scuba is making me old!

[divemistress]

saltwater and sun are wreaking havoc on my skin and my hair.

chlorinated pools are nearly as bad.

i figure i've aged about 10 years in the three or four i've been diving regularly.

people -- other women -- used to tell me i had beautiful skin. now they say, "my gosh, i can't believe you're THAT OLD. your skin looks so good for YOUR AGE."

this morning i found myself borrowing my mother's wrinkle cream. ;-0

what next???? :boom:

judy
who started counting backwards on her last birthday. which makes her 40 now. she figures she'll settle in at 36 or so. only four more years -- whoo hoo!

[Diver Lori]

Don't leave the dock without it. And I am also never without my widebrimmed hat. (I am definitely not a sunworshiper!)

Also, go to www.worldwideaquatics.com and pick up some of the chlorine removing shampoos, body wash and lotion. I swear by them.

[wazza]

Dear divemistress
· Sun block over 40
· Shower between dives in fresh water
· And never sun tan
· Drink a lot of water its good for your skin
At night after the shower a lot of skin cream
My g/f use to have more then 10 kinds of cream
For I have no idea, and use to spend 20 m creaming
Her self after every shower even if she had 4 per day
Ohhhh this is the women’s only, sorry wrong place

[wrecNcaver]

divemistress once bubbled...
saltwater and sun are wreaking havoc on my skin and my hair.

chlorinated pools are nearly as bad.

i figure i've aged about 10 years in the three or four i've been diving regularly. ............

Divemistress, you can always switch to diving the Great Lakes or cave diving. Fresh water all the way! There are advantages

But may I suggest, for your hair, you put a good conditioner in your hair before each dive and don't rinse it out. As you dive, the conditioner will rinse out and your hair will feel alot better. You don't need to put alot on. Add to that lots of sun screen and the aging effect will be reversed.

[seaangel]

I am in the over forty crowd, been in the sun and salt most of my life. I get a lot of compliments on my facial skin. I have terrible dry skin on legs that I constantly have to put lotions and creams on. But hair and face are not a problem. I don't have any real secrets but I do the following: 1. I put on a base face moisturizer every day with spf 15, when going out on a dive fresh water or salt water I use higher spf sunblocks 30 ususally. 2. I wear hats when outdoors for acitivities.3. I use shampoo with sunscreen, yes they do make them, Redkin products and others.4. Always use the fresh water shower immediately after taking off gear, I even rinse down my wetuit with the shower or hose on the boat.5 I use a Redkin hair conditioner that is not rinsed out right at that time in the shower. ( By the way the guys all seem to think it smells great) I have several that set up on the boat near the shower so they can smell my hair conditioner. 6. Finally on the boat I reapply sunscreen or lotion as needed. It will wash off and if not careful you will burn.

If I am going to lie down in the sun or use a tanning bed I always cover my face. I do not allow it to burn. I hate peeling. Mostly though I don't peel even on other areas. I have a skin type that will tan easily, I don't burn like some folks. I also, don't have coarse or wrinkled skin. Maybe I am just lucky or it is genetic. I don't know which.

Just try to use the basic skin and hair care suggestions. I hope they will help.

[Natasha]

I don't know, something doesn't add up here. I have met many many divers and I always think they look YOUNGER then their age. And I don't want to sound like I'm bragging but I have been told by many people I look younger then 44, which I'll be in 12 more days.
We always chalk it up to "Scuba makes you look younger".. as a matter of fact we just said this in Texas when I met Dee a few days ago. And King Neptune himself said it to me more then once.

[Louie]

Does anybody know of a REALLY waterproof sunblock for the face?

I am really paranoid about sun protection but I've never found one that resists perspiration and water.

[PK]

Hi,

I'm pretty particular about skin so here are a few things that combined, I've found combats dry skin due to age, dry air, and diving in saltwater:

For skin sun protection:
Neutrogena "Sundown Sport" works really well. It is marketed as sweatproof and waterproof but I sill put it on all over before and after each dive, especially shoulders and nose. I DO think it's more waterproof than most so even my nose doesn't burn while diving.

For skin moisturizer on face:
Neutrogena "Healthy Skin" anti-wrinkle cream isn't bad. But I think most creams meant for be anti-wrinkle would work. The trick is to put it on everyday and after every time your face gets wet, whether you dive or not and year round. It's good to put on under eyes, forehead and laugh lines.

For skin moisturizer on legs and other places:
I think most store lotions works fine as long as you put it on everyday and after every time you get wet, whether you dive or not and year round. The brand and amount depends on your skin type but I think Jergens is pretty good.

*Most important*
Drink lots of water (at least 8 cups a day all year), The above moisturizers still won't work well if you are not super hydrated. It may be a little challenging to force yourself to drink so much water, so sipping green tea all day or other sort of tea may help make it more of a routine. Or take a cup of water and chug it at different times of the day.

[DivePartner1]

"Scuba is making me old?"

Don't be silly. There is NOTHING sexier than a women who dives!

[divemistress]

but i choose to believe natasha and divepartner1 are the MOST right!

natasha, if i interpret correctly, you're saying that a woman who is active and enjoying herself tends to look younger than an unhappy sluggard. that's absolutely the truth, IMO.

and divepartner1, your response is simply charming. come play in the woman's forum anytime! (ps, we're neighbors. i've spent more time in the millbrook quarry than i care to think about. or repeat )

as for the rest of you, your tips are excellent. i started this thread part in jest, part out of concern for the future and part because i DID borrow my mother's wrinkle cream the other day. but, as is my habit, i exaggerated. (natasha, does that make me a troll? )

i already put conditioner in my hair before each dive: queen helene's cholesterol is excellent and cheap. and i put a heavy facial OIL on my face and around my eyes. (be careful not to break the mask seal.)

but to my repertoire i will add sunglasses, hat and sunscreen, and lots of drinking water. (but the stuff on the boats usually tastes so yucky! like the stuff on airplanes.)

here's to a young, sexy (snort) wrinkle-free future!

p.s. wrecncaver: i grew up next to the pacific. salt and chlorine run through my bloodstream. freshwater? eek!

:out: