Natural sunblock?

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Scotmitchy

Scotmitchy

Senior Member
Location
Scotland
Remember when you were wee and you could rub a Dokin leaf (not sure of the spelling) on nettle stings to make it feel better?

Well, I pondered if there was soemthing similar as a sun block, when 15 miles in to my bike ride the sun came out and I had none on. Is there such a thing as a natural sun block I could have rubbed on my face and arms, or, do I just live with it?


Any wise (or wise ass) comments welcome!
 
danphoto

danphoto

New Member
Location
East Sussex
You mean dock leaves ...

It is said that nettle stings are caused by the formic acid in the sting solution. If it were true, then Dock leaves, which contain Oxalic acid, would not be a remedy. The extremely fine syringe type hair of the Nettle breaks off easily and penetrates the skin. Within this hair is a stinging solution which is only 1% Formic acid. A 2% - 10% concentration is required for the acid to be an irritant. It is histamine and serotonin in the sting which cause the irritation.

Dock leaf sap contains a natural antihistamine. If you rub too hard with the dock leaf, you will merely disturb the nettle sting in your skin and make it worse. The best way to deal with the problem is to break off some dock leaf and chew it for a few seconds, then gently rub the saliva/dock sap mixture around the sting. The antihistamine from the dock leaf together with the natural healing properties of saliva will ease the stinging sensation.
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I doubt there's anything which works as a natural sunblock, but AFAIC Riemann P20 is the finest thing going for preventing sunburn. Nothing else I've tried keeps working when I start sweating like a pig, and it doesn't make me smell like a tart's handbag either ...
 
frank9755

frank9755

Cyclist
Location
West London
Anything that would block out the sun's rays would do so smearing some mud on you seems like the obvious answer - the thicker the better!
 
coffeejo

coffeejo

Ælfrēd
Location
West Somerset
Hairless or thin-haired animals instinctively use thick layers of mud to protect themselves and I don't understand why humans have decided that we're immune to the sun's rays, especially as we've been hell-bent on destroying the environment and making sun exposure even more dangerous...

*and breathes*

TBH, I think sun block is one of those areas where science has got it right, though I fail to see aftersun as anything other than a gimmick.
 
B

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
danphoto said:
I doubt there's anything which works as a natural sunblock, but AFAIC Riemann P20 is the finest thing going for preventing sunburn. Nothing else I've tried keeps working when I start sweating like a pig, and it doesn't make me smell like a tart's handbag either ...
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+1 QFT.
 
ian turner

ian turner

Guru
Location
Leicestershire
frank9755 said:
Anything that would block out the sun's rays would do so smearing some mud on you seems like the obvious answer - the thicker the better!
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I was going to suggest dung but mud would be better as an insect repellant
 
Glover Fan

Glover Fan

Well-Known Member
Location
Almondsbury, Nr Bristol
coffeejo said:
Hairless or thin-haired animals instinctively use thick layers of mud to protect themselves and I don't understand why humans have decided that we're immune to the sun's rays, especially as we've been hell-bent on destroying the environment and making sun exposure even more dangerous...

*and breathes*

TBH, I think sun block is one of those areas where science has got it right, though I fail to see aftersun as anything other than a gimmick.
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The thing I don't get are the people who wear only SPF factor 5-10 when they are still pretty white, it is pretty much just a token gesture and I suppose better than not wearing any at all, but I am quite tanned for a caucasian and I always slap on factor 30+ sunscreen.
 
funnymummy

funnymummy

A Dizzy M.A.B.I.L
Location
Lancing West Sussex
Glover Fan said:
The thing I don't get are the people who wear only SPF factor 5-10 when they are still pretty white, it is pretty much just a token gesture and I suppose better than not wearing any at all, but I am quite tanned for a caucasian and I always slap on factor 30+ sunscreen.
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I tan really easily, i've only ever suffered sunburn 2/3 times & 1 of those was when I got washed out to sea a lilo in Spain - 5 hours floating round the Med is pretty hot, I was rather crispy when the helicopter brought me back!! (I was only 14!!)

But I am not silly, I start the year off with factor 40.. My children are 'strawberrys' so that's what I use on them - after a few weeks i'll move down to a lower factor - They stay on 40 all summer!
 
coffeejo

coffeejo

Ælfrēd
Location
West Somerset
I'm not sure if I'm naturally tanned or it's just a build up of years out in the sun, but I always start off with F30 as well, moving down depending on the weather.

My one case of bad sunburn was when I was 16 - the day after my GCSEs finished, a friend and I spent the day at the beach. I fell asleep and woke up crispier than barbecued chicken. The worst thing was that 2 days later, I flew to America in a very cramped coach seat. Lesson well and truly learnt!
 
N

Nebulous

Guru
Location
Aberdeen
Long ago, when I was young, you didn't really get sunscreen. Or at least we didn't, maybe because we were too poor. My mother got a hint or tip from somewhere, possibly 'The People's Friend,' to use a mix of olive oil and vinegar. She used to mix it up in a bottle and shake it vigorously before applying it.

I've no idea if it worked or not, probably it only helped us fry. Anyhow- you could always recognise our family on the beach. We were the shiny ones, with no friends, who smelled like a chipshop.

James
 
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