UV protection for normal commuting

AndrewJRenko · 25-03-2019 6:10pm #1

We got the 'cancer talk' in work last month, and I was hoping to get a pass from the speaker on UV protection needed for normal commuting (about 40 minutes each way). But no, she said that if the UV index is more than 2, you really should have some sun protection. It's really just face and neck exposed at this time of the year, but there could be bits of legs and arms exposed as we get into the summer.

It looks UV index will be four for most of the week;

https://www.accuweather.com/en/ie/dublin/207931/sun-sand-weather/207931

Here's the specific advice from Irish Cancer Society;

https://www.cancer.ie/reduce-your-risk/sunsmart/what-uv-radiation#sthash.BtMeH3ci.dpbs

It just seems logistically a bit messy. It takes 20 minutes for sun cream to work, so I need to get it on 20 minutes before I leave. This seems just awkward when coming home. Do I need to head to the loo to slap on the cream half an hour before I get changed? In the mornings, it's it bit messy if I have to put in contact lenses first to avoid sticky fingers, as that's normally the very last thing I do before leaving. So lenses, then sun cream then get dressed looks like the new routine.

Any comments or tips for how to make this easier would be welcome. If your tip is 'ah sure you'll be grand without', it won't really help. It's probably correct, and I probably would be grand without, but it's one risk factor that I can control, so I'm going to control it.

brocbrocach · 25-03-2019 6:29pm

Sorry, and I know it doesn't help, but it's madness.

Large bottle small glass · 25-03-2019 7:13pm

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/308202.php

The full study is: Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort, P. G. Lindqvist, E. Epstein, K. Nielsen, M. Landin-Olsson, C. Ingvar and H. Olsson, Journal of Internal Medicine, doi: 10.1111/joim.12496, published online 16 March 2016.

2: Berwick M et al: Sun exposure and mortality from melanoma. J Natl Cancer Inst: 2005 Feb 2, 973(3):195-9

Lumen · 25-03-2019 7:46pm

Rather than use suncream, simply incorporate regular face/hand cream product with SPF protection into your daily skincare regime.

Of course, if your "daily skincare regime" is like mine it'll involve haphazard application of the cheapest bar of Tesco Value soap on the shelf until skin doesn't smell too bad or have visible grime on it.

TheBlaaMan · 25-03-2019 8:16pm

Get in the habit.

For me, after a scare some years back, its F20 face and neck each and every day x 365 (yup), cycling or not, apply extra if cycling and swap for F50 on any day that looks like the UV index will be high. Just incorporate it in the every-morning-routine and after 6 months you'll feel wrong not doing it. No big deal.

Welcome to our changed climate.......

Canis Lupus · 25-03-2019 9:11pm

Uv index is 10.7 for me today in Brisbane. I'm a bit haphazard with sun screen but I'll generally get some on for the commute and longer spins. It's not really feasible to ignore it otherwise as you'll get burned which sucks, nevermind more longer term issues.

I'm not as good with it for general day to day stuff if I'm heading outdoors for short periods of time.

OleRodrigo · 25-03-2019 10:01pm

Funny, a recent study linked a deficiency in vitamin D to excessive use of sunscreens.

I'm guessing our ancestors didn't have to live in such a state of confusion (until they were eaten by a sabre tooth tiger).

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317278.php

gctest50 · 25-03-2019 10:35pm

brocbrocach wrote: »

Sorry, and I know it doesn't help, but it's madness.

Not really, skin cancers are the third most likely to spread to yer brain

You won't know until your balance goes a bit wonky or you've headaches or whatever

Carawaystick · 25-03-2019 11:03pm

Theres evidence cycling to work reduces the risk of getting cancer
BMJ 2017;357:j1456

The WHO say that being outside in twilight (post sunset/pre sunrise) is also a cancer risk

martyc5674 · 25-03-2019 11:11pm

You need to start working nights..

Tenzor07 · 25-03-2019 11:31pm

Just make sure to completely cover yourself up!

eeeee · 26-03-2019 12:06am

I use this on the face everyday, every day of the year rain hail or shine: https://www.carapharmacy.com/en/Neostrata-Sheer-Physical-Protector-Spf-50/m-12029.aspx it's a natural sunscreen
And P20 Factor 30 for the body, Factor 50 if I'm going on a really long one of a sunny day: https://www.inishpharmacy.com/p/p20-once-a-day-sun-protection-spf30-spray/p-500236.
It's excellent.

I pop the sunscreen on after getting up, brushing teeth, shower etc. By the time I have eaten breakfast, packed the bag and eaten the breakfast it's been 15 mins and good to go.

My dad, oldest of schools when it comes to pampering - he uses soap and that's it - got skin cancer in his face and chest this year. He is a street sweeper and farmer, so he's outside all the time. You won't get away with it forever. It takes less than 30 seconds to put it on, and it's no weight to carry. It becomes just a habit, like brushing your teeth.
Skin cancer, however, a hell of a lot more inconvenient.

Large bottle small glass · 26-03-2019 10:33am

nee wrote: »

My dad, oldest of schools when it comes to pampering - he uses soap and that's it - got skin cancer in his face and chest this year. He is a street sweeper and farmer, so he's outside all the time. You won't get away with it forever. It takes less than 30 seconds to put it on, and it's no weight to carry. It becomes just a habit, like brushing your teeth.
Skin cancer, however, a hell of a lot more inconvenient.

Glad your father is ok.

He is in a very different risk category to OP though in terms of exposure time. (assuming OP is a typical office worker who spends at most 2hrs outside on a typical day in NW Europe in Spring)

The is no zero risk strategy when it comes to life; we will all die of something.

Avoiding the sun and religiously applying sun screen 365 days of the year will reduce your risk of the three main categories of skin cancer. There is zero doubt about that.

It will also put you at higher risk of CVD among other major causes of death.

The established health benefits of sensible sun exposure are not in any way controversial.

https://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/3/5/1548.short#sec-4

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/80/6/1678S/4690512?gca=80%2F6%2F1678S&gca=80%2F6%2F1717S&gca=80%2F6%2F1721S&sendit=Get%20All%20Checked%20Abstract(s)

Like everything in life the dose makes the posion

tunney · 26-03-2019 11:14am

Lumen wrote: »

Rather than use suncream, simply incorporate regular face/hand cream product with SPF protection into your daily skincare regime.

Of course, if your "daily skincare regime" is like mine it'll involve haphazard application of the cheapest bar of Tesco Value soap on the shelf until skin doesn't smell too bad or have visible grime on it.

Aye - I use this

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lab-series-day-rescue-defense-lotion-spf35-50ml/

Ray Bloody Purchase · 26-03-2019 11:20am

I get this stuff. https://www.boots.ie/no7-men-energising-moisturiser-50ml-10183779

Stopped my face getting burned all last year during the fine weather. Good stuff. Don't forget to put some on your lugs.

magicbastarder · 26-03-2019 11:22am

i guess the age old piece of cycling advice applies even more here: don't use WD40.

plodder · 26-03-2019 11:54am

I remember reading somewhere that the classic Irish skin type burns so easily compared to Scandinavians, because their diet is rich in oily fish like salmon and which provides a lot of Vitamin D. Consequently, their skin has developed more resistance to UV. So, we need some UV exposure to get Vitamin D, but not that much, and it's very easy to overdo it with Irish skin. Skin specialists have told me that I should use protection when running most days. Also, I noticed a doctor and his family on a sun holiday abroad last Summer, and the whole family including teenage kids were not exposed to the sun directly at all. Burning is the big thing to avoid and even developing a tan is not considered good.

One of the links above suggests:

Sensible sun exposure (usually 5–10 min of exposure of the arms and legs or the hands, arms, and face, 2 or 3 times per week)

which would have most runners/cyclists using sunscreen in sunny weather at least.

AndrewJRenko · 26-03-2019 4:34pm

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

Don't forget to put some on your lugs.

Typo or bike maintenance advice?

AndrewJRenko · 26-03-2019 4:35pm

nee wrote: »

I use this on the face everyday, every day of the year rain hail or shine: https://www.carapharmacy.com/en/Neostrata-Sheer-Physical-Protector-Spf-50/m-12029.aspx it's a natural sunscreen
And P20 Factor 30 for the body, Factor 50 if I'm going on a really long one of a sunny day: https://www.inishpharmacy.com/p/p20-once-a-day-sun-protection-spf30-spray/p-500236.
It's excellent.

I pop the sunscreen on after getting up, brushing teeth, shower etc. By the time I have eaten breakfast, packed the bag and eaten the breakfast it's been 15 mins and good to go.

My dad, oldest of schools when it comes to pampering - he uses soap and that's it - got skin cancer in his face and chest this year. He is a street sweeper and farmer, so he's outside all the time. You won't get away with it forever. It takes less than 30 seconds to put it on, and it's no weight to carry. It becomes just a habit, like brushing your teeth.
Skin cancer, however, a hell of a lot more inconvenient.

Thanks - hope your Dad is OK.

Do you do anything for your return journey in the evening?

Ray Bloody Purchase · 26-03-2019 5:30pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Typo or bike maintenance advice?

Galway slang for ears. May not translate well to less cultured parts of the world.

:p

AndrewJRenko · 26-03-2019 9:21pm

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

Galway slang for ears. May not translate well to less cultured parts of the world. :p

Ah, got it. I was just a bit confused;

http://www.henryjames.com/bicyle-parts/bike-lugs.html

TheBlaaMan · 26-03-2019 11:12pm

Great to see a lot of boardsie's taking care of their skin !#

That said, some seem to be paying eye-watering amounts for SPF and I dont think others should be put off by the sorts of prices shown above for 50ml of moisturiser/SPF. Something like the Bulldog range in 100Ml with an SPF of 15 can be purchased for under a tenner. See here also available in Boots, but I think its closer to €12 there.

tunney · 26-03-2019 11:39pm

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Great to see a lot of boardsie's taking care of their skin !#

That said, some seem to be paying eye-watering amounts for SPF and I dont think others should be put off by the sorts of prices shown above for 50ml of moisturiser/SPF. Something like the Bulldog range in 100Ml with an SPF of 15 can be purchased for under a tenner. See here also available in Boots, but I think its closer to €12 there.

SPF 15 not worth a damn.

Ideally 40.

Enduro · 27-03-2019 12:50am

For an alternative viewpoint : https://www.outsideonline.com/2380751/sunscreen-sun-exposure-skin-cancer-science

eeeee · 28-03-2019 10:05pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Thanks - hope your Dad is OK.

Do you do anything for your return journey in the evening?

I put the facial sunscreen on again if it's very sunny, I haven't had to do that yet and the P20 lasts all day so that's fine, again I'd only top up if it's mad sunny like that week or two last summer.

I have many times missed bits and ended up with 'interesting' tan lines. I have legs like abstract paintings a few times a summer.

tomasrojo · 29-03-2019 1:34am

Enduro wrote: »

For an alternative viewpoint : https://www.outsideonline.com/2380751/sunscreen-sun-exposure-skin-cancer-science

Bit off-topic, but Unilever, or at least the Flora bit of Unilever, started phasing out hydrogenated vegetable oils in the 90s, though they were pretty surreptitious about it. I guess their problem now is that they, and pretty much all the soft spreads, use palm oil instead, which is a different dilemma. Bit of an odd use of the story about dairy states insisting on margarine being dyed pink. It's more a story of vested interests trying to prevent a cheaper, albeit rather less liked, rival undercutting them than an example of medical people somehow making people switch to a bizarro product.

Interesting article though. This isn't a topic I know enough about to say anything really, except that Aldi do a decent SPF30 for very cheap, and it has the often-neglected 5-star rating too, which is, as far as I know, the more important one of the two ratings.

I remember reading this a while ago, and it seemed convincing at the time:
https://twitter.com/IamMrJ/status/987041433495404546

AndrewJRenko · 26-04-2019 11:48am

I reached out to a leading figure in cancer research in Ireland through a friend, and here's the key point of what I got back;

For conventional cycling commuting in Ireland, there is no need to wear sunblock. For longer weekend cycles that occur between 11-4 it would be strongly recommended but will need to be sunblock that is designed for cycling (conventional sunblock will wash away with sweat).

So given the relatively short duration and the time of day involved, there is no need for sun cream.

irlirishkev · 26-04-2019 12:00pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I reached out to a leading figure in cancer research in Ireland through a friend, and here's the key point of what I got back;

So given the relatively short duration and the time of day involved, there is no need for sun cream.

Interesting. On my commute, about 50mins each way, during the summer, I definitely brown up! I use P20 as a blocker. Throw it on in the bathroom after I brush my teeth, which is about 20mins before I leave. Then I just put it on again when I get changed to go home, also about 20mins before I leave. I burn easily though, so wouldn't feel comfortable not having protection during the summer months.

Tenzor07 · 26-04-2019 12:03pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

So given the relatively short duration and the time of day involved, there is no need for sun cream.

Ah the days when as a kid we'd be out on bikes all day in the summer and not a hint of suncream was to be applied.. not that we could afford it or could buy it in the local Quinnsworth or H.Williams supermarkets...

circadian · 26-04-2019 12:10pm

I suffer from polymorphic light eruption as a result of a previous allergic reaction (ironically, a suncream caused it). So anything to block UV rays is a bonus for me. I have a range of coolibar and olaian clothes that do the trick, suncream on anything else that is exposed.

I'd recommend getting some SPF50 clothing if you are concerned as it does work for me and I'm extremely sensitive to UV.

Edit: I'd like to point out, if you think you suffer from prickly heat regularly then it could actually be the aforementioned condition as the two are usually confused.

UV protection for normal commuting

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