The wisdom of flying: random lesson #37

[GreatLakesFlying]

As the use of sunscreen increases during the summer months, avoid applying sunscreen on the forehead. Verily, verily, I say unto you it is better to deal with a mild sunburn than a droplet of sweat carrying sunscreen into your eye; it's a heck of an irritant. On somehow related news, I can now land safely with one eye closed.

 

[chemgeek]

You can always wear a cap in the cockpit. Sun protection is highly recommended for pilots. Pilots have a much higher incidence of melanoma than the general population. Especially if you are fair-skinned. Having had a facial melanoma excised a while ago, and being harangued annually by my PCP, I take more care now to minimize UV exposure. My AA-1A with the bubble canopy was not very good for sun protection! At least the AA-5 has a ceiling panel.

Take care!

 

[GreatLakesFlying]

You can always wear a cap in the cockpit. Sun protection is highly recommended for pilots.

I am 100% with you about UV protection; I am only offering the "advice" above in jest. My mistake is that I put the sunscreen on minutes before the flight. I should have known better. As a diver, I avoid applying sunscreen an hour prior to a dive. Landing with one eye I can do. Dive with both eyes irritated by sunscreen dripping through the mask, I can't stand.

 

[Hang 4]

I have the same problem hang gliding.

Apparently other folks have it as well https://www.veostrip.com/

 

[Zeldman]

Yep, sun screen to the eyes is a major pain.....

First time it happened to me was at a race. I was the fuel can man, and this was before helmets were required in the hot pits. As I jumped the wall with the fuel can, sweat laced with sun screen went to my eyes. I did that entire pit stop with limited vision.

 

[luvflyin]

As the use of sunscreen increases during the summer months, avoid applying sunscreen on the forehead. Verily, verily, I say unto you it is better to deal with a mild sunburn than a droplet of sweat carrying sunscreen into your eye; it's a heck of an irritant. On somehow related news, I can now land safely with one eye closed.

I have seen the light and shalt abide by thou gracious advice

 

[Eric Stoltz]

Nothing wrong with sun block on the arms, too. My first year as copilot, my right arm needed some funky stuff burned off by the dermatologist. After a year in the left seat, back again for the ritualistic arm burning. Turns out, the side windows in millions of dollars priced airliners do not have UV protection. Saves a few bucks I guess.

 

[Slipperhead]

I have the same problem hang gliding.

Apparently other folks have it as well https://www.veostrip.com/

I like that strip! This sunscreen in the eyes thing happens when I mow or work outside. Miserable....

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Stan Cooper]

I grew up in Florida and spent every weekend during the summer months at Jacksonville Beach. My dermatologist here in California was a buddy of my older brother when they were in high school in Florida, and these days he freezes off several keratosis spots every visit. He tells me this is payback time for all those days I spent at the beach in speedos getting my (nearly) all over tan. I usually do wear SPF 30 suntan lotion on my face, ear tips, neck and arms when I fly, but avoid putting any on my forehead because of the potential that contaminated sweat might find its way into my eyes. I do wear a ball cap with a visor when I'm flying (my plane has a huge bubble canopy).

 

[Lachlan]

... all those days I spent at the beach in speedos...

I do wear a ball cap...

Same thing, different names?

 

[Stan Cooper]

Same thing, different names?

I see what you did there.

 

[cowman]

I wear a large hat everywhere most of the year around. Some people think I wear it because it looks cool and yeah it does but it also keeps sun off my face, ears, and neck. I hate wearing sunscreen.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

I wear a large hat everywhere most of the year around. Some people think I wear it because it looks cool and yeah it does but it also keeps sun off my face, ears, and neck. I hate wearing sunscreen.

 

[RyanB]

Nothing wrong with sun block on the arms, too. My first year as copilot, my right arm needed some funky stuff burned off by the dermatologist. After a year in the left seat, back again for the ritualistic arm burning. Turns out, the side windows in millions of dollars priced airliners do not have UV protection. Saves a few bucks I guess.

And you’ll read just about everywhere that UVA is mostly harmless—FALSE! It does surprise me that cockpit windows aren’t UV coated, especially for those aircraft that reach altitudes way up in the flight levels.

I wear a large hat everywhere most of the year around. Some people think I wear it because it looks cool and yeah it does but it also keeps sun off my face, ears, and neck. I hate wearing sunscreen.

So do I. @ktup-flyer can attest to that.

 

[Crashnburn]

My YF is an Arbonne distributor. You can also find them online. They have a line of SPF 15 sunscreen that doesn't irritate the eyes. I use a little dab under each eye, and it never bothers me. I use a different brand of SPF 50 for the rest of my face, arms, hands, etc. When I workout, I wear a sweat band to catch my sweat, and boy do I sweat! Arbonne also has a higher SPF rated sunscreen that doesn't irritate eyes, as well, but it's thick and hard to apply.

Oh, yes, I've never used them, but my YF also got me some sun blocking sleeves. They are lightweight, but a little bit small for me.

 

[Jim_CAK]

My YF is an Arbonne distributor. You can also find them online. They have a line of SPF 15 sunscreen that doesn't irritate the eyes. I use a little dab under each eye, and it never bothers me. I use a different brand of SPF 50 for the rest of my face, arms, hands, etc. When I workout, I wear a sweat band to catch my sweat, and boy do I sweat! Arbonne also has a higher SPF rated sunscreen that doesn't irritate eyes, as well, but it's thick and hard to apply.

Oh, yes, I've never used them, but my YF also got me some sun blocking sleeves. They are lightweight, but a little bit small for me.

You can also use the stuff for kids. Most of it is is made so it doesn’t irritate the eyes. I used to use it on my forehead and higher power stuff on the rest of my face.
Living in northeast Ohio, I’m not sure what this sunshine phenomenon is about.

 

[RyanB]

It’s known that UV exposure increases by 4%-5% for every 1,000ft of altitude, so even for us pilots who fly bugsmashers, wearing sun protection is important. For those who spend hours in the flight levels each day, it’s crucial. I apply a mineral SPF 30 to my face every day of the year (gotta protect my money maker). I also wear a wide brim hat on most days when I’m out and about, like @cowman does. Most people don’t realize that incidental sun exposure adds up the same way that laying out on the beach to sun tan does.

 

[Zeldman]

Pith helmets. Not only do they look cool, but they keep you cool when in danger....

Man with gun: Arright mister, where's your pith helmet.??

Girl on right, thinking to herself: Say, he sure resembles Johnny Weissmuller. I wonder if he still wears that leopard skin loin cloth....

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Pith helmets. Not only do they look cool, but they keep you cool when in danger....

 

[Bobanna]

I wonder if he still wears that leopard skin loin cloth....

No consideration for an endangered species.