I visited the doctor the other day for a red patch on my face and she informed me it was due to sun damage. A bit of a wake up call to protect myself more from the sun. We are not known for having much sunshine here but I guess it all adds up.
Her advice was that it was time to start wearing a hat and sunscreen. Don' t really want to be putting on sunscreen full of chemicals all the time but I guess there are no other options...... How much of a problem is exposure to the sun in your location and how do you deal with it? Hat probably is first on the list I imagine.
Hi totalsurv
Here in Australia sun is an every day concern. Long sleeves, long pants, wide brim hat, sunglasses and buckets of sun cream. Kids at school aren't allowed outside without much the same.
Skin cancer is a major issue.
I have a hat, that blocks the solar radiation. It is actually cooler, than without it, in high heat.
https://www.hatcountry.com/dorfman-pacific-pacific-outdoorsman-hat.html
N
When I was in my mid 20's I was told by a skin specialist I had the skin of a 60+ year old,
I've had bits cut out, burnt off etc and all from long hours of carefree exposure in our hot Tasmanian sun.
Used to wear shorts and T shirt. Now long trousers and long sleeves with hat.
I use sun screen on face and the V of my neck.
Also fingerless mitts. Latter are fine material and extremely light but sun blockers.
The backs of hands are particularly vulnerable in surveying I've found.
It's not worth getting into trouble through being slack in that area.
I don't like thought of sunscreen, but alternative to deal with lack of its use isn't worth thinking of.
Actually it's not the sun but the UV and that can be high here even on overcast days.
All very ironic. Need sun for Vitamen D but just don't get in the sun else danger of sun damage!
Always wear a hat, wide brim.
Chemo is brutal.
overcast days are bad also, not just the sunny days... even up North.
If you're fair skinned, reddish or light colored hair then you should pay attention to this post.
Brim hats, long sleeves, collar shirts, sunscreen etc.
Robert Hill, post: 422617, member: 378 wrote: If you're fair skinned, reddish or light colored hair then you should pay attention to this post.
Brim hats, long sleeves, collar shirts, sunscreen etc.
The nasty truth about working outdoors....I would venture a guess that anybody spending 15 years or more in the outdoors has some sort of lasting UV effect to their skin or eyes. Some of us have both.
I've used sunscreen, long sleeves, 100% UV glasses and brimmed hats since I was about 45 years old and I still visit my dermatologist bi-annually so he can whittle off the bad spots that pop up occasionally. Working outdoors will eventually push the limit on your genetics. It is a life and death matter. A gentleman that started the first RPLS.com message board, Mark Deal, passed away in 2002 from melanoma related injuries. He was 38. I don't think Mark would mind one bit with me relating his story to you all.
Mark had a small sore on his back that had a hard time healing. His GP examined it and gave him some topical ointment. It eventually healed over. About six months later Mark had been in the field and experienced a great amount of pain that wouldn't go away in his thigh when he stepped out of his pickup. I just happened to be in his office that day when he came in early to stop by the doctor. It was his last day in the field. Examination revealed his femur had fractured by just stepping out of the truck. His bones were weakened by melanoma that had migrated into his lymph system from a small skin lesion.
That day was in early September if I remember correctly. We all attended his services the following January. If you work outdoors visit your dermatologist regularly.
Wally world has an all day moisturizer with sun protection which works on my nose and ears. I took a picture but can't seem to be able to upload it. I discovered this when I ran out of sunscreen and my bride said to try it, because it would be better than nothing for the day. I also use a bandana clipped into the hard hat for the neck, long sleeves etc.
paden cash, post: 422619, member: 20 wrote: The nasty truth about working outdoors....I would venture a guess that anybody spending 15 years or more in the outdoors has some sort of lasting UV effect to their skin or eyes. Some of us have both.
I've used sunscreen, long sleeves, 100% UV glasses and brimmed hats since I was about 45 years old and I still visit my dermatologist bi-annually so he can whittle off the bad spots that pop up occasionally. Working outdoors will eventually push the limit on your genetics. It is a life and death matter. A gentleman that started the first RPLS.com message board, Mark Deal, passed away in 2002 from melanoma related injuries. He was 38. I don't think Mark would mind one bit with me relating his story to you all.
Mark had a small sore on his back that had a hard time healing. His GP examined it and gave him some topical ointment. It eventually healed over. About six months later Mark had been in the field and experienced a great amount of pain that wouldn't go away in his thigh when he stepped out of his pickup. I just happened to be in his office that day when he came in early to stop by the doctor. It was his last day in the field. Examination revealed his femur had fractured by just stepping out of the truck. His bones were weakened by melanoma that had migrated into his lymph system from a small skin lesion.
That day was in early September if I remember correctly. We all attended his services the following January. If you work outdoors visit your dermatologist regularly.
thanks for that reminder
serious stuff
Remember that it is not just your face you need to protect. Ears, neck, arms, hands. All of it. I wear long pants, long sleeved collared shirts and a wide brimmed hat year around. I don't go for sunscreen except on the hottest summer days. It's this time of year, with cool but sunny days, that seem to catch me unawares most.
don't forget the back of your neck.
Chemo Sucks 
paden cash, post: 422619, member: 20 wrote: The nasty truth about working outdoors....I would venture a guess that anybody spending 15 years or more in the outdoors has some sort of lasting UV effect to their skin or eyes. Some of us have both.
I've used sunscreen, long sleeves, 100% UV glasses and brimmed hats since I was about 45 years old and I still visit my dermatologist bi-annually so he can whittle off the bad spots that pop up occasionally. Working outdoors will eventually push the limit on your genetics. It is a life and death matter. A gentleman that started the first RPLS.com message board, Mark Deal, passed away in 2002 from melanoma related injuries. He was 38. I don't think Mark would mind one bit with me relating his story to you all.
Mark had a small sore on his back that had a hard time healing. His GP examined it and gave him some topical ointment. It eventually healed over. About six months later Mark had been in the field and experienced a great amount of pain that wouldn't go away in his thigh when he stepped out of his pickup. I just happened to be in his office that day when he came in early to stop by the doctor. It was his last day in the field. Examination revealed his femur had fractured by just stepping out of the truck. His bones were weakened by melanoma that had migrated into his lymph system from a small skin lesion.
That day was in early September if I remember correctly. We all attended his services the following January. If you work outdoors visit your dermatologist regularly.
This is a very timely post for me. Upon getting home last night, I had a VM to call a friend in New Orleans. It was news that an old friend was in hospice as result of melanoma spread to vital organs. Happened quickly as you state. I was in contact with him last fall about the spring visit that he was planning with his 15 year old son. We talked about getting together with our sons.
Aubry, you would think wouldn't be in this situation by his lifestyle. Distance runner, healthy eater, yoga practitioner. Good friend and hung out, worked together, took paddle trips, softball teammate and even had common girl friends once.
I heard through the grapevine that he was ill about Christmas time. One feels so powerless and lost in the situation.
He was a writer. If you like experimental being rock fiction, his novel that he worked on for decades is very enjoyable. There is even a minor character (milo) loosely based on yours truly here.
So we're off to see our boy play in a soccer tourney today at 12:30.Text him about sunscreen but most likely he'll ignore since teens believe that they will live forever. Yesterday he had two games in the cloudless skies here. Last weekend, he reffed 7 games. He didn't burn but tans a little.
Even swmbo bought a hat in Fl this spring which was against her sense of style.
So I'll have my warmup pants, long sleeve T and Yankee cap and spray myself with sunscreen to watch or find a shade tree.
Robert Hill, post: 422617, member: 378 wrote: If you're fair skinned, reddish or light colored hair then you should pay attention to this post.
Brim hats, long sleeves, collar shirts, sunscreen etc.
Being fair skinned and light coloured hair this is something I have to take seriously from now on. My Celtic skin is not designed for much sunlight.
Totalsurv, post: 422629, member: 8202 wrote: Being fair skinned and light coloured hair this is something I have to take seriously from now on. My Celtic skin is not designed for much sunlight.
My father who was Scottish heritage had red hair. He wasn't the outdoors type being a city kid but when he hit his senior years needed cremes and had some burned off and used a hat and drove with white cotton gloves.
I tried to be aware as an adult but sometimes forgot on sunny days.
When surveying, i wore hats, long sleeve gauge shirts, grew my hair over my ears and neck.
One of my first jobs in the Louisiana sun, there was a red neck crew member who chewed and wore a ball cap.
He was red headed. During the summer, I would watch his ears change brilliant colors. It was kind of strange
I had my first experience of scooping, cutting and burning last year. It drove home how stupid and vane we were as youngsters...
Totalsurv, post: 422629, member: 8202 wrote: Being fair skinned and light coloured hair this is something I have to take seriously from now on. My Celtic skin is not designed for much sunlight.
Although fair-skinned folks probably burn more often than darker skinned, it's all actually a function of a gene (and I'm shooting from memory here) named MC1R mutation that is partially responsible for cleaning up errant cell growth and pigment production. It is worth reading up on.
Mark Mayer, post: 422625, member: 424 wrote: Remember that it is not just your face you need to protect. Ears, neck, arms, hands. All of it. I wear long pants, long sleeved collared shirts and a wide brimmed hat year around. I don't go for sunscreen except on the hottest summer days. It's this time of year, with cool but sunny days, that seem to catch me unawares most.
If your dermatologist doesn't have you strip nekkid for an exam, he's not doing it right, 😉
I am a survivor of melanoma. My dermatologist found it early. I am now five years out so I only see him 3 times year now. If you work outside you NEED to wear sun protection. Hat, sleeves, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc. You won't regret it.
Andy
😎
