Since I am sorta long in the tooth chronologically (I feel super young however), grew up at a high altitude, have semi-fair skin yet my Basque blood shows up every summer when I easily tan, so I am on year three of going to a dermatologist to get a skin check.
*photos of high altitude area where I grew up, 5,050′ elevation
(towns in the west with mountains put their town initial on a mountain, hence the L in the background)
*Redfish Lake, ID, 6,253′ elevation
*Redfish Lake, ID
While I was being checked, I pointed out a couple of sunspots. Unfortunately, the term for this dark sunspot used in the world of dermatology, is “barnacle”. Ooh goody! I’m either a toad, a sunken ship with barnacles or a pirate, but I’m leaning towards shiver me timbers. It’s got an exciting ring to it. So back to barnacles. Apparently, they’re a common thing that pop up on people’s faces and hands. Luckily, my barnacle is on my hand. Sweet.
Here are some skin cancer facts for Idaho, http://epa.gov:
*Idaho ranks second for skin cancer due to the overall high altitude, outdoor professions (builder, rancher, farmer) and the vast amount of outdoor recreation available to people.
*A 2004 survey found that 48.5% of white adults in Idaho had at least one sunburn in the past year.
*Annual rates of new melanoma cases in Idaho was 34% higher than the national average, 7th highest in the U.S., responsible for 75% of cancer deaths.
Ways to avoid skin damage and skin cancer are, http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov:
*Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants and a wide brimmed hat.
*Use sunscreen with an spf of 15 or higher and at least 15-20 minutes before heading outside. If swimming, reapply often, about every two hours.
*Between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., the sun is at it’s most intense phase. At a UV index of 3-5 means a moderate risk of sun damage. A UV index of 6-7 is a high risk of sun damage so sunscreen should definitely be worn.
In our house, we always use a sunscreen that has zinc oxide in it and without parabens (any group of compounds used as a preservative in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products). For a light and non-greasy facial sunscreen, I like GlyMed Plus Photo-Age Environmental Protection Gel 15 that runs about $35 for 4oz. It also comes in a spf of 30 which is handy for the summer months.
Here is a list of the top rated sunscreens for 2018, courtesy of Consumer Reports:
1) La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk, $36
2) Coppertone Sport SPF 50 Lotion Sunscreen, $6
3) Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion SPF 30, $8
4) Banana Boat Sun Comfort Clear Ultra Mist Spray SPF 50+ Sunscreen, $8
5) Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Stick SPF 55, $17
For chemical, fragrance free, non-toxic and natural sunscreens, here’s the list:
1) Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Sport SPF 30, $15 (best overall)
2) Beauty by Earth Facial Sunscreen SPF 20, $16 (best for face)
3) Babo Botanicals SPF 30 Fragrance Free Clear Zinc Sport Stick, $9 (best stick)
4) TruKid Sunny Days Daily, Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, $18 (best for sensitive skin)
5) Derma E Antioxidant Natural Sunscreen SPF 30, $15 (best lotion)
6) Thinksport Kids Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+, $11 (best for kids)
7) Nature’s Gate Aqua Block Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, $28 (best water resistant)
8) Badger Baby Sunscreen Cream SPF 30, $16-25, depending on the seller (best for babies)
We use Badger and Blue Lizard sunscreens on the humans in our household. They work well, especially when you blend them in, because who really wants to look resemble a clown and scare the crap out of people when swimming or recreating outside? Clowns are creepy enough but to come across one while out hiking in the forest? Hells-bells no to that!
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