Velo Dog

Posted something about this a few months ago, but it's time for a refresher: Like a lot of California guys my age, I had the darkest tan on the beach for 40 years. Even into my 50s, and long after the wisdom of sunscreen was well known, I often didn't wear it, for all the usual reasons--too much trouble, tans look good, I'm protected because i have a good "base tan" (myth), etc.
For about the last two years, I've been trekking down to the dermatologist to have one kind of lesion or another frozen or cut off my face/arms/legs/ears. Mainly lightweight, non-deadly stuff so far, classed as "pre-cancerous," but with scary potential. Got another biopsy scheduled in a couple of weeks.
Wear the sunscreen.

Rowan

I've had hell's own trouble getting Machka to wear sunscreen here in Australia. She's finally got the message, I think.

We have extensive campaigns through the media to "slip, slop, slap" -- slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat.

The latest TV campaign goes too far, I think, by portraying the sun doing damage to the skin cells every single time one is out in it... and that there is almost an inevitability that a person will contract cancer (not just the skin variety) from sun exposure.

Nevertheless it does give pause to think about paying more attention to sun protection.

I dread seeing women, in particular, with perfectly manicured suntans, and the older ones really do show up the wrinkles. I know a lot of guys who have spent years sailing now having spots removed like you. Some other people who have worked many years outdoors have lost entire ears, and some have large sections of their noses missing.

rogerstg

Fortunately, most people have not abused their bodies to the extreme that you have so for them there must be little to worry about.

Looigi

Nah. The vitamin D is more important.

borgagain

Sunscreen does a great job of blocking the rays that cause burning. It however, does absolutely nothing to block the rays that cause cancer.

Since it allows you to stay in the sun longer without burning, it also allows longer exposure to the rays that cause cancer.

ScottStr

Please cite reseach sources. Until then: BS.

calamarichris

I lay it on pretty thick, but it's personal choice, not a social agenda. If people want to smoke or not wear suncreen, it's a free country.
I'd rather look like a brightly adorned, pasty-white zombie during rides and when kayaking, than to look like some of the sun-worn cougars and reddenbachers at my neighborhood cougar den. (Shudder.)

Northwestrider

I dislike sunscreen so usually wear a long sleeved shirt and lighweight, thin long pants. I do use it heavily ( a zinc oxide based ) on my ears, nose, however.

Siu Blue Wind

Back in the day it was no big deal. It was "uncool" to wear sunscreen as teenagers in the 60's and early 70's. Not even sure if they had sunSCREEN in the 60's. To be tan was ideal, even using baby oil to speed up the burning process.

Hoping things go well for you, Velo Dog.

sjvcycler

Bad news here buddy, unless your clothes are upv then you can still get hurt . Use sunblock and not sunscreen. I use spf 30 sunblock even when cloudy. You don't know how bad or scary skin cancer is until you get it or your wife does (my case). Just take that few seconds and use sunblock please.

https://www.ehow.com/about_5409345_su...sunscreen.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunblock
-there is a portion that describes the difference.

zjrog

I work in the desert, so sunscreen is a way of life. Including funky "foreign legion" type hats. I pay particular attention to my face, neck and ears. I don't mind a good tan, and for years was the "base tan" kinda guy. Not so anymore. SPF40 and better all summer long, and even if I'm going to outside for long in the winter... Of course, I'm also at 5000' and higher too...

himespau 

I used to be a base tan guy as well and still think I look and feel healthier when I'm not pasty white, but I've gotten a lot better about the sunscreen after finding a few new moles. Fortunately, they haven't grown or changed shape/color and maybe I just never noticed them before, but now I'm much more vigilant.

borgagain

Well heck, you can do your own searching but here's a couple to get you started:

https://hubpages.com/hub/The-truth-ab...nd-skin-cancer

https://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?t...20100525055178

himespau 

yeah, not sure I'm buying that. Nigerian newspapers have about as much credibility with me as Nigerian princes who need my financial assistance.

slide23

Maybe you would prefer PubMed, then: Do sunscreens increase melanoma in populations at higher latitudes?

And, just a little food for thought about sunscreens.

It's not sunscreen that saves southerly people from incidence of melanoma.

And, maybe a slight argument against suncreens and sunblocks, especially if you live in higher latitudes.

For the love of gods, don't wear the sunscreen.

rck

You need to use a product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

himespau 

I don't know where you're located, but this is commonly available in the US, borg.

Burton

I usually wear long sleeves and pants anyway but got a good lesson a number of years back. Was driving by motorcycle down to Florida and when the weather cleared up dropped the jacket and gloves. Unfortunately just because of the direction I was driving, the sun was reflecting off both mirrors onto the backs of my hands. That was only for about a period of 3 to 4 hrs.

The next day the backs of my hands were covered with water blisters and they were both so badly swollen that I checked into a clinic. Verdict? Radiation damage `sun poisoning` they call it and I was obliged to wear gloves for the next two weeks. Were those blisters were I now have brown spots.

And apparently I got off lucky. There`s always a big story every time there`s a shark incident in Florida, but apparently the number of tourists that die of sun poisoning every year due to lying unprotected on the beach for hours makes swimming with sharks look pretty safe. But publicizing things like that wouldn`t be too good for the tourist industry - because the sunny beach is the prime attraction.

Gee3

Just be sure to put enough. My doctor says most people put on too little. She used an example of SPF30 sunscreen and said that it's common for people to put too little where it's equivelant to only an "SPF3"!!

himespau 

Yeah, I've had sun poisoning and 2nd degree burns after a visit to cancun from a northern climate without preparation and only light application of sunscreen.

Velo Dog

You live in Rhode Island. Take a look around California/Arizona/Nevad/Utah/Texas.

Chris L

I've had things removed, too. Where I live, people get diagnosed with skin cancer more often than buses turn up at bus stops (or so the advertising claims). It is scary stuff, and in my case I'll have to go and get regular skin checks for the rest of my life, largely as a consequence of the exposure I had in the first 12 years of life (my doctor says that's apparently when most of the damage is done). As someone else has already said, you need to ensure that whatever you use on your skin has UVA and UVB protection. The biggest problem I have is actually sweat. You can lather on a sunscreen that would normally last four or five hours, and it will be gone within two because in this humid climate, sweat will wash it off.

And yes, as others have noted, having naturally dark skin doesn't help. I've had friends who were black and still had problems with sun exposure -- even on overcast days in the middle of what passes for "winter" in these parts.

As an aside, does anyone know where I could expect to find a sunscreen stronger than SPF 30? I saw one that was SPF 50 when I was in Japan, but it seems here in Australia -- the world leaders in skin cancer -- SPF 30 is as much as you can get.

himespau 

Huh, that's odd, here in the Northern parts of the US, I often see SPF 45, 50 and sometimes 90. I wonder if it's a lattitude thing. The further from the equator you are the more likely you're to be sensitive and so they sell the higher stuff? Someone also told me that anything over SPF 40 is pretty much all the same and just a way for them to get extra money from you, but I don't know about that. Have heard it several times though.

wabbit

I'm pretty fortunate, tan very well but have never been a sun worshipper. Even when younger, I was never much for lying in the sun. And back then we used suntan lotion, not sunscreen. As a result, I don't look all old and wrinkled!
yeesh, if i went to Ozzieland i'd have a gallon of sunscreen! no one would have to convince me lol. As it is, I slap on total sunblock or 70 at least on my face....and everywhere else if it's during a hot sunny day. If I ride later in the day, I still use sunblock on my face, but 45 or 60 everywhere else. I don't get people who don't 'like' sunscreen....so you get a few bugs, it's better than a cancerous lesion. However, I still check myself regularly looking for any freckles etc, so far so good!

Standalone 

I like hats.