Poll: Do you wear sunscreen?
Last month’s poll
In our last poll, we discussed our particular exercise styles. With 40 total voters, 55% prefer to exercise solo, 5% like exercising in group situations the best, 37.5% like a combination of exercising by themselves and with others, and 2.5% don’t exercise. Glad to see that only 1 in 40 poll participants shun exercise! It was interesting to find out that the majority of people like exercising alone over any other form of exercise. I would love to know how many of those people are runners – it has always seemed to me that runners do best when they exercise alone, but that is simply an observation of some of the runners that I know. Please feel free to enlighten me: runners, do you prefer to exercise solo?
This month’s poll
The warm weather beckons us to the great outdoors, but I think that there are many of us who do not take care of our skin the way we ought to. With the sun beating down it is easy to get a sunburn. Even with cloud cover, it is possible to get sunburned. That is why sunscreen is good to wear to protect our skin from the U.V. rays.
However, recent research suggests that toxic chemicals in sunscreen may actually be a contributing factor to health problems such as cancer. There is so much conflicting information flying around that, once again, consumers are left flummoxed – myself included.
The facial moisturizer I use daily includes an SPF of 15 in it, which protects my face from being burned; other than that, I don’t usually wear sunscreen. This is probably inadvisable, especially considering that having moles increases my risk of skin cancer. If/when I burn from being out in the sun for too long, I moisturize my skin like crazy with products enhanced with vitamin E and aloe vera, and it helps an enormous amount.
Please answer the poll and expand on your answer in the comments section below!
[polldaddy poll=3458173]
I am currently thinking that finding some kind of natural sunscreen product would be the best route to take to achieve the middle ground that we so often strive for. Does anyone have suggestions for good products? Why do you (or do you not) wear sunscreen? Do you think sunscreen is a good product to use in the summer or do you prefer to let the sun do its work? Share your thoughts and opinions!
I burn easily. I always wear sunscreen when I’m going to be outdoors more than five minutes (including in winter.) I also wear hats with brims in the summer if I’m going to work outside. I’m not too worried about skin cancer: the two relatives of mine who had it lived about 600 miles south of me. My primary motive is avoiding discomfort.
Sunscreen and hats when I am walking in the summer, not so much in the winter. When I am outdoors for an extended period of time, then I re-apply.
Natural sunscreen: the powder on trembling aspen trees. That’s poplar, for those of you not from this area. Some birch trees and willows, as well. Any tree with a whitish powder on the bark… you can rub the powder on your skin for the equivalent of SPF 30 or so.
I swear by Neutrogena (though it’s not natural)….my face is SO dry, so I use it daily, and the SPF is a huge bonus! I love it because it’s not oily, and it protects from UVA and UVB.
Mary Anne & Asithi- I adore wearing big hats with wide brims 🙂
Westwood- For real? That is SO COOL! (You should do a podcast about it ;))
Holly- I’m a Dove girl! But I have heard good things about Neutrogena.
I take an “in between” approach. Early morning or late afternoon, I don’t worry so much about sunscreen. If I’m going to be out and about during the hours of 9-4, I slather it on. Plus, my makeup has SPF15 in it, as well.
A lot of people think I’m crazy but I have read studies that show sunscreen is more likely to give you skin cancer than going without… so I never wear it. I just try not to let myself get burned!
Dear Sagan,
Honestly, I would rather suck a pigs ass than wear sunscreen. Okay, harsh words, yes. But it’s true. I am dark — very dark. I have spent 1-3 hours per day in the sun most days of my 48 years. If it takes me, it takes me. But I can not help but (intuitively) feel that sunscreen itself is a greater risk to my body, than tolerance by way of exposure.
Sincerely,
Israeli Guy Who Runs And Rides Daily 🙂
OBSESSIVELY.
and UPF clothes 🙂
I voted yes. My daily facial moisturizer has sunscreen – just seems to make sense. Other than that though, I only wear sunscreen when I know I’m going to be out in the sun. I hate the way sunscreen feels – why can they not make one that will absorb and not leave any kind of greasy, sticky feeling on your skin? – so I tend to not put it on unless I have to. But since I burn easily, I pretty much have to if I’m going to be in the sun. This is why I’m not much of a beach person; unless there is shade I can’t relax because all I’m thinking about is that I’m going to get a sunburn!
Cammy- Sounds like a pretty good rule to live by!
Maggie- I like that kind of approach 😉
Emergefit- GIGGLING.
Miz- Oooooh nice.
JavaChick- I’m a fan of the sunscreen-in-daily-moisturizer, as well.
I didn’t use it for a long time, but was educated in it’s use! I use it often as well as appropriate clothing. It’s a different atmosphere than what used to be. Perhaps in Canada it’s not as important, but here in Florida, it ages you and causes cancer. That’s what is. If you choose to take your chances, just know that those two factors cannot be reversed once they occur.
I burn easily. But I live in Houston, where it’s very difficult to be out in the summer for a long period of time. So I’m not outside much. Therefore, I rarely wear it. If I know I’m going to be out in direct light for more than about 15-20 uninterrupted minutes, it gets applied, lest I become an inflamed sausage.
I put it on if I’m going to be out for more than an hour or two, between 10 and 3, and it’s sunny out, which it often isn’t in these parts. Generally, I’ll wear a hat, or stay in the shade (or fog). I don’t burn as easily as I used to, or used to think I did. If I go to the dessert, or Burning Man, or someplace that I can actually swim, I wear it all the time.
Dr. J- “it” being the sun or the sunscreen? 😉 Kidding, I know what you mean. It’s a risk.
Mimi- Tehe, an inflammed sausage. Nice.
Julie- I’m amazed every time I go into the water how FAST we can get burned.
I rarely wear sunscreen, simply because of the chemicals in most brands. For the most part I limit my sun exposure and when I know I’m going to be in the sun for an extended period of time, I opt for a mineral based sunscreen, hat, long sleeves, etc.
My uncle died of skin cancer in his mid-thirties and I had skin cancer in my mid-thirties – fortunately it was detected early enough to safely remove, although I have a large, unsightly scar.