I'm going on a trip and...?

Question

I'm going to Virginia Beach in five months and I want to protect my skin. I am very pale with blonde hair and blue eyes. I don't tan at all, I just burn. I've heard that sunscreen with an spf of over 35 doesn't work because companies just label it higher to mark up the price. I've also heard that UV rays can get through regular fabric. I had a chemistry teacher who told me that sunscreen doesn't work at all. How do I protect my skin? My prom is about a week after the trip. I don't want to be sunburned! Also, how can I get smooth, nice looking skin for the trip and prom?

Answer 1

The sunscreen is just that... it screens out the harmful rays.
The SPF is the magnification (times) of time you can be in the sun before you burn. You really don't need more than a 30...
Think about it.
If you can only stay in the sun 15 minutes before you burn with no sunscreen...
You put on a SPF 20, you can stay in the sun 5 hours.
You put on an SPF 30, you can stay in the sun 7.5 hours
The higher the SPF, the more chemicals...
Here's the catch, if you have sensitive skin, like mine, you are aggravating your skin with the higher chemicals.
I would rather see you wear an SPF 20 on your face, a 30 everywhere else, and re-apply to your face with lunch and dinner.
People don't know it, but it's especially important to remember your sunscreen even when you are inside or it's cloudy.

OK, for the skin health:
It's really important to drink lots of water, about 6-8 CUPS a day, that's not "glasses", that would be a cup, measuring cup!
For every soda you drink, you then need to follow up with the same amount of water.
Stay away from processed foods and fast food... ie: anything that comes out of a can or box.
Eat enough veggies, lean protein and fruits.

Have a great trip!

To wondering mom... Just fyi... a really hot shower does LOADS of damage to your skin! Dehydrates it like crazy! Never take a shower thats HOT if you want to keep your skin nice, and hot tubs are a big no no...

Answer 2

I use Banana Boat and NO-AD with SPF 45 and I know they work at least somewhat.
I, like you, am very pale and if I wear no sunscreen, I burn, blister and peel. When I liberally apply sunscreen often, I don't burn at all.

Answer 3

I don't know where you heard that from but I can tell you from personal experience that the Banana Boat spf 50 works wonders!! I have a daughter who is, for lack of a better word, white, white white. I don't mean she is pale I mean she is white. White hair, white skin, everything. We were told the same thing, about the spf 35, and wanted to try on our own to see if it was true. It was not! The 50 works much better! It needs to be re-applied every 30 minutes or so, depending on your submergence in water. We can walk, for more than an hour in full sun, after she has applied this to her face, arms neck, ears and hands, with no burning. I wouldn't use anything else.
Also, there are several nice lotions you can purchase over the counter, such as Vaseline Advanced Healing. Take a really hot shower and when your done, don't dry off. Put this lotion on head to toe. Dry yourself, as normal, then reapply! Do this for about a week, remembering to do your elbows and knees, and you should see some wonderful results.

Good Luck Little One and Have Fun Fun Fun
Blessed Be

Answer 4

You have had a lot of advice on SPF count and sunscreen lotions. I 'd like to add, take extra care by protecting the skin. No exposure in terms of full sleeves and a hat so shade is on the face always are some actions that will prevent tanning.

Answer 5

sunscreen works!! lol your chem teacher must be on crack. if it didnt work there would be alot moroe people eith skin cancer! and yes the UV rays can travel through the clothing and burn you. i am also very pale. but have never been sunburnt through clothing. but sunscreen does work... its always worked for me. I dont tan and i burn easily. i go out to the bech for 4 hours with sunscreen on and nothing happens! (i freckle on my face though and i get a lsight tan ) but thats it! i went to the beach once for a half hour layign out .it was a bad day to go but oh well. it was cloudy and cold. i was stupid and ddint put sunscreen on and i got so burnt!@ the back of my legs were so bad i cried the nextmornign when i woke up! lol

sunscreen does work......you can use spf 15 or higher.. they uusally dont mark up the sunscreen depending what SPF it is, just the brands most lileyly. I have always been happy with banana boat or coppertone...

your chem teacher is on crack! once again....lol

Answer 6

Sorry,but I can't answer this because God blessed me so that I don't have to worry about tanning,but what I understand the higher the SPF in sunscreen the better,and safter it is suppose to be but I hope you enjoy the trip don't get sunburned and also enjoy your prom just Good Luck all around!

Answer 7

My husband is very fair skinned and used to burn ALL of the time. Now he used Arbonne's sunscreen and it works amazing! He never burns anymore, just gets a decent tan. They also have products for your face and body so that your skin can look it's best. It's formulated in Switzerland, so it has the highest standards you can hope for. You have to get it from a consultant though. You can go to the website and find one however. Best of luck and enjoy both your trip and prom.

Answer 8

Fair skin has less melanin, which protects the skin from sun damage. If the sunsceen companies didnt have high spf's, the fda would not let them label it on the bottle.

Basically: use plenty of sunscreen, and wear clothes/ rashguards whenever posssible because even though they may get through, their harm will be much less.

Answer 9

dont get in the sun, or if u want a suntan,,try those sun tan creams that tan u while ur in the sun,,they do color ur skin some, but u have to only sit in the sun for only one half hour at first,or even if u want a quit suntan,,try baby oil and iodine,,it will give u a quick tan,but only about 1 half hr in the sun at first,then increase it by 10 minutes or so, but if u sunburn easily only try 25 min at a time,,u try it out and see how u do when u lay out for 20 minutes with the oil and iodine,,then u can see how u do..good luck

Answer 10

I live in Virginia but I'm from Florida.I burn 2 and cant tan.I use BullFrog sunscrean.It sounds funny but its not!its like a gell for your skin!i wasn't burnt when I spent the whole day @ the beach!!!
It work!
-dee