Sunscreen: protect your surfing skin


Surfers are very much exposed to skin cancer. UV rays, sand and water reflection are responsible for severe skin damages. Irreversible problems may appear in as little as 15 minutes of sunlight exposure.

Spring and summer, as well as hours between 10am and 4pm, are the most dangerous periods for UV exposure. Also, UV rays travel through clouds in less sunny days. Tanning is good and addictive, but skin cancer may end your surfing days forever.

Ultraviolet radiation destroys skin's cellular DNA and produces mutations that lead to skin cancer. Melanoma is deadliest form of skin cancer and kills more than 8,000 Americans, each year.

The best sunscreen creams, lotions and sprays offer sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB protection. These are broad-spectrum sunscreens.



High quality sunscreen labels include chemicals that ensure sun block: compounds that absorb ultraviolet light, inorganic ingredients that reflect scatter and absorb UV light and a stabilizer that slows breakdown.

Alba Botanica, Aloe Gator, Aveeno, Banana Boat, California Baby, Coppertone, Garnier Ambre Solaire, Hawaiian Tropic, La Roche-Posay, L'Oreal Solar Expertise, Neutrogena, Nivea, Shiseido and Waterman are the best sunscreen labels for surfing and surfers. Please use it always.




Neutrogena Age Shield Face Lotion 110
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch 100
Aveeno Protect + Hydrate 70
Coppertone Sport 80
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60
Vertra Face Stick 50
Waterman Aqua Armor Lotion 50
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection 50
Banana Boat Sport 50
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydratation 50
L'Oreal Sublime Sun 50
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen 45
Aloe Gator 40
Tender Sprouts Organic Zinc-Oxide Baby Sunscreen 35
Nivea Sun Protect Water Gel 30
California Baby 30
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen 30
Raw Elements Face Stick 30

The sunscreens for surfers review has been updated on the 18th October, 2016.