Skin City: How to protect yourself during PrideFest & all summer long

Ah Pride. The sun is shining, shirts are off, and assless chaps are finally (semi) acceptable in public. With all this frivolity and nudeness, a common enemy lurks just outside the shadows, threatening both twinks and bears alike. No, it’s not Rick Perry, or even Focus on the Family. It’s a burn — sun damage that can quickly cripple even the strongest of mountain men and quickly turn your Pride memories as sour as a rejected RuPaul diva.

What makes us Denver PrideFesters even more susceptible to the sun’s harmful rays is the high altitude. The thin air density found above sea level means that there is 25 percent less protection from UV rays. So you freckly, pasty bunch (and I can only say that because I fall into your ranks) need to load up on the good stuff, and often.

Even if you’re blessed with Beyoncé’s skin, generating a caramel (rather than cherry) hue when exposed to the sun, you still run the risk of skin disease and wrinkles if overexposed.

Thankfully, there are multiple measures to take to avoid the embarrassment and pain of a tomato ass (just another reason to rethink those chaps). The first, and obvious must is a sunscreen with a relatively high SPF. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen with at least SPF 30, applied regularly throughout the day. And while bigger might seem better in terms of the SPF number, many experts are saying this isn’t so. Any sunscreens over SPF 50 are usually tooting that number just for looks — they don’t offer any more protection than those with SPF 50.

Choose a “broad spectrum” sunscreen that protects against both UVB and UVA radiation, and if you’re going to be participating in any wet t-shirt contests, make it waterproof.

Here are some of my recommendations:

Clarins’ UV Plus Day Screen High Protection Tint SPF 40 ($43, Nordstrom) comes in a range of tints, smoothing over minor blemishes on the face while offering protection from sun damage. Handy for the city, the formula also contains a patented anti-pollution complex.

In a recent study by Consumer Reports, Bullfrog’s Water Armor Sport Quick Gel ($11.99, Walgreens) was one of only two tested waterproof brands that upheld its SPF protection after swimming.

An oldie but goodie, NO-AD ($8.99, Walmart) repeatedly performs as well (or even better) than higher-priced sunscreens in consumer tests. Its cheap price point means it won’t be too much of a bummer if you lose the bottle during your riotous Pride festivities.