 5:03 PM
ddh said...: Just looking at the photo hurts. You have my sympathy.; 8/2/10, 5:06 PM
Original Mike said...: I'm going to Norway soon. I understand I'll be able to get a sunburn at night.; 8/2/10, 5:09 PM
mesquito said...: Depends where in Norway you're going, Original Mike.

When Kirk Douglas was filming The Vikings on Hardangerfjord, he got frustrated and asked an extra, "Hey, Kid. Does it always rain here?"

Kid: "I don't know. I'm only eighteen."; 8/2/10, 5:17 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: OMG I had no idea Althouse played the back of Patty Duke's head! I always wondered what happened to that actress.; 8/2/10, 5:17 PM
Original Mike said...: Good point, mesquito. We've been told to bring rain gear.; 8/2/10, 5:21 PM
Meade said...: Ann Althouse said...
"Meade did 2 things:"

Excuse me? photos by Meade; 8/2/10, 5:59 PM
Unknown said...: You may want to try Bullfrog. That's what the dermatologist recommended for The Blonde.

Ann Althouse said...

I was a redhead before my hair turned white. I'm a blonde the way many older women are blondes ... in preference to white and because it's easier to do white hair blonde. The white roots don't show.

Well, not always. Every once in a while The Blonde shows some silver 'mongst the gold and gives me a dirty look when I point it out.

PS Take care of your wife, Meade. I don't want you two going through the kind of scare we are.; 8/2/10, 6:17 PM
DaveW said...: At least you're not bald. A sunburned head will make you incredibly sick, or does me anyway.; 8/2/10, 6:18 PM
Phil 314 said...: Of course Meade can now slather on the aloe ointment.

Slather sounds so....

salacious; 8/2/10, 6:38 PM
chickelit said...: Slather sounds so....

salacious

Sounds more lubugrious to my ears.; 8/2/10, 6:58 PM
Scott said...: Contrary to what earlier commenters opined, if you buy sunscreen with a higher rating than SPF 15, you're wasting your money.; 8/2/10, 7:03 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Scott got there before I did.

And - since talking about race is the "hot" thing now - LOL.; 8/2/10, 8:00 PM
MadisonMan said...: You need an enormous hat.; 8/2/10, 8:00 PM
Robert said...: Purple and green?

Did you rub the sunscreen on the dressing room mirror?; 8/2/10, 8:17 PM
kalmia said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/2/10, 9:32 PM
Ann Althouse said...: About the clothes advice... we were bicycling. I couldn't wear a big hat very well... or even a lot of long sleeves and pants. Yes, I wore shorts, bike shorts.; 8/2/10, 9:42 PM
Beth said...: At least you got your Vitamin D - for the week.; 8/2/10, 11:01 PM
JAL said...: Beth -- How are things in NOLA these days?

You've dropped off the news ....; 8/2/10, 11:49 PM
Jason said...: Try butter and hot sauce.

And bleu cheese dressing.; 8/2/10, 11:58 PM
Methadras said...: This is clearly an example of Meade-fail.; 8/3/10, 2:10 AM
Beth Donovan said...: Heh. The other Beth beat me to it - at least you got some Vitamin D!

We've been getting our share of that here in Kansas - 100 degrees yesterday on our farm.; 8/3/10, 9:38 AM
Ice Nine said...: The best sunscreen - a hat, a long sleeve shirt, a roof; take your pick, or combine them. Which is to say, stay out of the sun. Use sunscreen - every day you go out. Which is to say, use sunscreen every day. I tell you this as an MD with a family history of malignant melanoma.

PS. No one will do this, except the odd melanoma survivor - a rarity.; 8/3/10, 10:03 AM
GV said...: I manufacture sunscreena, an OTC drug product that requires drug testing. Some quick facts. SPF rating measures UVB rays that cause burn. It is not a time rating, but a relative strength rating. People are tested by applying a dose and measuring redness.

An SPF15 is generally adequate, given a proper dosing. Unfortunately, people rarely dose properly or apply evenly.

The SPF ratings race created a false representation. The final monograph limited ratings of over 30 to a "30+" label. The industry fought this and won, so we have SPF80 products that go beyond what is really needed.

Testing is time based, so it needs to be reapplied often.

Water resistant testing is done at the 40 and 80 immersion intervals. I just did a stint filming sharks where I spent 4-5 hours straight bobbing in the ocean. No product works for that. I got burned. Water resistant products use a polymer to seal the product to your skin or alcohol as a base. It's not very skin friendly for those who care.

All SPF products pull from the same list of approved active ingredients, so differences in products are not in SPF performance, but rather the other ingredients.

UVA damage is controlled by ingredients avobenzone (chemical), zince oxide and titanium dioxide. While they contribute to the SPF rating (a UVB only test), they are there for UVA. There is no required UVA testing.

Summary, beyond SPF30 is overkill. Apply liberally and repeat often. Choose one you like for the feel becauase they all work. Make sure it has a UVA protector, as we all want to continue to look young.; 8/3/10, 10:06 AM
Meade said...: edutcher said...

"PS Take care of your wife, Meade. I don't want you two going through the kind of scare we are.

Thank you, sir. I'm wishing you and the Blonde much rejuvenation and long good health. Meanwhile, I will try to raise my game (and our tube of sunscreen more diligently).; 8/3/10, 10:31 AM
blake said...: I was sad because I had a sunburn. Then I met a man who had no skin. Then I was a sort of grossed out.; 8/3/10, 10:34 AM
Knucklehead said...: Here's what the American Association of Dermatologists has to say about sunscreen (pretty much use it constantly, being indoors, in bed, under the covers is no protection):

http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_sunscreen.htm

As far as SPF rating goes, this seems a reasonable article:

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Does-SPF-Mean-With-Sun-Block?&id=390632

Reapply every two hours. For someone like me who is probably AAD's "Type II" skin, I start burning in about 15 minutes when way down south, maybe 30 minutes when up north where I belong. I find PF 30 or more seems to keep me from burning and I know burning.; 8/3/10, 11:32 AM
Beck said...: It puts the lotion on its skin or it gets the hose again!; 8/3/10, 3:16 PM
Tari said...: ooooooouuuuuccccccccchhhhhhh. And I've been there, done that, should have bought the tee shirt.; 8/4/10, 5:43 PM