zinc oxide
Surfing's original sunscreen, used as protection against sunburn and skin cancer. Chalk-colored zinc oxide products, with the shiny bluish-white zinc metal mixed into a wax- or petroleum-based ointment or cream, were first used in Europe in the early 20th century as a balm for irritated skin. In the late 1950s, lifeguards in Australia began rubbing ultraviolet-ray-blocking zinc oxide onto their li...
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Burns and Gomes in Tahiti, 1987Subscribe to view
Pat Gudauskas, 2012. Photo: Corey WilsonSubscribe to view
Surfer wearing Zinka, North Shore, 1986. Photo: Don KingSubscribe to view
Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"Subscribe to view
Aussie surfer, 1982. Photo: Bruce ChannonSubscribe to view
"Surf's Up" poster featuring zinc-wearing young surfer (1961)Subscribe to view
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/fe57e4ce4ff614e36395339b5df1993940a4a714-960x540.jpg?w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Burns and Gomes in Tahiti, 1987
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/de9d42f0f9d01dc793c992876270389e1d2d2fa5-900x623.jpg?rect=0,0,900,506&w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Pat Gudauskas, 2012. Photo: Corey Wilson
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/564f45d61197cc36714eb181cea566f25ee7bf48-650x700.jpg?rect=0,208,650,366&w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Surfer wearing Zinka, North Shore, 1986. Photo: Don King
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/b37ca36c908a6606449f600b9c030584a309da54-600x418.jpg?rect=0,40,600,338&w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/7902da661d488cde373d88a268a67a55b28214a5-900x761.jpg?rect=0,90,900,506&w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
Aussie surfer, 1982. Photo: Bruce Channon
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/f1hjpcr4/production/8e213e6823232010d7ecc0ac2d9717124e60a9c4-685x900.jpg?rect=0,267,685,385&w=640&h=360&q=65&auto=format)
"Surf's Up" poster featuring zinc-wearing young surfer (1961)