Sunscreen Cream

august

Is it really necessary to take a sunscreen cream with me when i travel to a hill station as the weather there would be much colder and the sunlight will also be not so strong? If yes what should be the perfect spf?

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the woods are lovely dark and deep, but i have promises to keep, and miles to go before i sleep.

Haylo

The higher the altitude, the stronger the UV rays. After many trips to Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala for which I needed no sunscreen, I burned after just one afternoon's hiking on a coolish day in Mussoorie.

If it's so cold that you have to cover up, you won't need much, but don't forget your face!

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The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

nayan

To add to haylo - the worst sunburn I had in my life was in spiti, and it was cold enough to wear thermal vests and jackets.

Take a SPF 50 broad spectrum.

august

I got a spf 50 sunsreen gel. Hope it will work for me. But I am worried about my 1yr 6mnth old kid who is traavelling with me. How could I save her from sun. Not sure if ican apply the same cream to her.

nayan

which hill station is it?
keep her covered in soft trousers and full sleeve tops. A scarf for the head.

There are sunscreen available for kids. Check a large pharmacy or a "health and glow" shop.

Ask your doctor.

mousourik

In India, SPF 15 is enough.

nayan

Not in ladakh and spiti (personal experience).

august

Well, we are travelling to Shimla-Sarahan-Rohru area. Towards Kinnaur the max we're going is Sarahan. We'll be travelling from Nov 20 to Dec 3/4. Does that make the baby more susceptible to sun burns ?

I checked the Johnson's website, which had a sunscreen product for babies, but now discontinued.

I'll check with my doc for sure (I've an appointment soon) - but wanted to check with all IMers - would be able to give more valid concerns to doctors, than just rambling .

So, given my itinerary, Narkanda is about 8/9000 ft. Rest all are lower (Shimla/Sarahan/Sungri/Hatkoti/Chail). Would wait for your responses anyways.

nayan

I dont think sunburns will be a problem where you are going. Just take normal precaution that you would take for a vacation with the kid.

When I said SPF 50 I meant a place like ladakh or spiti.

goangoangone

That depends on your skin type. I use 25 or 30 everywhere that I might be exposed. I'd use it on a baby anyway. No point taking risks.

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GoanGoan......here

Nick-H

I think we need to know if we are talking about Indian, European, etc etc etc skin when talking about suncream

nayan

The OP is Indian

skk

I'm pretty dark,Indian origin and all that and as the awareness of skin cancer has grown( famous anecdote is of Bob Marley dying of skin cancer) - I wear sunscreen cream, when I go skiing in Eldora or Winterpark, CO they are at.. hmm let me check, 9200-10800 feet above sea level and Winterpark is probably about the same.

I just steal my wife's sunscreen cream though - no idea of the SPF, I'll have to go look.

But, wear it IMO, Indian or not; after all the Indian cricketers do - but in their case, its possibly just war-paint.

By the way, it SNOWED a lot last 3 days - do come to my local area( but not before Nov. 20 2009, that's the tentative opening date,phew, I'm glad I looked, I was just going to drive up tomorrow) : http://www.eldora.com/ ; the area needs the money, recession'n'all.

-skk

Nick-H

My wife, also Indian, but very fair, was told by a dermatologist that she should not worry about skin cancer. Was the dermatologist talking rubbish?

skk

I dunno - I mean its an epidemological, average life-span issue I guess - you must do what you think right.
-skk