Sailing, Sun, and Skin Cancer

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Gary Wyngarden

I just finished reading the Newsweek cover story on skin cancer. Among their recommendations is staying out of the sun between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM--not very practical for us sailor types. What do you use to protect yourself--broad brimmed hat, spf 30 sun block, long sleeved shirts, biminis? Any good ideas out there? Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
 
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bill walton

sunblock

Down here I use SPF50 for reflected sun and the bimini, outside I wear a big strawhat, and a long sleeve sun block shirt.
 
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Ron Parkes

A Lot Of Things

As a skin cancer patient/survivor, I have taken several steps. 1) I bought and commissioned Contemplation with full bimini, dodger, and connector which keeps off the direct sun during the middle of the day and only lets it in in early morning or late afternoon. 2) I bought myself a wide brimmed "Tilley" hat which my XO makes me wear religiously. 3) As I go out the channel into the ICW, I put on copious amounts of SPF 30 sunscreen. Ron Parkes s/v Contemplation H320
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
According to what I read.....

SPF 15 is actually the max. protection that you need. It is "suppose" to be total block. My observations are as follows: If you put SPF 15 on several times a day, you are fine. When you start using the higher SPF's they are no more effective other than the fact they are typically thicker and do not sweat off as easily. Consequently, they do not need to be applied as often. The real key when applying sunscreen is to make sure that you have applied enough. If you have been swimming or sweating then you will probably need to reapply it. I personally like Bullfrog. It goes on easy and seems to do a good job. They also have a quick dry version of Bullfrog that works good on the face. It does not seem to run off your face when you sweat. Wear a hat, good sunglasses (because your eyes burn too) and plenty of sunscreen applied several times a day. Sometimes wearing a light weight long sleeved shirt can actually be cooler than than bare skin. You will perspire on the clothing and get an evaportive cooling effect as the wind blows.
 
Apr 19, 1999
1,670
Pearson Wanderer Titusville, Florida
How to avoid being a crispy critter

When I was growing up in Jamaica, NOBODY went out in the sun between 10 am and 2 pm unless they absolutely had to. We used to cross the street just to stay in the shade. Many tourists from temperate climates think that the West Indians they see hanging out at midday in the shade under trees are lazy. Wrong! They're being smart. Who do you think invented the line about mad dogs and Englishmen going out in the noonday sun? When sailing in the middle of the day, I wear Bullfrog, good sunglasses and a Tilley hat. T-shirts and shorts are OK for a day sail, but several days in a row require a light, long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Peter H23 "Raven"
 
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Tom Wootton

Hypoallergenic Sunscreen?

My wife has many allergies (including nearly all fragrances) and has so far been unable to find a truly hypoallergenic, fragrance-free sunscreen. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
 
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Kenneth Pfaff

Hat, and Bimini

Since having 2 spots of Basel Cell Skin Cancer removed from my scalp 2 years ago I am much more careful about exposure to the sun. I now always where a hat and have had a bimini on my last two boats. But your exposure could have been from when you were a kid playing on the beach 40 years ago. But even so I try to be more careful. Even with all that I am having outpatient surgury on Tuesday to remove a small spot of Basel Cell Cancer off of my neck. It pays to take care.
 
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Jerry Lindhorst

Stay out of the sun you fair skin sailors

I just experienced serious skin cancer surgery on my shoulder and in the middle of my back. I also had surgery on my forehead. No fun! I must go every six months for examinations. My recommendations are 30-screen (water sports version) on your body, face, ears, neck, arms, hands, and legs, even if wearing a shirt and shorts and duck under your bimini from 10 to 4. It's not worth it to lounge in the sun all day no matter how dark your skin may be. I prefer the bimini to a hat.
 
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R

sun

I have a strange way of thinking but what about all of us who as I did went through years in the marines during the the korean and in the korean war,actually any branch of the armed service in any war,we went through hours and days of training in boot camp,infantry training etc and the government never gave us any protective junk.I think general exposure to the sun will effect a person no matter what you smear on your puss. To me it is just a good way to make money on us credit card dupps.It is the same way with cancer,whatever you do wrong that is where it is going to get you first,but if you do no wrong you are going to get it anyway but two week later MCBUBBA720@AOL.COM
 
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David Foster

Sunscreen, hat, long-sleeved, shirt, glasses

One way or another, I pretty much cover up. We got a half dozen long-sleeved white t-shirts at a sale last year. The only problem is that it is hot on a calm, humid, hot summer day. The next step is a bimini! We sometimes rig a tarp no. David Lady Lillie
 
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catalina owner

http://www.lasercenterofvirginia.com/

for the best recomendations on sunscreen for general use or for hypo sensitive issues I would trust no one other than Dr. McDaniel he can be contacted through his center' web site.
 
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Larry

Bullfrog sunscreen

I have a standing rule on my boat; no Bullfrog! Its waterproofness makes it very hard to get off the gel coat, leaving an ugly brown stain that takes FSR to get off. Another rule is, you spill your red wine, you clean it up, including the stain it leaves.
 
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