Sunscreen

[DisneyOma]

Five spots on my face and five spots on my back frozen off today at the dermatologist. Planned Disney trip in August, and I'll be applying for DAS due to my anxiety. What's the best sunscreen you have used at WDW? I'll be doing the usual break in the heat of the day (I've had melanoma twice, so I don't even want to get tanned) and applying sunscreen liberally, but dos anyone have a favorite that works when you are sweaty?

 

[BillSears]

I always use kids sunscreen. I hate normal sunscreen on my face because when I sweat the sunscreen gets into my eyes and irritates them. Kids sunscreen seems to work much better without tears.

 

[NotUrsula]

With that track record, cloth covering is your better bet. I'd swim with a rashguard on and wear a wide-brim hat, long sleeves and long pants or skirt when walking outdoors. Columbia PFG clothes are nice, or any other solar brand that's made for fishing (I love them for theme parks because they have so many zipper pockets.)

Numerous reports list the La Roche-Posay Anthelios sunscreens as the best ones, but they are imports in the US, and consequently very expensive. Target near me carries them; priced at around $32 for 1.7 oz.

For my face I use Neutrogena sticks; we all carry them outdoors, and I tuck one inside my suit when swimming so that I can re-apply frequently. I also put the stick product on the part in my hair and use a wide headband when swimming because the scalp beneath my red hair is prone to burning really fast.

 

[elvispursley]

When we aren't at the beach (live in HI and need to use reef-safe/mineral sunscreen) we like Coppertone Sport or Neutrogena Sport. As someone who's worked at a Burn Center my entire career, we always advise our patients to apply an entire shot-glass amount. People typically don't apply near enough or reapply frequently enough. We also say that any sunscreen that is SPF 30+ is fine--it's the reapplying that's most important. But definitely ask your dermatologist what he/she recommends. As a freckled red-head who burns very easy, I have started wearing Columbia PFG shirts that have UPF 50/Omni-shade to help protect my skin.

 

[danceintherain]

When we aren't at the beach (live in HI and need to use reef-safe/mineral sunscreen) we like Coppertone Sport or Neutrogena Sport. As someone who's worked at a Burn Center my entire career, we always advise our patients to apply an entire shot-glass amount. People typically don't apply near enough or reapply frequently enough. We also say that any sunscreen that is SPF 30+ is fine--it's the reapplying that's most important. But definitely ask your dermatologist what he/she recommends. As a freckled red-head who burns very easy, I have started wearing Columbia PFG shirts that have UPF 50/Omni-shade to help protect my skin.

Do these really keep you cool(ish) in the heat?
I ordered some Coolibar clothes for YDS today, after his eczema responded poorly to the sunscreen I put on him yesterday (Supergoop that I loved, but his skin didn't). He's on regular antibiotics, while undergoing chemotherapy, so he needs something extra to protect him from the sun. But, he's 3, so keeping him out of the sun doesn't work very well.

 

[cobright]

Do these really keep you cool(ish) in the heat?

I was on a hypertension drug a few years back that cranked my photosensitivity up to 11. and I ended up with those thin long sleeve hooded sun shirts. People who fish use them. What I found was as soon as i was back indoors, the hood comes down and the sleeves bunch up above the elbo. Out in the sun I can wet the fabric with water and stay very cool. It dries in about 10-15 minutes so even that's not a hassle.

Another thing to keep in mind is that sunburns and sun exposure risk in general is systemic more than direct. We think that it's the sun hitting our skin that causes the damage and eventually the cancer but it's far more complicated than that. With enough lycopene (anti-oxidants) one could actually prevent sunburn without anything applied to the skin. There was even a beverage once trying to get approved as a drinkable sun screen. Point being, that a perfect protection like sunblocking clothing over 95% of your skin (meaning leaving your face and hands un protected, can provide better protection than imperfect protection over 75-85% of your skin.

While taking Hydrochlorothiazide, if I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and sunscreen applied to all exposed skin at 9:00 AM I would be burned by 10:30. But if I wore sun clothes like I described, I could leave my face and hands (sensory problem areas) untreated and never burn all day.

 

[danceintherain]

I was on a hypertension drug a few years back that cranked my photosensitivity up to 11. and I ended up with those thin long sleeve hooded sun shirts. People who fish use them. What I found was as soon as i was back indoors, the hood comes down and the sleeves bunch up above the elbo. Out in the sun I can wet the fabric with water and stay very cool. It dries in about 10-15 minutes so even that's not a hassle.

Another thing to keep in mind is that sunburns and sun exposure risk in general is systemic more than direct. We think that it's the sun hitting our skin that causes the damage and eventually the cancer but it's far more complicated than that. With enough lycopene (anti-oxidants) one could actually prevent sunburn without anything applied to the skin. There was even a beverage once trying to get approved as a drinkable sun screen. Point being, that a perfect protection like sunblocking clothing over 95% of your skin (meaning leaving your face and hands un protected, can provide better protection than imperfect protection over 75-85% of your skin.

While taking Hydrochlorothiazide, if I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and sunscreen applied to all exposed skin at 9:00 AM I would be burned by 10:30. But if I wore sun clothes like I described, I could leave my face and hands (sensory problem areas) untreated and never burn all day.

Wonderful! He'll love being wet outside anyway.
I also ordered him a long swimsuit. We have hats and tons of glasses for him (retinoblastoma) but getting him to keep them on can be difficult.

 

[Starwind]

Do these really keep you cool(ish) in the heat?
I ordered some Coolibar clothes for YDS today, after his eczema responded poorly to the sunscreen I put on him yesterday (Supergoop that I loved, but his skin didn't). He's on regular antibiotics, while undergoing chemotherapy, so he needs something extra to protect him from the sun. But, he's 3, so keeping him out of the sun doesn't work very well.

My skin is sun sensitive both naturally as well as due to medication. I burn extremely easily and get rashes from sun exposure. I also get adverse reactions to almost all sunscreen/sunblock. I cannot use any of the chemical sunscreens, and most brands of mineral sunblocks will also cause a reaction.

I can use Vanicream and Blue Lizard brand mineral sunblocks (at least one also has versions that have sunscreens, which I can't use).

But mostly, I use sun protective clothing, including a wide brimmed hat, with UPF 50+. The clothing covers almost all my exposed skin and minimized the need for any sunblock. With the right fabrics and clothing design, I am actually cooler and more comfortable fully covered than in shorts and a tshirt. For swimming I wear a long sleeve UPF rashguard and swim tights.

There are a number of brands that sell quality UPF 50+ clothing. I prefer going with well known brand names instead of knock-offs where I don't know what I am actually getting. Coolibar, Solbari, LLBean, and Lands End have excellent UPF clothing and swimwear. Eddie Bauer, Outdoor Research, Ex-Officio, Columbia, also offer some options. Coolibar is my favourite for UPF clothing and that is what they specialize in. One thing to pay attention to is whether the UPF protection is there for the lifetime of the fabric or will it wash out -- there are treatments that can be added to fabric, but they are temporary versus the inherent design of the fabric itself.

Something I will often do is wear e.g. a normal shirt and then have a UPF coverup or jacket over it. Allows me to resuse the coverup/jacket from day to day, as well as take it off indoors if I want, but still get the sun protection. Also less expensive than have an entire wardrobe of UPF tops.

 

[Simba's Mom]

My husband uses SPF 50 or above (that's what his doctor who treated his melanoma recommended). So his choice is Coppertone Sport (comes in a dark blue tube). Also he wears solar sleeves quite often. But his main thing is to look for shade!

 

[tetera]

Family history of various skin cancers (including melanoma) here - we like the Badger sunscreens (specifically Badger Adventure Sport; I know they also have face sticks though we haven't tried those) but also echoing others who say to wear a hat and rash guard!

https://www.badgerbalm.com/products/adventure-sport-mineral-sunscreen-tin-spf-50

 

[kanerf]

I use the Walmart Equate brand 100 SPF. I have been in the parks all this week and did not experience any burns.

 

[SteveMouse]

To receive DAS, you need to explain why you have limited ability to stand in line for attractions. Almost all attraction lines are under some cover or are inside. DAS is not used for lines for transportation services, food/restaurants/food carts, and select other experiences.

DAS does not automatically provide a shaded or air conditioned waiting area. There are few inside locations to sit that are not restaurants, and Disney has continued to remove benches from the parks. You may want to plan accordingly.


Safe travels!

 

[DisneyOma]

To receive DAS, you need to explain why you have limited ability to stand in line for attractions. Almost all attraction lines are under some cover or are inside. DAS is not used for lines for transportation services, food/restaurants/food carts, and select other experiences.

DAS does not automatically provide a shaded or air conditioned waiting area. There are few inside locations to sit that are not restaurants, and Disney has continued to remove benches from the parks. You may want to plan accordingly.


Safe travels!

As I stated, I get DAS for my anxiety, not for my need to stay out of the sun. I agree that there is a lot of shade/cover in most queues, and I know DAS is not used for transportation, etc. I'm looking for new ideas for sunscreen (hence the title of this thread) because I've been to WDW so many times in August, and my sunscreen isn't doing the best job out there. Now that I've been to a regular dermatologist on top of my melanoma specialist, I'm trying to be more proactive and reduce the amount of damage I do to my skin.

Thanks to all who suggested their favorite sunscreen - I've got a list of stuff to look for now! Also considering the UPF clothing. I've got a wardrobe of Disbounding I tend to use, so it looks like I'm going shopping for some added layers

 

[elvispursley]

Do these really keep you cool(ish) in the heat?
I ordered some Coolibar clothes for YDS today, after his eczema responded poorly to the sunscreen I put on him yesterday (Supergoop that I loved, but his skin didn't). He's on regular antibiotics, while undergoing chemotherapy, so he needs something extra to protect him from the sun. But, he's 3, so keeping him out of the sun doesn't work very well.

Yes! I started wearing them after I was on a long horseback trip in Utah one summer and nearly sustained heatstroke. Despite drinking plenty of water, I didn’t replenish with electrolytes and became very ill. we were so far out that a helicopter would’ve been needed to get me. After getting electrolyte replacer in me, one of the riders gave me their long-sleeve columbia sun shirt to wear. I thought she was nuts initially since it was over 110 degrees. But I put it on and surprisingly felt much cooler wearing it.

 

[danceintherain]

Yes! I started wearing them after I was on a long horseback trip in Utah one summer and nearly sustained heatstroke. Despite drinking plenty of water, I didn’t replenish with electrolytes and became very ill. we were so far out that a helicopter would’ve been needed to get me. After getting electrolyte replacer in me, one of the riders gave me their long-sleeve columbia sun shirt to wear. I thought she was nuts initially since it was over 110 degrees. But I put it on and surprisingly felt much cooler wearing it.

Good to know! I tried wearing UV sleeves a couple years ago, and it just made me hotter. But, they were super cheap. Hopefully, I can find a set up that works better for all of us. I've tried so many different sunscreens.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

We use Coola brand. Kind of expensive. But since my husband has a bald head I really try to use an organic sunscreen on face, head and neck at a minimum since we use that most often throughout the year. We have had good results using all of their sunscreen.

 

[daisy2013]

Blue Lizard. I am so fair I burn under florescent lights, but this is the only one that I have never burned using. It is a mineral sunscreen and you may look a bit white until its absorbed but so great.

 

[summerlyangel]

We're very fair here:
I'm dark blonde, blue eyes, freckles, pasty skin.
DH is a redhead, brown eyes, freckles, pasty skin.
And 4 red/blonde, green/gray/hazel/hazel children, all with freckles and the aforementioned pasty skin lol.

I really like neutogena hydroboost 50. I put in on in the mornings and don't have to reapply all day. It's soaks in quickly and is not tacky. I never get any color doing this, except on spots I miss. The trick for me is using a generous amount and applying at least half an hour before exposure. I also wear hats and search out shade like it's my job. If I'm swimming, I'll reapply every hour. I used this for 4 summer disney trips and no burns at all.

DH likes the mineral banana boat sport in the orange bottle. No burns for him, either.

Either of these have worked fine on all of our kids with no burns.

I do NOT like copportone sunscreens. There is something in them that burns my skin and eyes when I wear them, so I avoid at all cost. I also find it really important to use fresh sunscreen each year. The only times we burn and when we try to use last years leftovers.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer 50 SPF or higher. This has worked well for me in the past.

 

[elvispursley]

Blue Lizard. I am so fair I burn under florescent lights, but this is the only one that I have never burned using. It is a mineral sunscreen and you may look a bit white until its absorbed but so great.

Love Blue Lizard! This what we use at home every day (live in Hawaii). It’s not greasy feeling after it absorbs great! For my face, I rally love Neutrogena Invisble Defence Facial Serum, SPF 60–not greasy and I don’t get breakouts!