Sunblock: Who Uses it ?

[Opie91]

I have pretty fair skin so sunblock is a must. Thought the I got a moonburn onetime.

Just wondering who uses sunblock and if it matters if you are long term cruising or not.

[sailorboy1]

use everytime out on the boat, even if for just a couple of hours

[scook1]

If we are going to be out all day, I will put a little bit on. Otherwise, I spend enough time under the Bimini to be OK. My stepdad recently dealt with skin cancer, and that certainly is motivation to use it.
Spencer

[Therapy]

Always.........well I miss a few hours here and there.

No choice for me in the poll though.

Polls are tough to make up aren't they?

[Mariness]

Not cruising yet, but use it all the time. Very fair skin, living in FL = it's necessary. I don't want to deal with skin cancer, plus I've seen a few too many women around here in their 30s...who look leathery and like they're 20 years older.
I put it on our daughter too. She doesn't really talk yet, but she knows what it is - when she sees the bottle she grins and rubs her arms; she even will get it and give it to me to say "I want to go outside now"!

[Minggat]

I own a lot. Does that count? No disipline. And I have plenty of sun damage on my fair skin. I do wear a broad brimed hat. Burning the bald spot on my head hurts.

I have a brown (Asian) wife who wishes to be less brown. But apparently she hates sunblock too.

[msoneji]

We usually day sail. Use it every time we take the boat out. If we can, we re-apply after 4-5 hrs.

[Ex-Calif]

Banana Boat SPF 50. Head, neck, ears & face only (usually) - Arms and legs have a pretty good base and survive in 5-6 hours of 1Deg North sun.

People complain of the sunblock burning their eyes when they sweat. My experience is put it on well before you sweat, rub it in - you don't need "visible gobs" of sunblock on your face unless you are using zinc. - and you won't get the eyeball pain.

Reapply after 4 hours.

I tried wearing a tennis sweat band on my balding dome to avoid sweat in eyes but looked too geeky.
I tried the big brimmed hats but they fold in front of my face when racing in close quarters - not cool.
Tried the "North African" hat with the long tail over the ears and neck but so far haven't found one that "fits" right.
For now it's still a ball cap - less than ideal.

I have noted some "dry" skin on my nose - not good. Gotta find some zinc I can live with.

[sarafina]

On sunny cool days I just wear a broad brimmed hat and stay outta the sun. When it warms up the neutrogena sunscreen goes on all exposed upper portions.

I never seem to burn on my legs so I don't usually bother.

[bewitched]

A northern European living in the tropics - of course - always.

Even after a year of cruising I was still doing the face

[AK_sailor]

Always, or almost always. I'd probably forget a lot of the time, but the wife is very fair and sun sensitive, and she reminds me. Awhile back I was at a party with some local sailors. I was drinking beer and listening to a couple of guys younger than me (but with way more sea time), comparing notes about how many pre cancerous things that the dermatologist had removed from their skins. Definately made a believer out of me!

[ajax]

In Australia they are very active with their anti-cancer messages and it works with me. I see lots of people in there 60's and 70's who regularly get skin abnormalities cut out. I want to try and minimise any future skin cancers.

Peter

[memorymaker]

Sunbloc is a great invention - but do a little research - find out what's in your 'favourite' as it, and not the sun, may be the cause of your eventual cancer.
The basic research is simple and easy - just follow this link
EWG's 2010 Sunscreen Guide
You should be able to view your sunscreen without signing up or anything.

[Tellie]

Do you see that pic just to the left?
I always, always, use it now.

[edsailing]

I use an australian one, recommended by a dermatologist and called Sunsense Ultra. It's spf 50 but not thick and sticky and it's excellent!