General Cycling Discussion - Sunscreen, Sweat and Eye Pain

Everytime I use a sunscreen, even "sports" varieties, and even using a sweat band, the sweat from intensive biking from my head and forehead mixes with the sunscreen, runs into my eyes, and gives me considerable eye pain and stinging.

Any thoughts?

I don't think the stinging is necessarily the sunscreen. Sweat is salty. What happens to me is I sweat awhile and it evaporates building up a little salt flat on my brow. When I sweat hard enough, it runs into my eyes bringing salt enriched sweat with it. Eyes don't like really salty water and they burn. I can get relief by washing my eyes and brow with water until it builds up again. Besides that, I don't have a solution. I haven't figured out how to stop sweating here in Orlando in the summer time.

If you are wearing a sweat band, it would seem there'd be no need to put sunscreen on your forehead --if that is really what is causing your eye pain.

I use a fat rolled up bandana tied around my head and, luckily, the sweat never gets to my eyes. Could be your sweatband is not absorbent enough.

Also, I wear it just over my eyebrows so that it doesn't interfere with the proper positioning of my helmet.

Don't put sunscreen on above the eyes. Your helmet and sunglasses should provide adequate protection.

As UV rays hit skin, even indirectly, it is important to use sunscreen wherever possible.
Put the sunscreen on the night before or before you go to sleep. Then apply again just before your ride. Skip your forehead (only do it the night before)-that might do the trick.

fyi, for the most effective spf protection you need to put the stuff on well before you get out there- it needs time to absorb into the skin.
good luck!

Thanks for all the great feedback. My ideas at this time:


I don't think the stinging is necessarily the sunscreen. Sweat is salty

I am aware of the salt in the sweat. But, I get no stinging without the lotion.


If you are wearing a sweat band, it would seem there'd be no need to put sunscreen on your forehead --if that is really what is causing your eye pain.

That is what I have been doing, only wearing the sweat band next to my helmet. Perhaps I will try moving it down. I rotate through three different sweat bands on a long ride.


Don't put sunscreen on above the eyes. Your helmet and sunglasses should provide adequate protection.

My wife (RN) does not agree with you. However, I am using a mtn bike helmet with a visor.


Put the sunscreen on the night before or before you go to sleep. Then apply again just before your ride. Skip your forehead (only do it the night before)-that might do the trick.

Not practical. 1. I take a shower every morning, washing my hair. 2. In no way can I plan my rides that well ahead of time.

My eyes were irritated yesterday am without the sweat, so perhaps it is simply that I am allergic to the sunscreen?

Dnvrfox -- check out this thread, too:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9129

I, too, had all sorts of problems with sunscreen running into my eyes, even when I used the so-called "sport" sunscreens. For my face, I've had the best luck with a sunblock that comes as a waxy stick, sort of like a lip balm. The one I know works for me is made by Neutrogena ("Healthy Defense Sunblock Stick") but I've seen similar stuff by other manufacturers that might work as well -- just can't vouch for them.

What I've found: the stuff I use doesn't run, doesn't sting, doesn't taste bad -- even when I've only applied it minutes before, even when I'm dripping sweat and the sweat *is* running into my eyes, and even when I've applied it (perhaps unwisely) right on my eyelids. I don't know if it's because it doesn't run or because it doesn't sting, but I'm happy with the stuff. It might work for you, as long as you actually don't have an allergy, tho I'd allow for the possibility that maybe different people will find different sunscreens less irritating.

Just a note: just 'cause your eyes are irritated in the AM doesn't mean you have an allergy...I get allergic eye irritations and generally it's not a stinging feeling but a maddening itch coupled with redness and tenderness, esp. in the corners of my eyes and at the rims of my eyelids.

Dnvrfox -- check out this thread, too:

Hey, thanks. I forgot to do a search before posting, as I had not remembered this thread. Silly me. I appreciate your good recal.

hunterseeker with the awesome remedy!

when it's warm enough to ride without armwarmers, i take one out with me in my back pocket to wipe my brow every now and again. stops the sweat dripping down into your eyes which prevents that horrible stingy eyes sensation....doesn't have to be an armwarmer of course!

cabledonut.

To go for a long ride without sunscreen in summer around here could be fatal (and I'm not just talking about skincancer - do you know how much water a sunburned body uses). To put it simply, if sunscreen is running, it isn't rubbed in properly and it's effectiveness will be reduced. Applying sunscreen is not something to be rushed.

Good point Chris! I try to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before the ride, it usualy takes me 5 minutes to cover up.

Denver, if you dont like the idea of a Sunblock Stick, you can purchase kid safe sunscreen that does not sting the eyes, and is non toxic to digest. My sister has some, it comes in pink or blue bottles... I'll get the name this weekend when she visits.