sun protection (mask?) for face?

Zinc oxide and frequently applied high SPF sunblock.

I also have fair skin - used to have red hair and freckles at one point in my life (then the freckles left and the red hair turned to light brown, then much of it fell out and the remainder turned grey.......)

SPF 30 works fine for me - you can get higher if you wish.

Norcal cycler said:

I'm just starting touring, but have very fair skin. I've seen cold weather face masks for sale, but what are the options for more extensive face coverings in warmer weather? thanks in advance.

I know this topic is outdated but I felt the need to respond.

There *are* options for face coverings in warmer weather, and *no*, sunscreen is *not* enough for a good many people. (skip to the bottom of this for the options)

I also have fair skin and do long distance touring. Keep in mind that when touring you may (or may not?) be out riding in harsh conditions for long periods -- I usually do 12 hour days. I don't stop when it's raining and I don't stop because it's too cold, too frozen, too hot, or too sunny. There is no "off" day, climate, or season -- get that weak stuff out of here... However, with my skin type I can be at the mercy of the Summer sun. In the NorthWest this isn't an issue -- I love it there; I can get away with sleeveless jerseys on clear Summer days. A little sunscreen is fine in those conditions, so in that respect I'd agree with the people who shrug off the question and suggest sunscreen.

Now try the extra miles of cross-country/RAAM touring and you find out what holes are in that armor. I learned my lesson in Alabama. Long roads through gas-station and church towns, and with trees too far away from the road to offer any shade it's pure sun exposure in 90 degree plus weather... I thought it would be enough to wear a long-sleeved UPF 50+ cycling jersey and cycling tights -- I figured that my face would be okay because I'd be leaning forward and giving myself some natural shade. Wrong. Even with applying a strong sunscreen every 20 minutes I found out afterwards that it hadn't been enough. I suffered severly uncomfortable sunburn behind my ears and on my upper *eyelids* ... yeah.. good fun. The rest of my face was burned too, but not as bad as these sensitive, thin-skinned spots. Meanwhile, under my UPF 50+ clothing, it's clear weather.

What I'm looking at is that if frequent and detailed application of sunscreen is not enough (and for the fair-skinned it *really* is not enough, and sunburn sucks thrice as hard for us) it's time to look at other solutions. I care too much about my skin to let it turn to a leatherey, saucer-sized freckle magnet. I also care too much about training -- I'm not a weekend warrior. I need to be out there and functioning regardless of the conditions.

So, with the rant out of the way, here are the options for the fair-skinned variety..

For the casual rider there are your basic "sun-hats." These I'd suggest to people who want to forgo the ninja look for something a little more conservative -- even if a little closer to Lawrence of Arabia.. like for daily commuters who will only be on the road for about an hour. They're hardly solutions for people who are concerned about being aero (you'll get wind flap), but the image conscious can get away with them, or the slower-moving touring cyclist wouldn't mind. There are plenty of style varieties that offer as many varieties of coverage. You can probably run a search through your favorite clothing outlet and find some.
Search for "sun hats" or see these examples at coolibar.com:
Men's Golf Hats, Sun Hats - Coolibar Inc.

For the somewhat faster rider, try neck gaitors. These can be pulled higher to become masks as you need, or pulled down to simply offer protection for your neck and ears while you're leaning forward. Oddly enough, the suppliers at this point steadily become *fishing* suppliers, probably due to the extra light coming off the water.. not much cycling representation out there.
You can search for "sun masks" or see Patagonia's style choices:
Patagonia Sun Mask | Face and Neck sun protection while Fishing

Now, on to the ski-mask/balaclava deals. These are like the neck gaitors but are more form-fitting; less dragging and more moisture-wicking is going on. Less cloth also means less heat being trapped. I would really like to see Pearl Izumi or some big label offering these, but the market is underrepresented.
Search for "sun balaclava" or stick with "sun mask." A couple examples:
Sun Mask/Sun Balaclava
Mangrove Sun Mask

I periodically run searches for *cycling* sun masks, but so far I've come up empty.. so it's fishing masks for me. The hotter it gets outside the more I wish a cycling company would just stitch together their already existent UPF 50+ material into a mask... if anyone's found that let me know.

There *is* a need for this type of sun protection; for the fair-skinned, for the skin conscious, and for those more equatorial.. I prefer looking like a white-hooded ninja over having the discomfort and potentially ride-ending sunburn that can result from sunscreen's limited properties. I don't commute with the whole thing on, but when midday approaches on tour and there are still hours more riding ahead, a white balaclava is essential. If you're worried about overheating, the material is thin enough that that doesn't happen, and as an added benefit it's actually much more convenient to pour water all over yourself if you don't have to replace the sunscreen that fell off -- because you don't need the sunscreen.. except maybe around your eyes 🙂

Something like this might help a bit:

Nashbar - Welcome!

Bro Deal said:

Zinc oxide and frequently applied high SPF sunblock.

Not on your forehead though, or you'll constantly have to wipe your eyes.

I came across this recently -- not really my thing but someone might be interested. It covers the entire helmet, has a hat brim, and covers the ears and neck. It's by "Headliners," an Australian company. Scroll to the bottom of this page:
skin saver: Action Wear - sun protective clothing swimwear sun protection hats

I neglected to mention simple cycling caps. If you're only worried about the ears and neck then you can wear one of those light-weight cycling caps backwards for modest protection. Most of those already have UPF 50+ by default, even if not advertised. I'm partial to Assos for the small things, but here's an example by Specialized:
Specialized Bicycle Components : Solar Cycling Cap

And back to balaclavas, Under Armour has a couple of options. They have a "ColdGear Hood" that comes in white -- a color which would be ideal for sun protection if it wasn't designed for cold weather -- but a close alternative is their "HeatGear Hood" which comes in black, tan, and olive drab.
Here's the details page (black only here):
Under Armour | Tactical HeatGear Hood | 8000284 | $23.99
And here's a site that lets you order the tan version (closest white alternative):
Under Armour Hood - Tactical HeatGear | Ranger Joe's | Military and Law Enforcement Gear | ACU's, BDU's, army boots, rank, and custom name tapes

What's attractive about the Under Armour HeatGear Hood is that it is made for warm weather moisture transfer. I can vouch for the fit and softness of the UA ColdGear hood but am still waiting on my HeatGear hood. I'm expecting good things!

Wow, all very good posts on this.

I normally don't wear sunblock or screen of any sort even when I use to ride in the deserts and mountains of California where the sun was very intense. The reason I didn't is two fold; first I'm not fair skin thus burning has never been an issue when riding (though if I'm at a beach laying on the sand or fishing I do wear screens), with riding a bike your always turning directions so the sun never beats down on the same place for a long period of time anyway. Second, when I use to ride in hot deserts I learned that sun creams made me hotter so I stopped using them.

Also when I rode in the desert I would leave about late afternoon, around 4pm or so because the temps started to decrease a tad, but that also put the sun to my back while going into the mountains and by the time I returned the sun was very low, so the suns intensity was less then leaving at late morning and returning late afternoon.

I'm in my mid 50's and never used sun screens while riding except for about 2 weeks in the desert before I realized I was hotter with it. I've been to my doctor to have various moles looked up and he's never found any sun damage or suspicious spots, but because I ride a lot and fish I have myself checked about once every 2 years to be safe and you all should be doing that as well, especially fair skinned folks regardless if you use sunscreen. Don't let the use of sunscreen fool you into a false sense of security because that stuff is not guaranteed to protect you from skin cancer.

When I start touring I will probably start using sun screens since I would be out more constantly and riding longer every day.

Well, how about some sensible talk?

If you're going to use clothing/hats/balaclava's and etc. for sun protection, you'd better be sure that article of clothing has some stated SPF, otherwise you may just be fooling yourself.

Second, of course there's no guarantee with liquid or spray sunblocks. Whoever said there was a guarantee? Such an idea is ridiculous. It is proven, however, that frequent use of sunblock does cut down on UV exposure and can reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Of course it's entirely possible that someone can, say, live in the desert, not wear sunblock, and not suffer skin cancer or damage of any sort. Likewise, it's possible for someone who frequently drives drunk to never cause an accident. There've been countless stories of people who've lived long lives despite being heavy smokers their entire lives. What do all of these people have in common? Their experience proves absolutely nothing.

The simple fact is that prolonged exposure to UV radiation can lead to skin damage and ultimately can result in cancer. Moreover, the damage can occur without even burning the skin. Most people on the forum are likely grown-ups and can make their own decisions. Hopefully said people will make informed decisions as opposed to decisions based on the claims of one person and his or experience.

alienator said:

Hopefully said people will make informed decisions as opposed to decisions based on the claims of one person and his or experience.

You just like to attack someone for the sake of doing that don't you? You have fun being a type A personality all the time. You cannot find anywhere in my post that I recommended that others should ride without sunscreen and to take my claims as fact and to do it. Your too busy drowning in your class A personality to make sense of what anyone says.

Froze said:

You just like to attack someone for the sake of doing that don't you? You have fun being a type A personality all the time. You cannot find anywhere in my post that I recommended that others should ride without sunscreen and to take my claims as fact and to do it. Your too busy drowning in your class A personality to make sense of what anyone says.

Alas, you make no sense, and your reading comprehension is pitiful.

*clears throat dramatically*
....back to the point of the thread, what about arms? I've been thinking about buying a white long sleeve jersey, but it seems very counter intuitive to cover up more, but then people who live in desert countries are completely covered, so I suppose it makes sense. Has anyone tried long sleeves in the summer?

serra said:

I've been thinking about buying a white long sleeve jersey, but it seems very counter intuitive to cover up more, but then people who live in desert countries are completely covered, so I suppose it makes sense. Has anyone tried long sleeves in the summer?

I see people out here, in the desert, that ride with long sleeved jerseys. There's at least one company that sells arm "warmers" meant to offer protection from UV rays.

alienator said:

I see people out here, in the desert, that ride with long sleeved jerseys. There's at least one company that sells arm "warmers" meant to offer protection from UV rays.

Ok, guess it does work, thanks 🙂

alienator said:

Alas, you make no sense, and your reading comprehension is pitiful.

You've alienated yourself from all forms of intelligence.

alienator said:

I see people out here, in the desert, that ride with long sleeved jerseys. There's at least one company that sells arm "warmers" meant to offer protection from UV rays.

I rode in the desert for 15 years and never seen anyone in the summer wear long sleeve jerseys. We took warmers but didn't wear them unless we return in the evening because during certain times of the year it can be 90 degrees during the day drop to 45 degrees by evening. Then we would just put the warmers on after it got too cool.

serra said:

*clears throat dramatically*
....back to the point of the thread, what about arms? I've been thinking about buying a white long sleeve jersey, but it seems very counter intuitive to cover up more, but then people who live in desert countries are completely covered, so I suppose it makes sense. Has anyone tried long sleeves in the summer?

Yeah; thread derailed there for a min

And yes! 😄 I myself wear a white, long-sleeved jersey for the long rides. There is material that allows for this, so you dont have to suffer heat just because you're warding off the sun. Danish triathlete Torbjorn Sindballe, who finished the bicycle first in the 2008 Ironman World Championships, was wearing a long-sleeved white jersey that day specifically for the sun and heat (though he didn't do so well in the run). He's talked about how heat is a big crutch for him -- his wiki page even mentions it -- so he wears all white. He wears "CRAFT" products: Craft: CRAFT

I also have what are not arm "warmers" but which are more appropriately called "sun sleeves." These are made for Summer riding and offer the stated UPF 50+ protection. The appeal is that you can {take them off / put them on} easily while still wearing your regular jersey -- helpful for triathlon transitions.

What I'm using:

White, long-sleeved jersey, Pearl Izumi "Launch LS," stated UPF 50+
Launch LS Jersey - Pearl Izumi=
I normally wear a large jersey for everyday comfort (not quite the Italian look), but that was way too big for this particular jersey. I went down to Small and it's been good; tight but not skin tight. Zero sunburn and less heat than bare skin (especially if you're drenching yourself and so keeping that cool water over the skin).

Pearl Izumi Sun Sleeves, stated UPF 50+
Sun Sleeve - Pearl Izumi=
These are good things! REI carries them if Pearl Izumi direct is still out of stock.

I also have CRAFT UPF 50+ sun sleeves that are even lighter than Pearl Izumi's. Here they are on Amazon:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/CRAFT-Cool-Compression-Arm-Cooler/dp/B0039NNG56"]Amazon.com: CRAFT Cool Compression Arm Cooler: Clothing[/ame]

I like the Pearl's more for soft comfort, but the CRAFT's are better for performance (super thin and light). In either case, the wind gets through but the sun stays out.

AND! 🙄 If you wonder even further and move onto your legs, there is a solution there as well. Most people will tell you that the sun is only a problem below the bike shorts and above the knees, but again, that's subjective. You can run a search for cycling knickers to see what will work enough for most people (knickers cover the sun-exposed knee area but leave the lower legs uncovered), and alternatively there are tights that offer UPF protection. These are expensive but here's an example:
2XU Compression :: MA1357b Elite Compression Tights

There are even full-fingered gloves for the Summer. So lots of good performance options out there.

Sun sleeves. That sounds familiar. I put quotes around warmers because "warmers" wasn't really what I was talking about.

One thing to keep in mind: keeping cool may or may not be impacted by the color of your clothes. There's a lot more to the thermal equation than just color. As someone else already mentioned (re: "Kirchoff's Law"😉, good absorbers are good emitters. That means while black absorbs easily, it emits easily, too. So, yes, while black clothes absorb and emit readily, you have to consider the thermal mass, too. There's not a lot of thermal mass to a cycling jersey or shorts, so that means there's not a lot of heat stored in the clothes. The clothes essentially just radiate what was put into them at a given instant. There's no great build up of heat over time. Compare this to black top: you can damn well feel the heat that's accumulated in blacktop over the course of day when you ride in the afternoon. Here, when the temps start hitting the 100's (as they've started to do, already), the street level temp can easily exceed 140°. The highest I've seen was 147°, at handlebar level, one balmy June afternoon, riding home from work. You also see this in metal. Black metal, in the afternoon sun gets pretty damned hot, right? It's got thermal mass. It stores thermal energy. If you were to look at bike shorts, in the afternoon sun, with an infrared thermometer, you might find that they're not that much hotter than that ambient temperature.

hi
I have only understood the importance of full protection from the suns damage since having had a heart transplant recently.The immuno suppressants i take make me more vulnerable to skin cancers and melanomas. hence the need for a more permanent solution. The thing is it's just hit summer at the moment and unless you like riding in the dark you are confronted with the harsh sun and heat of summer in OZ. I tend to wear long pants and sleeve jerseys when riding but i don't believe SPF 30 - 50 is going to be enough to cut it for me. i am keen to find a mask that covers most of the face & ears with an adequate opening for eyes and so on .

Hello my name is Judi Toon from Townsville. I have just read your question about face sun safety. Out of necessity I have invented the NedKelly SPF 50 + Mask. Great in all climates. Very Hot to Cold. I wear it in North Queensland Heat, & I have also worn it it NZ & Tasi on holidays.

Please go to my Facebook Page. Sun Safety NedKelly SPF 50 plus Mask

You can also view my add on you tube .

This mask as protected me so now I wish to share my idea with people with fair skin like my self. Not only does it protect you from direct sun but also reflective glare, dust, wind, insects, sweat & some allergies. You can still wear you trendy caps as your ears are protected by the mask. Tucking the mask into your shirt to cover the v of your neck is another plus & also the band collects sweat. The Mask is very light in weight & easy to breath through.

Have a look & see what you think.

Yours in Sun Safety
Judi Toon