Last Update: 15 October 2025

Like many outdoor activities, riding our motorcycle brings us face to face with the sun. It’s both a blessing and a curse as while those blissful hours of pleasure riding go by, we’re also taking a beating from the sun. Even when hidden behind a full face motorcycle helmet, overexposure to the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) light can cause premature ageing and lead to skin cancer and pre-cancers like actinic keratoses (AKs). Since sun damage accumulates over time, it’s never too late to start a sun protection regimen. I’ve said it before protecting against the damaging rays of the sun is an important part of your motorcycle gear.

Based on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG)  Guide to Sunscreen – the EWG found issues with 80% of the sun protection products it studied. The issues such as having ingredients such as “oxybenzone” which can disrupt the hormone system and “Retinyl palmitate” which may trigger damage, possibly cancer.

SPF protection tops out at 30 to 50, and just because you’re wearing a higher SPF protection you may think you can ride in the sun for longer and skip necessary reapplication. Not the case. In fact, the FDA is considering a ban of SPF above 50+. The EWG also recommend skipping spray sunscreen, which can be inhaled and don’t cover skin completely.

And just because you’re not getting burnt doesn’t mean you’re not damaging your skin: High SPF is able to suppress a sunburn while allowing in dangerous UV rays.

Your Checklist Of Products To Banish:

• Spray sunscreens can be inhaled, and they don’t cover skin completely.
• SPF values above 50+ try to trick you into believing they’ll prevent sun damage. Don’t trust them. SPF protection tops out at 30 to 50.
• Products using “oxybenzone” which can disrupt the hormone system.
• Products using “retinyl palmitate” which may trigger damage, possibly cancer.

So What Should You Be Wearing?

The EWG developed a rating system and extensively selected best beach and sport sunscreens, with brands like La Roche-Posay, Nine Naturals, and Yes to Cucumbers on the “good” list. This also includes a list of moisturizers with SPF, and even a list of best lip products. Their useful online tools leave us no excuse for not adding a proper sunscreen to our daily pre-ride skin care routine.

Practise Smart Sun.  Here’s your quick check list:

• Make sun safety a daily habit.
• Don’t Wait Until You’re Outside. SPF needs a good 20 minutes to sink in before your skin is completely protected from UV rays, Graf says. If you wait, you might as well be wearing no sunblock at all for that first half-hour you’re outdoors.
• Get UV-protective sunglasses. Good shades protect your eyes from UV radiation that may cause cataracts.
• Never Rely on Makeup. It may be tempting to skip the sunscreen when the letters “SPF” are written on your makeup bottle – don’t give in.
• Keep it fresh. Sunscreens expire and can lose their potency. Check the expiration date.
• Reapply cream often. Sunscreen chemicals sometimes degrade in the sun, wash off or rub off on towels and clothing.
• Plan around the sun. Take rides in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is lower. UV radiation peaks at midday.
• Cover Up even off bike. Clothing provides the best protection from UV rays.
• Find shade. Park under a tree or find shade on a roadside stop
• Avoid Getting Burned. Red, sore, blistered or peeling skin means far too much sun – and raises your skin cancer risk.
• Check the UV Index. The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor ride time in ways that prevent sun overexposure.

Tips To Help Stop or Reverse Sun Damage To Skin

• Use a good sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sunscreen is one of the keys to radiant, youthful-looking skin. Daily use may even lower your long-term risk of skin cancer. By reducing your daily sun exposure, sunscreen allows your skin time to heal and your immune system the chance to repair some existing damage.
• The build up of stratum corneum (the dead, outermost skin cell layer) can make skin appear blotchy and uneven. Also, remnants of self-tanning products can collect in typically dry areas (such as the elbows), causing the skin to lose its lustre and appear “dirty.” Loofahs, scrubs, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)* cleansers, and home micro-dermabrasion kits (in which tiny crystals are sprayed on the skin) can remove dead skin cells, leaving skin looking smoother.
• Bleach the brown spots. Skin lightener does not actually make the skin white; it simply helps to lighten accumulations of unwanted colour. Dr. Sarnoff recommends using an over-the-counter product that contains kojic acid in combination with hydroquinone, Retin-A*, and a mild steroid cream, which is useful for stubborn brown spots and blotchy brown discolouration.
• Summer exposure to sun, chlorine, and salt water can dry out your skin – even the heels of your feet can be affected. Try a hand and body cream, and, for the heels, a moisturising foot cream. A moisturiser with AHA or facial serum with hyaluronic acid can plump up dry skin around the eyes, making skin instantly appear less wrinkled. Continued use may help stimulate the production of new collagen, a protein that helps give skin its texture and appearance.
• The right product is the first step, but we also need to be vigilant about application: Remember to apply enough lotion (a golf ball-sized dollop) and reapply every two hours as instructed.

Find Your Best Recreational Sunscreen Here!

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