Sun Block
06-18-02, 04:48 PM
#26
Sumanitu taka owaci
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SPF (sun protection factor) is calculated like this:
If it takes you 10 minutes to burn in a given situation, an SPF of 15 would extend your ability to stay in the sun 15 times before you get burned, or 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours.)
An SPF of 45 would (if it stays on and applied properly) give you 450 minutes, or 7 1/2 hours. I'm not on the bike that long (tourers might be) and I might be re-applying it anyway if I was.
SPF 30 (300 minutes, based on the 10-minute burn rate, or 5 hours) is more than enough for me. SPF 15 is probably overkill for my hour long ride.
Having said all that (whew!) I've noticed something else that's important: the angle of the sun. When the sun is more directly overhead, the chance of burn and skin damage skyrockets. During the morning and later afternoon hours, the sun angle makes it far less likely you will burn. People of "hotter" areas of the world have long avoided the middle of the day, taking "siestas." This may be as important as sunscreen. Maybe avoiding the 11:00 - 2:00 window would help.
If it takes you 10 minutes to burn in a given situation, an SPF of 15 would extend your ability to stay in the sun 15 times before you get burned, or 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours.)
An SPF of 45 would (if it stays on and applied properly) give you 450 minutes, or 7 1/2 hours. I'm not on the bike that long (tourers might be) and I might be re-applying it anyway if I was.
SPF 30 (300 minutes, based on the 10-minute burn rate, or 5 hours) is more than enough for me. SPF 15 is probably overkill for my hour long ride.
Having said all that (whew!) I've noticed something else that's important: the angle of the sun. When the sun is more directly overhead, the chance of burn and skin damage skyrockets. During the morning and later afternoon hours, the sun angle makes it far less likely you will burn. People of "hotter" areas of the world have long avoided the middle of the day, taking "siestas." This may be as important as sunscreen. Maybe avoiding the 11:00 - 2:00 window would help.
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Last edited by LittleBigMan; 06-18-02 at 04:55 PM.
06-18-02, 06:10 PM
#27
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Originally posted by LittleBigMan
People of "hotter" areas of the world have long avoided the middle of the day, taking "siestas."
People of "hotter" areas of the world have long avoided the middle of the day, taking "siestas."
06-19-02, 06:16 AM
#28
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Didn't notice if anyone mentioned Saurus. I have a bottle that must be about 6 years old, it isn't greasy, and it isn't supposed to wash off. It works, too--I am going to start going without it in the attempt to get a little bit of a tan on my white legs.
