Summer is here and once again my face is bright red with sunburn- what ways have people found to protect themselves ?
Hat ? Sunblock ? Zinc ? Ski mask ?
I have problems only with my face, ears and neck. Skin cancer is a concern and I want to do something about it.....
Zinc is the best. Also doesnt sting your eyes. But no matter what you do, your face always cops it the worst.
Agree .. Sunscreen + Zinc. You can root around with tissues, or use your pillow at night to remove the zinc, but get a pack of "wet ones" (baby wipes) and it'll take the zinc off your face faster than Bali belly.
Solrx Water Block 30+ is by far the best I have found. Gives 4+ hours protection in the water and does not run into your eyes at all. I have used this for surfing and kiting for over 4 hours, without re-applying, for the last 3 months, without burning at all. I have always found zinc itchy, and too easy to rub off on your hands and kit.
Any other stuff people have used ?- I am really bad with sunscreen, I will stay on the water rather than come in and re-apply, and the zinc does get messy.
A neoprene balaclava?
I got really badly burnt last summer and haven't forgotten sunscreen since. I just hope the damage hasn't already been done.
There are two new zincs this season. One see through version, and a skin coloured version. Zinc is the best protection on the market at the moment.
This is a serious topic Murf- I am concerned about skin cancer and wanted to know if anyone else had worked out a special way of staying safe that the rest of us might be able to use.....
Anyway as the man who has ridden for a different brand kite company every year (cos your new stuff was the best thing since whatever you flew the year before)paper bags might be the only thing left that you haven't flown !!!!!!
Geoff the bumpuncher
Seriously.............
FCS and other brand surf hats caps are great; they look like crap but they do the job so well, especially on the ears which most people forget about.(and coincidentally the ear starps are the things that look the worst.
I have worn them for a couple of seasons and it has helped heaps. (Dad's had skin cancer and that is enought to scare the bejeezus out of me)
Still need sunscreen on nose, lips and cheeks but if you forget one day it is not the end of the world.
the other thing is glasses, people dont use them cos they cant feel their eyes buring but they are, with lots of cheap options inc the seabreeze sunnies there is no excuse.
Be like me Geoff (i know you want to), look like a cock when you are kiting but dont get burnt.
Also get about 3 lip blocks and place them strategically around the car ie glove box, wet box, sunnies case so even when you forget you still have a chnace to get covered
Wal
Geoff couldnt u just use your Gimp mask, from what im told u even have a zipper for the mouth to protect your lips from the sun!
1- Elle Bache sports block 30+
2- Solrx water block 30+(marketed as worlds no1 sunscreen)paba oil & fragrance free
3 -& a new Banana boat called Sunwear Daily sunblock ultra sheer, clean feel.
I find zinc/invisible zinc too hot to put all over your face. I gave my tube of megan gale away. The elle bache is good but pretty exy. The Solrx is the longest lasting in the water & the new banana boat you could use as a moisturiser. I'm not sure whether it's widely available in australia as it's marketed as 50+.
Best i've found for sunscreen is MaxiBloc. Cheaper than most of the "special" sunscreens and lasts for ages. Only gets in your eyes if you rub it all over your eyebrows. Nice and thick, not greasy and leaves you with a nice 
y complexion
Been out some days and come home after 4 hours and it still wont come off in the shower after without copious quantities of soap.
Alternatively kite with a sun umbrella
www.solrx.com/
Value for $ as you need very little....melts to your skin.
Skins for the legs works a treat too.
clear zinc and a peak hat. sunnies with strap and lots of holes in the lenses so they dont fog.
at least you`ll still have a face when your 50. if you don`t we can call you leather face.
I have this clear gell stuff. I think it is aloe gator, but it could be something really similar. It is amazing. I can be on the water for 4 hours. Have a shower at the beach, a proper shower when i get home, and can still feel the stuff on my face.
I ordered mine online, because i couldn't find it in the shops. I only use it when im going to be out for ages, otherwise its annoying trying to whip it off.
But it rocks.
I think the aloe gator wins it if you don't mind melting your face off and getting cancers from one not so healthy additive???
Dihydrogen Monoxide which is bad stuff see here http://www.dhmo.org/facts.htmlrather and there website is not active either maybe they were shut down by the FDA??? 
....
But then again it is used in brewing of beer and there is no way I'm giving that up
Also check Here www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33088
It's very hard to avoid exposure to dihydrogen monoxide while kitesurfing - i've tried (especially during winter).
In 2001 the Green Party in NZ were in support of a ban on it due to the number of deaths it causes.
haha so where did you guys order it from
as there site is down I'm sure I've drunk more toxins than this could ever compete with anyway .
