USE sunblock!!

[.ghoti.]

In the last 6 weeks, I've had 4 skin cancers removed from my face. Three were fairly small, and the procedure, and discomfort were minor. The other one required a bit more. The doctors removed a divot from my forehead about the size of a penny, all the way down to the bone. I took 12 internal and 14 external stitches to close this, after they cut it out into a football shaped hole. I have a picture of the hole before stitching. it's not a pretty sight, or site. After the anesthetic wore off, this thing hurt like hell. And continued to hurt for a couple of days. What fun!

I'm 55, and when I was younger, sunblock was not a part of the vocabulary. It is now. The damage is cumulative. One sunburn will likely not cause skin cancer. A few decades of fishing without sunblock will. A hat is not the cure.

So, what am I saying here?

Get some freaking sunblock and use it. Every #%*&^  time you go out.

Cheers,

GK

[grimlin]

I don't leave home without it on. 8-)

[Bassn Blvd]

Ditto.   Sunblock,Sunblock,Sunblock.  If your worried about getting it on your fingers then buy the spray or bring a bar of soap with ya.  Hope you recover quick Ghoti......

[GLADES]

Good advice ghoti.

I am 46 yrs old and I have to get a full body skin screen every year because of 2 skin cancers that I had removed. One was on the back of my bicep and the other was on the rim of my ear.Thank god they were not melanoma.

They can show up on your scalp, feet, etc.

I want to ensure that if anything else pops up, it gets removed early.

Like you said, the damage is done when you are younger.

I encourage everyone to use max protection sun block and to make sure your kids and teens use it too. if you are middle aged, make a appt with a dermatologist, it dont hurt much.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Thank you for re-inforcing this.  For one reason or another this has really hit me the past 3 years or so.  I've realized the sun is a killer.  To your skin and your eyes.  PROTECT YOUR SKIN AND EYES AT ALL TIMES!!!!!!!!!!

I also think you should wear a shirt.  That tan just ain't worth it in the long run.

Hope the recovery goes well

[jdw174]

Personally, I can't stand that gooey, greasy stuff that comes in a tube.  I changed over to Banana Boat Sport Spray.  Sweatproof, waterproof, sprays on and dries so it's non greasy.  For my face I spray it on my hands and then apply it.  I spray my ears, neck, etc.  UV protection and you can get it up to a 50SPF. Good stuff.

[=Matt 5.0=]

Good post! My wifes uncle died from skin cancer at the age of 35. I've also had a mole removed from my right forearm that turned out to be benign, but scary at age 15!

Delivering in the UPS truck all day, I put it on before I leave the house.

[Sam]

Yes, sunscreen is a pain but it can save your life.

A friend, the father of a 3 year old girl and twin 1 year old boys, went to the family doctor for a bump on the bottom of his foot.

The doctor told him it was a Planters Wart and he sprayed the thing for 6 months before the doctor said it was not getting better and told my friend to see a dermotologist.

The dermotologists took one look at it and performed emergency surgery in her office.  It was skin cancer.

It has spread through his lympth nodes and he is now undergoing chemo.

We are all pulling for him and he has taken the position that he has about 10 years at best depending on the success of the surgery and chemo.

I grew up in Louisiana and looked like a lobster durig the summer and on weekends when we went fishing so I am now using more sunscreen and checking myself all over for skin cancers.

The dermotologist told my friend that the cancer attacks the weakest part of your skin, no matter where it may be.  Like the bottom of your foot or in your arm pit area.  Not good news but we all have to be cognizant of this killer and take steps to avoid it.

[RobDar]

....aye...for us Irish lads sunblock is a religion!

[MALTESE FALCON]

Great post Gary, my father-in-law has had six skin cancers removed in the last two years. For the last fifteen years I've used a 30SPF before I walk out the door. I know some guys that wait until they are out on the boat before they apply.

This spring my bought some spray-on sunscreen, it's easy to apply and my hands aren't all greasy. I wish we had some fifteen years ago.

Falcon

[surfer]

I hate to play devils advocate here, but sun block my not be as helpful as the dermatologists suggest. I read a report that broke it down like this.

UVB causes sunburn. UVA causes skin cancer. Sun block blocks UVB, but not UVA. If you are wearing sun block to extend your time in the sun then you are increasing your UVA exposure and increasing your risk.

Here is a link to three long articles supporting the ideal that sunscreen is not sufficient in preventing skin cancer. One of them is the FDA site. I use a wide brim hat and avoid the hot parts of the day.

http://cheef.com/buffaloskin/Answers/The_Pro___Con/Skin_Cancer/Sun_Block/sun_block.html

[George Welcome]

Most sunscreen lotions block both A and B wavelengths today. Key to their success is to apply before exposure and then periodically reapply. Cover up with UV rated clothing is better but not everyone can afford that.

However, sunscreen, mosquito spray, and life jackets are all things forgotten by most in their urgent need to get to those fishies. Hey, some even forget to put plugs in the boat to keep the water out, and gas to get them back from where they are going.

The things we forget when in a hurry can fill a log book. Slow down, remember everything, and if you can't remember make yourself a check list.

[senile1]

Many of us in our 40s and later probably didn't use sunscreen back in the day, and the sunscreens that existed at the time didn't block UVA wavelengths.  I am diligent in applying sunscreen now and the sunscreen I use blocks both types of wavelengths.  

To determine if your sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB check for the following ingredients:  avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide.  

Also, insect repellents reduce the sunscreen's SPF so you should use a higher SPF and apply it more often when using these.  

[surfer]

SPF is based solely on UVB.  The FDA Cannot yet measure UVA effectively so claims of Broad Spectrum block are not checked by FDA and are only claims made by that company to sell their product.  It may only block 10% or less of the UVA and claim broad spectrum.

"To determine if your sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB check for the following ingredients:  avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide."  

This is true, but they only block 1/10th the amount of UVA as they do UVB.  They are the only three ingredients with any FDA recognition for UVA protection.  So if you take the SPF of the product you are using that contains one ore more of these ingredients and devide by 10 that is the SPF equivalent of UVA protection it is providing.

The above statements are paraphrased from the articles I provided a link to on my previous post.  Be safe and avoid the middle of the day if you can.

As my name suggests I have spent lots of time in the sun.  I have been surfing for more than 20 yrs.  I currently surf with a long sleeve shirt, a visor, and sunblock.  The other surfers laugh, until I spray buckets in their face.  Oops wrong forum. ;D  Karma will probably give me skin cancer for that.

Sun block is still a good tool in the prevention of skin cancer, but avoiding sunshine in the middle of the day is important.  Do not trust your sunscreen to protect you completely.  Best wishes to anyone who has had or has it.  I know I will one day.

[moby bass]

I was vacationing in Phoenix, years ago, and received a severe sunburn on my forehead.  It was red,

crusty and weeping for well over a year, and remained reddish for years after that.  Now, I always wear a wide brimmed hat, for that and because the forest is thinning on the top of my head, and I don't need a bad burn up there. Hats, can't stress them enough. And not just ball caps, although that's better than nothing. Cover the back of the neck and the ears as well.  

[RoLo]

Ghoti thanks for introducing a less than glamorous subject, but a very important matter for us guys who love the outdoors.

I know it's not as exciting as a discussion on Retrieval Techniques, but I'd like to mention a few things every angler should know.

Just before sending this off, I noticed that Senile-1 nailed it, but it bears repeating just the same:

1) For starters, let's never call them "sunblocks", because at their best they are merely "sunscreens".

2) Sad but true, the "SPF" (sun protection factor) has little or no bearing on cancer protection!

The SPF only protects against UVB radiation, the ray in sunlight that causes basically "reparable" damage like sunburn

and tanning. Marketers are a clever bunch though, and they realize that a sunscreen that prevents a bad sunburn

will leave the user with the most lasting impression. By itself, even SPF-50 offers little or no protection against

permanent photodamage, premature wrinkling and skin cancer!

3) The most important information on a sunscreen container is the "Ingredients" list, and not the Sun Protection Factor (SPF).

All the rest is marketing hoopla designed to hook the uninformed consumer, who it seems is never in short supply.

Tanned skin is not permanent damage, it's temporary pigmentation from melanin overproduction.

You'd be safer to use a low SPF containing a UVA protectant than you would using SPF-50 with no UVA protectant.

4) UVA radiation, the most harmful and deadly, ranges from 290 to 320 nanometers. Although SPF provides no protection

against UVA rays, there are 4 UVA protectants that do. Be sure that the label specifies one or more of the following ingredients:

> Mexoryl SX       (FDA Approval 2006 - Deemed the best UVA protectant but VERY hard to find - About $10 per ounce)

> Zinc Oxide            (Second most effective UVA screen, and much easier to find. The white goop that lifeguards use)

> Avobenzone       (AKA: Parsol 1789, an effective UVA screen, and very easy to find - Oxybenzone is not the same thing)

> Titanium Dioxide (Good, but not quite as good as the others)

If the label does not clearly specify one or more of the above UVA protectants, plunk it down unceremoniously like raw sewage

and move to the next product. An effective & highly available sunscreen is Neutrogena Age Shield containing 3% avobenzone

Roger

[Bassboy15]

I dont have a choice, I burn...no tanning for me :/

[RoLo]

Hey guys, this is wild!

My wife knows what I look for in a sunscreen, and today she received a package from Canada.

She received sunscreen called Anthelios L and when I read the contents, I couldn't believe my eyes:

Mexoryl SX:                              3.3%

Avobenzone (parsol 1789):      3.5%

Titanium Dioxide:                   4.0%

It's available in a variety of SPFs, the container holds 3.38 oz so including shipping it costs about $10 / oz.

Below is the URL:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320132415749&rd=1&rd=1

Roger

[bigdog]

My lily white skin gets nothing under 85+ ;D ;D

[bassnleo]

Excellent post.

Skin cancer runs in my family. Last year I started using Blue Lizard sunscreen and it has performed well for me. I actually wear long sleeves every time out, no matter how hot. I have found that a long sleeve Under Armor style shirt in white is quite comfortable, even when hot and humid, and it just gives you a little extra protection.

The comment that KU made about sunglasses, couldn't agree more. We all want a good pair of glasses to see into the water but are they protecting your eyes from all the UV rays? That really has become a concern for me in recent years and I always make sure that my glasses are blocking out those harmful rays.

You young guys out there, heed all this advice, start using sunscreen now, you'll thank us later.

[Guttboy]

WOW....GREAT POST!

I havent hit the big 40 yet....next May if I live that long...LOL......

When I was in college I went skiing in Colorado in the springtime as a freshman.....SOAKED up the sun and unfortunately the next day my room mate woke up screaming.  My face had 2 degree burns all over it and my eyes were painful.  

EVER since then I apply sunscreen religiously and always will.  I also do the "personal body check" for things out of the ordinary.

One thing that folks overlook is your EYES!  Having undergone PRK surgery on my eyes I have learned about protecting one of your most valuable senses.  WEAR SUNGLASSES AS WELL!  ALL THE TIME!  EVEN WHEN IN CLOUDY WEATHER!

SUNSCREEN/CLOTHING/SUNGLASSES are a must!!!!!

[Panamoka_Bassin]

I agree with all the things said above, especially with the glasses.  When I was a teenager, I used to go fishing and skiing without sunglasses all the time.  During one 3 day trip to catch Big eye tuna, I of course had no glasses.  By the end of the second day I had the WORST headache I'd ever had, had no dpeth to my vision, and as the night came, I could barely see.  Got back to shore, went to the doctor and found that I put a low grade burn on my retinas.  Now, I HAVE TO wear sun glasses.  My eyes are so light sensative that some indoor lighting is too bright for me.

As for Sunscreen, there's an episode of Mythbusters where they check out the SPF levels.  Guess what?  Spf 45 does NOTHING more than spf30.  Their tests showed no discernable difference between the two.  

[Guest Bountiful_Waters]

Very informative post. I was stationed in Panama for three years. When I first arrived, I was not prepared for the violence of that heat, humidity, and sun. I few major burns. Once I acclimated, I found that you stay cooler in the sun when wearing long sleeves and pants, hard to believe, but true. Wear a long sleeved cotton shirt and some light weight pants when in the sun all day. I was in Austrailia 3 years ago and was told than over 50% of people there by age 40 have had cancers removed from their skin. Not sure the numbers were accurate, but still quite scary!

[surfer]

Way to go Roger on making that info more easily digested.

Every one else go back and read Rogers's firs post.  If you're not using the right sun block you may be doing more harm than good.

UVB causes sunburn. UVA causes skin cancer.  Sun block blocks UVB, but not UVA.  If you are wearing sun block to extend your time in the sun then you are increasing your UVA exposure and increasing your risk.