Sunscreen/sun/vacation threads

[SeeSea]

With summer here, thoughts turn to tattoo care and summer activities. Here is a collection of threads that came up in my search. I didn't actually read all these threads, so I can't vouch for their usefulness, but here ya go!

It would probably be a good idea not to resurrect a bunch of really old threads on the same topic by commenting on them, but these are for reference.

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/4121-another-swimming-question.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/2723-non-whitening-sun-protection.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/1428-sun-tan-question.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/1203-oops-waht-do-you-do-if-your-tattoo-gets-sunburned.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/1076-swimming-new-tattoo-how-long-do-you-wait.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/834-sunscreen-fresh-piece.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/357-how-soon-too-soon-go-hawaii-post-tattoo.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/5423-diving-island-vacation-while-tattoo-progress.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-advice/3931-sunblock-after-new-tattoo.html

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-advice/2678-going-hawaii-right-before-tattoo-concerns.html

I also found it easier to find threads by title by looking at the LST sitemap rather than the regular interface. You can see one thread per line.

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/sitemap/

[Mick Weder]

I have a major dislike for anything sun, sea & sand. Thats probably a good thing.

I hate the beach. Mind you, a front bar overlooking the beach on the other hand.

[TrixieFaux]

I like the sound of the ocean. That's about it for me and the beach. I go because my family and friends seem to like it and there are good restaurants on the way home. In that case it's all about the long-sleeve, hooded sun protection cover-up!

[idyllsend]

I'm a freckly ginger, so I [try to] stay out of the sun regardless of my tattoos. Last year I got a pretty nasty burn at a concert, and you can still see a little pinkness. I love the beach though, but I hate going in the water, so I just chill under an umbrella and people watch.

[SeeSea]

TIKI BAR LST Meetup!!! :cool:

[Graeme]

[polliwog]

I love the beach. I grew up going to freezing cold ocean beaches on the north shore of Massachusetts; if it wasn't painful, it didn't really count as going for a swim. I love nothing more than swimming in the ocean and coming out covered in salt and seaweed, and getting a basket of fried claims afterward. Nobody gives a shit what you look like on these beaches, either. Going to cover myself in SPF 50 and not worry too much about it.

Sorry, I'm sorta drunk and feel a strong nostalgia for the ocean

[hellbunny]

I have a major dislike for anything sun, sea & sand. Thats probably a good thing.

I hate the beach. Mind you, a front bar overlooking the beach on the other hand.

DITTO!

Even before I had tattoos I was ridiculously anti sun/heat/summer, I did used to surf but haven't for a couple of years - and when I did it was always early in the morning before the sun was really out and I would subsequently burst into flames.

I have such a paranoid fear of getting sunburn! Not only is it detrimental to our skin etc. but tan lines are vile!

If I feel too white I'll go and get a spray tan, but really - I'm happy being a milky bar kid.

I do enjoy taking my horses to the beach for a swim from time to time. That will never get old. :D

[Breakme]

I love the beach. I grew up going to freezing cold ocean beaches on the north shore of Massachusetts; if it wasn't painful, it didn't really count as going for a swim. I love nothing more than swimming in the ocean and coming out covered in salt and seaweed, and getting a basket of fried claims afterward. Nobody gives a shit what you look like on these beaches, either. Going to cover myself in SPF 50 and not worry too much about it.

This pretty much sums up my beach experiences growing up in New Zealand. Switch the fried clams to fish and chips, add in a massive ocean undertow and a hole in the ozone layer which means you get burnt in 5mins.

I try to avoid the sun as much as possible, even on 40 degree days (centigrade) I'll wear long sleeves if I can. I hate feeling my skin burn.

[SeeSea]

I grew up swimming in cold lakes and campgrounds. I'm on the whiter side too, and like a little color on my calves so I don't look like a corpse in a dress. I slather on sunscreen too. Can't wait to when I can hang in the summer and have attention on my back rather than my white belly :-D

This weekend looks good Sunday and Monday, so there will definitely be some cocktails at the marina. But alas, since my piece is not done, I am under strict orders to use SPF 1000, don't rub it all the way in, and wear a UV rash guard over top. All summer. ::wilters:: It's gonna take a fair number of Coronas to survive this.

[Mark Bee]

I love hot, humid weather. I'm in my element. I seem to get more energy the more intense the heat and humidity grow. I do my best to keep up with the high SPF, though. Maybe its because I grew up in Canada and had to make the most of our horribly short summers. Toronto is pretty good for evil heat and humidity in July and August. I can't wait!

[Graeme]

I love hot, humid weather. I'm in my element. I seem to get more energy the more intense the heat and humidity grow. I do my best to keep up with the high SPF, though. Maybe its because I grew up in Canada and had to make the most of our horribly short summers. Toronto is pretty good for evil heat and humidity in July and August. I can't wait!

I say this now that the weather is pleasant, but I would rather endure a Montreal winter than a Montreal summer. I can't do the heat and humidity. And to make this summer even less pleasant, I start my back in July.

[TrixieFaux]

I love hot, humid weather. I'm in my element. I seem to get more energy the more intense the heat and humidity grow... Toronto is pretty good for evil heat and humidity in July and August. I can't wait!

You are insane. ;)

[SeeSea]

You are insane. ;)

He just had some work done. Probably still not right in the head ;-)

[Mark Bee]

He just had some work done. Probably still not right in the head ;-)

Its our first truly hot day of the year. 30 celcius today, and very humid.

Loving. Every. Minute.

:D

[beez]

I like Badger Natural & Organic Sunscreen, SPF 30. It is zinc based, so for us fish belly pale folk (like myself) it's a great natural barrier option. Good for tattoos. I tend to cut mine with coconut oil because it's so thick! A must for tattoos in the sun season.

[SeeSea]

My tattooer was saying to use bullfrog, or anything for babies because they have to get the UV number right for babies. I dunno- I had SPF 50 slathered on so thick and a UV rash guard to go running today. Well, I understand, it's all about the portfolio picture.

(edited: see my post below for technical details, including that Bullfrog for Kids has problematic ingredients:

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/5584-sunscreen-sun-vacation-threads-page3.html#post95253)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[beez]

The badger sunscreen is nice because it is a simple formula with natural ingredients that are less likely to irritate the skin. And for me the zinc is nice, even if it gives me goth face and washes my tattoos out a little much, because otherwise I'd just be completely covered all rhe time and never get to show off :p

[polliwog]

This solid baby sunscreen from Aveeno has been very helpful as the sun's gotten stronger. I always have one on me for emergencies. It's probably pretty useless if you're covered but works well for reapplying to small-to-medium sized tattoos in places that get a lot of sun exposure, and it doesn't stink/feel greasy.

[Rikhall]

Neutrogena do a SPF 110, my girlfriend pointed it out to me and laughed that I should use it, I know she was joking but before I go away to Ibiza I will probably purchase a bottle, and still keep them as covered up as possible chatting to people in Ibiza about tattoos is not my ideal situation, some guy gurning and going and talking about his beckham sleeve can really bring you down

[Lance]

Ahhh, good ol Neutrogena! A few years ago my friends temporarily nicknamed me "SPF 100", when I brought a bottle of Neutrogena spf100+, with us on a wedding/vacation to Maui. I was the only one to bring sunblock and also the only one who didn't bring board shorts. I have an extreme distaste for direct sunlight and tanning. I'm paranoid of turning into a walking handbag. ;-)

[beez]

You and me both, buddy. I stick to cool and gray whenever possible.

[SeeSea]

I like Badger Natural & Organic Sunscreen, SPF 30. It is zinc based, so for us fish belly pale folk (like myself) it's a great natural barrier option. Good for tattoos. I tend to cut mine with coconut oil because it's so thick! A must for tattoos in the sun season....

The badger sunscreen is nice because it is a simple formula with natural ingredients that are less likely to irritate the skin. And for me the zinc is nice, even if it gives me goth face and washes my tattoos out a little much, because otherwise I'd just be completely covered all the time and never get to show off :p

You sent me off on a Quest for Knowledge (LOL!) and I'll be ordering some of this stuff for a couple reasons:

1) Zinc Oxide is the only ingredient that is broad spectrum for UVA and UVB (and UVC).

2) It doesn't contain any of the ingredients that can be irritants or are not recommended for children (Bad stuff = para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and benzephenones like dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone). (<--- I'll be returning the Bullfrog for Kids that I just bought because it contains some of these ingredients.)

3) Contains no ingredients that are shown to contribute to coral bleaching!!! (Bad stuff = oxybenzone, butylparaben, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC))

This link has descriptions and the study reference, and statements from National Park Service, National Geographic and Scuba Diving Life: Coral Reef Safe Sunscreen Information - Badger

This link includes a nice chart of all FDA approved ingredients and their effectiveness for UBA and UVB (page 4). Great reference for reading labels. http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/sunscreen.pdf

Thanks @beez for the recommendation.

[beez]

Thanks @SeeSea for the follow up links! And here I just thought it was good for tattoos :p.

The stuff is super thick - a little goes a loooong way. I do cut mine with coconut oil sometimes, especially for the face, and it is still effective and wonderful. It helps it spread a little more evenly for me. Also coconut oil has a natural SPF of 3 or something :p

[CultExciter]

Like the rest of you....I live in this...