Factor 50 sunscreen

A correction to my previous post. I now see that Clinique City Block DOES say Broad Spectrum on its Factor 50, which means both UVA and UVB protection, which it didn’t when I last bought it.
It previously had a subtle tint which I liked, but no longer does since being reformulated.

I’ve had several BCC’s removed, the worst being on my nose where it was cut like an L shape. I narrowly missed having skin removed from under my ear to cover the hole. Such a relief and having a great surgeon.

Growing up in the 50s and 60s on the coast we were always swimming and playing on the sands. Suncream was unheard of. You just burned, then Mum applied chamomile lotion when you got home.

I never used sunbeds and have never sunbathed in my life. I always find shade to relax and wear a hat and factor 50.

maddyone

shysal I use CeraVe moisturising facial lotion spf 50 in the summer and on holiday. supposed to be a purer product and doesn’t make my skin itch, which many face creams do, nor does it irritate my eyes which some creams do. It’s available in Superdrug and on Amazon.

I also use CeraVe 50 moisturiser summer and winter because I have very fair skin and my mother has had several facial BCCs. and I recently had solar keratosis. The dermatologist recommended CeraVe.

I used to love Clinique City Block but since it was reformulated I found it only states it protects from UVA. I think it’s important to have UVA and UVB protection.

My dear departed Aunt May Used to go mahogany brown in the summer,never used any sort of sun protection
because there was none, she died on her 88th birthday..

Yes, on holiday and on the beach maddyone - obviously a different sun there!

Had two Malignant melanoma's, very fair skin/blonde hair/lots of moles. Always use Avon Care Sun + Face + body sun cream SPF 50. Find it excellent, no unpleasant smell, rubs in well and easy product to use.

I also remember your holiday abroad being judged on how good it was from how brown you were! Crazy when we know better now. I can remember returning from Greece around 1982 and used high factor suncream then and a friend looking at me saying "Oh you aren't very brown, didn't you have a good holiday then?" Madness.

I like Altruist too. I use their factor 50 tinted moisturiser on my face. I’ve got very pale skin and have tried numerous sunscreens but now stick to P20 factor 50 for my body. It’s never caused me any problems and is very effective at protecting my skin from sunburn which I would get with about 10 minutes exposure without it

Hello Kiwiqueen123,
I had to see a dermatologist last year and he said that I was suffering from perioral dermatitis, which looked and felt awful and itchy as it was all over my face. He was very well qualified and was a professor in his field.
As I was going on holiday I asked him what I should be using, and he recommended Altruist SPF 30 and 50 Cream. It was developed by a dermatologist who specialises in looking after children who suffer from Albinism in Africa.
Anyway I bought both strengths from Amazon and have been using it ever since, it is amazing. Hope this helps.

Thank you maddyone, I will try it next time I need more.

I wear sunscreen all year, mainly I’m fair-skinned and my mother had basal cell carcinoma on her hands and face. It may not kill, but it can be horribly disfiguring requiring removal and may result in plastic surgery. It’s not called a rodent ulcer for no reason. I’d suggest keep trying until you can find a product that suits your skin.

I remember watching a programme a few years ago looking into claims made for moisturisers. Dermatologists commented that facial wrinkles and lines are caused by UV light and the best thing to use to keep the skin ‘young’ was any suntan lotion, and in fact one of them used nivea suntan cream for faces every day.

I can't use any of the sunscreens that are described as "water resistant". They are OK on most of me but I get a rash around my neck. I believe it's because they block the pores and stop me sweating.
Have you tried cleaning the skin thoroughly to remove the sunscreen?
The heat does sometimes make me itch as well. I sometimes cover with a scarf, but I do use a fan as well.

Following 4 skin cancers and my mother dying of Melanoma, I now obey the doctor and wear factor 50 all year round.
Boots Soltan SPF 50 brightening moisturiser is good, and also Superdrugs Solait Face Fluid SPF50.
If you want a tinted one, the best I have found is L'Oreal Age Perfect BB cover SPF 50. I use the light beige shade.
Also Cetaphil Day Cream SPF30 tinted moisturiser.
All the above are in tubes not pots.

shysal I use CeraVe moisturising facial lotion spf 50 in the summer and on holiday. supposed to be a purer product and doesn’t make my skin itch, which many face creams do, nor does it irritate my eyes which some creams do. It’s available in Superdrug and on Amazon.

NotSpaghetti

I had to endure sunscreen as a child Urmstongran - but I expect it was a very low "factor".

My mother put sunscreen on me too, but only ever when we were on holiday and on the beach. She used Nivea but I don’t recall there being any spf factor written on the bottle. Even when my own children were small, you could only buy spf factor 10 in this country. The first time we came across high factor sunscreen was when we went to Florida on holiday and by then our children were 14, 13, and 9 years old.

In the 1940s when I was little, my mum used to smear us with calomine (?) lotion, and we went out to play looking like little clowns with this white paste over our faces and arms.
The friends I played with were similarly anointed with the stuff. I have no idea if it worked or even helped, I rather doubt it.

L'Oreal Revitalift 50+
I have spent years trying to find a gentle factor 50 which doesn't sting the eyes. This one fits the bill, so might be worth a try.

I had to endure sunscreen as a child Urmstongran - but I expect it was a very low "factor".

Ultrasun Face Factor 50

Or Clinique City Block Factor 50

I have sensitive skin both of these are gentle and I have never had a reaction.

Remember when we were kids and our mums sent us out to play all day long in the summer school holidays without a smear of suncream? 😱

Then in the late 60’s/early 70’s a tan was fashionable. People used to come back from holidays and judge a good holiday by their mahogany arms and legs! Strange ideas when you think back.

Then in the 80’s sunbeds became super popular.

No wonder skin cancer cases rose exponentially. Mind you as my stepfather (92) said “when serving in Kenya we were never given suncream”. True enough - no choice out there or similar. Think Bridge on the River Kwai….

I suppose some of us just have a predisposition to skin cancer - Celtic skin for example.

Heliocare is a Spanish brand which comes in a gel form, can be tinted.

Not everyone needs to wear sunscreen all year round. Tim Spector was criticised recently for suggesting this but today's Guardian has a letter supporting this view from a dermatologist.

www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/03/sunscreen-advice-should-factor-in-ethnicity-and-skin-colour?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
My mother enjoyed the sun and an active outdoor life in her garden. I don't think she ever used sunscreen (hadn't been invented). She got a malignant melanoma behind her eye in her early 70s and had to have eye removed. But she lived to 88 - active and independent till near the end. Her sister was a nun so covered up most of her adult life and developed osteoporosis which disabled her and gave her a lot of pain and killed her in the end. There may be no connection but I think the Vit D my mother got from the sun may have protected her from the osteoporosis her sister got and also helped her fight the cancer.

People are concerned about chemicals yet are prepared to put sunscreen on all year round whether they need to or not. Other advice about avoiding too much sun exposure like hats, clothing and could be emphasised a bit more.

Sun screen is so very important.
Wear it, especially when on holiday or out in the sun.

A wide-brimmed hat is the best protection for face and neck. If you want to look 'healthily' tanned, there are plenty of make-up brands to create the illusion. My sister probably saved my life by pointing out a suspicious 'mole' on the back of my neck which I'd never have noticed myself. The melanoma was detected early and excised painlessly in the outpatients department of the Christie Hospital. It has never recurred.

Sister-in-law died at 28 with skin cancer. She hadn't been married long. Such a loss.
Please wear sunscreen.

I agree with you Whiff.
My mother died of skin cancer. As a nurse, in the late forties, she and her colleagues use to sit out in the sun in their break. The cancer ate away the area around her eye.
They didn't know any better.

I am a fair skinned redhead and wear factor 50. At the moment due to medication, I am super sensitive to sunshine at the moment. It is certainly not healthy for me.