 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
As some of you will know from my other daft questions I am a newbie. But the questions are simple. Going skiing in La Plagne 1800 on Boxing Day so do I need suncream? What is the recommended factor and brand or will Tesco's factor 30 do?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Yes. 30 or higher. Don't underestimate the UV at altitude when pretty much everything around you is a near-perfect reflector.
Get a good greasy chapstick for your lips as well. It's as much for the cold and wind as the sun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Yes, you need sun protection.
What you wear is very much up to you.
I tend not to need much more than factor 15 on my face but need to protect my lips. Good eye protection is a must.
Do you sweat like a pregnant nun? If so, get something waterproof.
Are you going to be spending a long time in goggles? If so, maybe complete sunblock for the rest of your face unless you like the 'panda eyes' look - it save having to brag about going skiing in the office, people will just know.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 22-12-09 10:26; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Mike
Yes - Personally I find Prosport works really well for me both on the mountain and on the water, but you won't find it in boots.
If you have a propensity to crisp then go for the better quality stuff, and take a small tube with you on the mountain so you can top up at lunch etc.
Enjoy the trip
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I dont need a 30 - depends on your skin type I suppose. But yes do deffo need it. I get a stick one from Boots - think its factor 25, its good to keep in your pocket as it is small. You can use it on your face and lips - it is specifically for skiing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
it's a personal thing - i don't need suncream at this time of year because the sun is relatively weak but i generally wear it anyway to maintain my youthful looks 
later in the season, factor 20+ liberally applied
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Like Higs pointed out though, the 'photographic negative of a domestic abuse victim' look isn't a good one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike-H, yes you do, even on cloudy days when there's no sign of the sun, what factor you need will generally depend on your skin type. As mentioned you must also always always wear goggles or sun glasses, snow blindness is not fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
I don't wear sunscreen at this time of year - but then there is never any exposed skin to put it on.
I am also very strange in that I HATE lip balm - I would rather have chapped lips
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High altitude + very highly reflective sufrace all around = yes most definitely!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
I got sunburnt on Dartmoor in Sunday, so I generally take factor 50 and reapply frequently...
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
Another vote for factor 50 (and I actually would go higher if I could find any...)- preferred brand would be Piz Buin (they also do a handy stick though not in SPF50)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike-H, you don't really need it in mid-winter unless you get 6 days of cloudless skies. It'll be so cold that you won't have an inch of exposed skin.
Ski in late march and you'll burn to blisters in 3 hours but not now
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| red 27 wrote: |
Ski in late march and you'll burn to blisters in 3 hours but not now |
Made a tactical mistake one Easter trip of putting suncream on before taking my hat off, therefore leaving my forehead completely unprotected during a long lunch on S-facing terrace at ~2000m.
Next morning I woke up stuck to the pillow.
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Tue 22-12-09 12:45; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Quote: |
Ski in late march and you'll burn to blisters in 3 hours but not now
|
Need an early Easter for that. My better half is a teacher so our vacations are dictated by the local council.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Never mind late March, how about early May on the blisteringly sunny top peak at Hintertux.
My mate, who reckoned he was 'hard', looked like the singing detective after about an hour.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
and buy enough to last the 6 days. if you have to top up it will be painful - prices for this sort of thing in resort are at least double (in £) what you'd pay in Boots, etc. I go through about 150ml of factor 30+ a week (on the slopes, not generally...).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Yay! A thread we all agree on! I am factor 50 gal,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| queen bodecia wrote: |
| Yay! A thread we all agree on! I am factor 50 gal, |
Tesco's 'Value' sunblock, I take it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Boris wrote: |
| I am also very strange in that I HATE lip balm - I would rather have chapped lips |
Your not strange. Me and you are normal, it's everyone else thats strange!
Although the sun is faily weak at this time of year you'll be getting a fail dose of extra rays reflected back from the snow. As said above don't forget your forehead as half an hour in the sun at lunch without a hat and you'll regret it.
I try and wear sunscreen, but at least once in a ski week I'll forget and go out without. Luckily I don't burn easily and the beard also helps.
adrian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike-H, 30 or so is what we use and works fine, just remember to keep adding it on and as others have said you get a lot of light reflected back up
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Mike-H, be extra careful of your nipples
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I tend not to bother on a cloudy day at moderate altitude near the solstice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
laundryman, with your nipples, or generally?
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
red 27, 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
laundryman, Someone wll be around in a bit to say you can get burnt on a cloudy day......
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| red 27 wrote: |
Mike-H, you don't really need it in mid-winter unless you get 6 days of cloudless skies. It'll be so cold that you won't have an inch of exposed skin.
Ski in late march and you'll burn to blisters in 3 hours but not now |
And if the sun is out and the temperature is warm, you'll just have stay in the pub. Or if you really want to ski when condition is warmer than expected, pay the princely price in the resort!
In March, you'll burn to blisters in ONE hour!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Mike-H, Careful with the lip balm make sure it is high SPF rather than just a balm. Made that mistake myself one Easter in Cervinia and suffered from severely burnt and painful lips.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Snow reflects up to 90% of UV light. I've been burnt up my nostrils and down ear canals on a clear days skiing. I use a kids spf 45 with a zin c stick over the top. Apply lip balm (with SPF pro) regularly. Burn hurts and UV penetrates clouds quicker that an American rap artist does an out of town underage fan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I would like to caution some on this thread who seem to think that just because the sky is cloudy, that you won't get burnt!
Its simple really - in sunlight, you can see it, and you can feel the heat of infrared radiation! So you tend to be sensible.
But please don't forget that your eyes can only see a certain spectrum wavelength of light, and what you can't see, the shorter wavelength ultraviolet spectrum, will also burn your skin. So my advice is just because you can't feel heat, nor can you see ultraviolet spectrum of radiation doesn't mean its not there, burning your skin!
If you are in the mountains or anywhere outside with skin exposed to sunlight, use suncream! Its that simple! Human skin is not meant nor made to withstand radiation and subsequent burning without damage! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
psbbst, well said. Often it's cloudy days people get burnt the most, or think it's ok to try and ski withut eye protection, as they can't feel or see the sun's strength!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Quote: |
Human skin is not meant nor made to withstand radiation and subsequent burning without damage!
|
Minor correction: SOME human whose skin is not meant to do those things.
Others ARE meant to do so. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
psbbst, when the sun's not over the horizon and it's mostly overcast, I don't think there's much of an issue with suncream for anyone who's not got the fairest type of skin. Where I go skiing at this time year, there's one spot where the sun peaks over the crags on the horizon for about 5 minutes at 1145. It's usually absolutely freezing, so there's little exposed skin (plus, I usually have a beard!). I haven't even been slightly tanned in these circumstances. I would always wear goggles though - to keep warm and to see properly as much as anything.
But for anyone who's not aware of the factors affecting the intensity of UV radiation, the advice should obviously be "better safe than sorry".
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
allanm, I got burnt on a cloudy day... paying stupid amount of euros for suncream in France
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
