Moisturizer/protectant for nose that won't cause sunburn

[wannabedvm]

My horse has a pink nose. He wears a UV-resistant extended fly mask and sunscreen when he’s not wearing that, but his nose still get peel-y/cracked. Idk if it’s from sun (I never see blisters or much redness) or from the mask rubbing against it…I suspect a little of both.

What can I use (in addition to sunscreen) as moisturizer and protectant? The sunscreen isn’t moisturizing enough. Needs to be safe around his mouth/lips. I’ve read that oil-based things (like Vaseline) can cause sunburn, but that would be my go to…

[Scribbler]

Zinc oxide cream like Desitin diaper rash cream will block and moisturize and heal but is a little messy.

[RedHorses]

Zinc ointment. Soothes, heals and protects. Messy, but the best I have found.

Beware of sunscreens - I bought a new one last year and my horse’s nose burned worse on the days I put it on vs the days I didn’t. If I forgot to apply another layer on myself I burnt worse than if I hadn’t bothered at all. There was something about the carrier that seemed to intensify the UV rays once the block portion had worn out.

I went back to zinc for my boy.

There may also be a contact dermatitis issue. My horse started “burning” this spring before he’d lost enough winter fuzz to burn…

[CFFarm]

Baby sun block.

[2DogsFarm]

Used to use Bullfrog on DH’s way-roaned out, bald-faced TWH with a big pink shnozz

[wannabedvm]

@CFFarm

Baby sun block.

Yeah, this is what we use. But it has extremely limited moisturizing qualities. I didn’t seen any good moisturizing ingredients in it at all.

I don’t think it’s a contact dermatitis issue—I think a lot of it is from the rough mask rubbing on his soft skin, combined with some sun exposure.

[wannabedvm]

@RedHorses

Zinc ointment. Soothes, heals and protects. Messy, but the best I have found.

Beware of sunscreens - I bought a new one last year and my horse’s nose burned worse on the days I put it on vs the days I didn’t. If I forgot to apply another layer on myself I burnt worse than if I hadn’t bothered at all. There was something about the carrier that seemed to intensify the UV rays once the block portion had worn out.

I went back to zinc for my boy.

There may also be a contact dermatitis issue. My horse started “burning” this spring before he’d lost enough winter fuzz to burn…

Will that also act as a barrier protectant against mask rubs?

[MissAriel]

@wannabedvm

Will that also act as a barrier protectant against mask rubs?

It is probably better than any of the other suggestions, but if the irritation is due to rubbing, eventually the zinc oxide ointment will rub off. In that case you are better off finding a less irritating or softer nose cover. Maybe sew a layer of soft fabric (soft terry cloth or minky?) inside the nose mask?

[walktrot]

I’ve been using Coppertone Sport for years on that lovely bald face pictured to the left. As long as I use it daily he doesn’t have a problem with burning. I have used a long nose fly mask but it didn’t cover enough of his nose so I still needed sunscreen. I usually wait for it to be on sale and buy several tubes to last the season.

[Puzzled]

My mare had a bald face and would sunburn easy. I found Blue Lizard worked the best. One of the better sunscreens on the market. You can find online.

[Dajuliz]

I have always used the highest spf but cheapest waterproof sunscreen that I could find along with aloe vera gel found at the local pharmacy. For some reason, my pink nose bald faced highly opinionated mare hates the zinc ointments.

[Scribbler]

@Dajuliz

I have always used the highest spf but cheapest waterproof sunscreen that I could find along with aloe vera gel found at the local pharmacy. For some reason, my pink nose bald faced highly opinionated mare hates the zinc ointments.

So does mine. Especially the ones that smell of baby powder + cod liver oil. You get one chance to slather it on before she goes head high and righteously offended.