Sunblock Spray: Evil?
April 26, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
Maybe the word “evil” is a little over the top, but after using sunblock spray I realized a few definite negatives.
Sunblock spray is easier to apply, in a way. You can spray it on your back. However, if the ocean breeze is kicking up, watch out. You can spray away, but much of the sunblock is going to be carried off in the breeze. You can conquer this evil by applying the spray indoors, but if you’re outside when it’s time to reapply, you’ll have to fight the breeze.
Another negative of sunblock spray is coverage. You may think you’re spraying evenly, but end up with a splotchy sunburn on your legs (like me). I’ll fess up: I forgot to reapply in time after walking alongside the coast, so that may account for the splotchy red. However, I still suspect I didn’t apply as evenly as I might have if using lotion. It seems necessary to rub the sunblock in after spraying to ensure even coverage.
One more problem: You’ll need to spray the sunblock into your hands and then apply to your face. It’s an extra step. You don’t want to spray anything into your eyes or nose.
A word of caution: Your sunblock spray may come with a flammable warning. That usually means that the contents are under pressure and can’t be stored above 120 degrees F. You may also have to be careful if using near fire or while smoking. Those warnings, as well as one about intentional misuse being possibly fatal (sniffing to get high), were on my Aveeno waterproof sunblock spray.
Sunblock spray is a nice thought and can work out great under the right conditions, but I’m going back to lotion.
If you’ve used sunblock spray, what did you think?
(Image owned by Peggy Rowland. Clearwater Beach Pier 60)
Spray on sunscreen is THE ONLY way to go for applying it to kiddos. I’ve done it the regular way for going on 5 years now, but this year I got the spray kind for kids – it makes sunscreen application a breeze (not in the breeze, though, as you mentioned!) and they actually THANK me for putting it on them!!
Spray sunblock can be a blessing to camp counslers who are not allowed to actually touch campers (somewhat ridiculous rule in some situations). On the other hand, I personally go through spray sunscreen 10x faster than lotion and sometimes get a splotchy sunburn. And when applying to your face, your hands are necessary, which kind of negates the whole point of spray on sunscreen.
Meghan, I never thought of it from the camp counselor point of view. I’m not totally sure what causes the splotchy burns, but I do think it has something to do with wind.