SunBlock......?

[Vibe Ray]

Who uses sunblock? What are your thoughts?

[Island Lawn]

Wow!
I'm suprised that hearing protection gets more replies than this one.
Hearing loss sucks.
But skin cancer kills!
It "runs" in my family!(so does hearing loss!)

I try to cover up as best as I comfortably can and the lather on the juice on the exposed skin.

I admit though, I'm not very consitant with this yet. But I'm working on it
(I need to get more consistant w/ hearing protection also.)

[RYAN]

I put sunblock on as often as I can remember which sometimes isn't much. sometimes only once a day but if I remember I will do it every couple hours or at least twice a day. I am fair skinned so a good burn teaches me a lesson if I forget. Don't even want to think about skin cancer.

[David Hickerson]

Last season I had a customer come out and holler at me for not wearing sun block, hat, long sleved shirt. I felt like the only thing I did do correct was have pants and shoes on. I t turned out that she worked for the Houston Cancer Institute here in Houston. Said if I wanted to continue doing her yard I must comply. Well I now do everything but the long sleved shirt.

I am only 27 and wonder how long my skin is going to last do to all the sun I have received.

[LoneStarLawn]

How did she know you weren't wearing Sun-block?

[65hoss]

I get the strongest I can find, skin cancer is nothing to play with.

[RYAN]

Vibe ray you have become a posting machine here the past few weeks. Seems like you have either started or replied to every post. I would like to see the stats over the past 2 or 3 week as to how many times you have posted. You must really be looking forward to spring. I know I am.

[Mark]

I use the 45 its about the strongest you can buy. I don't wear long sleeve shirts in the summer but hoss was right skin cancer is nothing to joke about. My sister-N-law has had it several times on her nose. I try and put it on all skin showing. My Mother died from cancer at the age of 58. It wasn't skin cancer but the skin cancer is just as bad. Everyone in our line of work should always put on sunblock. Stay Safe Marks Mowing Service

[Randy Scott]

Not to be negative here or get off track, but, I think I'm screwed on this one. Both my parents died of cancer(not skin though) mom 48, dad 62, I think I'm gettin' it either way. I think I'll still be careful though.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I wear it the first couple days but im dark complected and have only burned once or twice.

[Skookum]

I use sunblock all the time in the summer.

[rdh]

were are you guys puting sun block?
on the shirt post that i have read,most of you guy dont wear shorts and never take your shirt off on the job.

[awm]

I usually try to remember but half way through the
day Ill realize I forgot again.Does that stuff
burn your eyes when the sweat washes it in.
I may just have a bad reaction or sompn.

[smburgess]

Sunblock all the way, all the day!

[GrassRoots Lawn Care]

Sunblock is important, especially here in Florida, but do not forget the...

Zinc Oxide on the nose and ears,
Wide Brimmed hat,
and second only to sunblock...
Twice daily dose of A.C.E.S. they will prevent
the free radical damage that does occur, even with sunblock on.

[MIDSOUTH]

I will start wearing sunblock this year at all times, I was stupid last last year and rarely used it, I wear shorts and short sleeves all the time. I have been sunburned on many occasions and hope I have not done much damage to my skin, not just mowing either-we go to the river every sunday and ride ski's and i put it on there but after getting skulldrug thru the water it gets washed off, i will start reapplying it several times at the river as well.

[Scott Campbell]

Again I agree, just like with the hearing protection thread. Cancer is very prevelant in my family. I am dark complected, and usually get killer tans. (no pun intended) It may look good, but it is very destructive over time. Just like the hearing issue.

Wide brimmed hats are an excellent tool along with the Sun Blocks. Go with the high SPF's, and water proof. Don't know about you guy's, but I get a little damp in the summer. Try to apply more than once a day. Even water proof's run-off.

Also, don't forget the shades. Those ultra-violet rays aren't very helpful for the old eyeballs either. For the style conscious, there are some pretty cool looking safety shades on the market.

[Island Lawn]

From the new Gempler's catalog:

"The FDA is making changes to sunscreen mfg. In the near future, an SPF of 30 will be the highest allowed sun protection factor. After testing, the FDA feels higher SPFs cause too much irritation for the little additional protection they provide."

[Vibe Ray]

That's interesting Island lawn! I wonder if it'll happen? I'm gonna start puttin' on 30 SPF twice a day this year. You guys think this should be enough?

[TJLC]

I'm curious, do they make sunblock with insect repellent in it?

[bababooie]

suntan lotions must have zinc oxide in it or else your wasting your money.i hope down the road the lotion isnt bad for your skin!

[GrassRoots Lawn Care]

In Florida, OFF makes a brand of sunscreen with DEET in it, not very good at repelling though. We use those small bottles of 99% DEET you find at the old Army-Navy stores. Works best and you can mix it with the sunscreen.

[osc]

Avon Skin-So-Soft is the best sun block skeeter pellent on the market. Smells like citronella too, uhm good. Get the cream not the oil, although the oil is best for bugs.

[65hoss]

greenquest,

Just because you are dark doesn't mean anything. Skin cancer doesn't just attack because of sunburn.

[Samurai WeedWacker]

I use it every day. Went to my 30-year high school reunion last August & was in the running for the "best-preserved" award. I don't use it on my forehead because sweat will cause it to get into my eyes. Got to wear a hat to protect the forehead.
Have tried citronella-based insect repellent. It doesn't work nearly as well or as long as DEET.

[Acute Cut]

Sunblock! We dont use no stinking sunblock!

Seriously, i have been razzed by my best friend for not wearing it. I was never brought up to wear sun screen. In the "old days" it was cool to get burnt. "Real men dont wear sunscreen!"

Age is teaching me otherwise. After seeing so many opinions on the PROS of this then i might put some on once or twice this year.

Good post!

[Grassman]

The sun can give you skin cancer even through your shirt. I put it on thoroughly and religously everyday. I'm a redhead with fair skin and thats twice as risky. Use it! Russ

[Turfcouncil]

Mowin in Las Vegas you would think that I would use it but I think I will try some this year. But I like my summer tan.
when it gets over 110 out the sunblock makes me feel warmer for some reason. Or am I just crazy?

[moonarrow]

I used to wear sunscreen ocassionally, when I thought about it. I now wear it all the time both summer and winter, the reason for winter is because that is when the sun can do the most damage. You don't have to get sunburned to get skin cancer, and light complectioned people aren't the only ones to get it.Just as many dark completioned people get It. I now remember to put it on everyday, after having 6 patches of cancer taken of my arms and neck and face last summer. Wear it guys better to be safe than sorry

[dan35]

I always forget it!!! This year I’m going to keep it in the truck and make myself use it!

[Island Lawn]

Also what I've heard,
It's better to apply a lower SPF every couple of hours than a higher SPF a couple of times a day.

The sun can get you through a shirt. The tighter weave is said to give better protection, but there are also garments treated w/SPF somehow that are suppossed to give the best protection.

DEET is bad stuff. It will eat a plastic watch band right off your wrist! But it is the most effective repellant available. Here again, it is better to go w/ lower concentrations applied more frequntly. We got bad bugs in these parts! I use products w/ low concentration(25%?) AND rub it on sparingly. No more bugs. They hate it! I wonder if they are smater than us?

Skin so Soft is popular as a repellant. I use it if the biting gnats and/or mosquitoes are out. But I have found it useless for the many different varieties of biting flies.
I have never heard of skin so soft having any SPF!
Is this a new hybrid product?

I have used hybrid products. But most of the time I only need sunblock and dont want to subject myself to unnecessary exposure to toxic DEET

But when the sun AND bugs are out it is very convienent to apply one product and be done.