Sunscreen Tips from the field...

It is surprising how a couple months, bundled-up under your winter clothes, any summer pigmentation in your skin will fade. One of the most important things that you can buy for your trip to the tropics is a good sunscreen. This is especially important on the first couple of days after your arrival. There is nothing worse than getting sun burned on the first day of your holiday!

Generally, when looking to purchase sunscreen I advise staying away from the spray-on type that has become more popular in recent years. Rarely do these types of sunscreens apply thick enough to actually protect your skin in the harsh UV environments of the tropics. They tend to be “spotty” in their coverage, and also tend to come off easier with perspiration. I generally suggest a thicker PABA-free sunscreen with SPF 30+ for Belize. “Banana Boat” is a brand name that seems to work very well in the Belize environment.

Also, for high exposure areas such as your nose, a higher SPF is recommended. I generally recommend a SPF 45-60+ for these areas. Also, if you want to block 100% of UV’s, a zinc oxide cream works wonders. There are products out there that have silly colors, so your nose is accentuated, but we have found a better alternative. This is an ingredient that is found in diaper rash cream. I am not kidding! It’s true, if you want to have the best protection for your high exposure areas, a little bit of “Destin” or other brands work great.