Guard against sun's harmful rays

PAULA DEL GIUDICE has been an outdoors freelance writer, author and photographer for 13 years. Her column appears Wednesdays.

NOW THAT the warm weather is here to usher summer in, outdoors recreationists will have all they can handle. Unfortunately, though the sun is nice as a backdrop for boating, fishing, camping, and hiking and climbing, it really can take a toll on your skin.

I should know. Outdoor writers, because they spend such a large amount of time researching articles outdoors, represent a very high risk group for skin cancer.

I have traits that make me high at risk. One is that I'm fair-skinned, making me a higher risk for a sunburn. That contributes to another risk factor: those who were burned badly in the past.

I remember having blistered shoulders as a 16-year-old after spending a day fishing at the Ruby Marshes south of Elko. During my twenties, I can recall being burned badly enough after spending a day at Lake Tahoe that I had to take time off from work.

I also spend a lot of time outdoors, obviously placing me at additional risk. It's easy to see those who tan easily or who spend time in the sun actually "working" on a tan, and think that it looks great.

It's not so easy to forget the statistics about skin cancer.

More than 90 percent of all skin cancers occur on body parts that are exposed to the sun -- the face, neck, ears, forearms and hands.

Sunscreens and sunblocks are formulated to protect those areas. Sunscreens contain chemicals that absorb and filter ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Most of the sun's effect on the skin is caused by a type of ultraviolet radiation called UV-B. UV-A radiation can cause photosensitive skin reactions in people taking certain drugs and may cause cataracts over time.

Most sunscreens are formulated to filter out both types of radiation, but not all. So make sure your sunscreen filters both.

Also use a sunscreen with a high SPF (sun protection factor).

For those who are boating, operating personal water craft or fishing or swimming, use a sunscreen that is water-resistant or waterproof. You still will need to apply the sunscreen often, but being water-resistant or waterproof helps it stay on longer, especially when exposed to water.

You also must apply the sunscreen from 15 to 30 minutes before going into the sun. It takes time for the chemicals to be absorbed into the skin to form some protection.

Application must be liberal to get the full effect. FDA tests that are conducted on sunscreens are done with applications of one-ounce of sunscreen on an adult. Most sunscreen bottles come in four- or six-ounce packages, so judge it yourself. You'll need to use one-quarter of the bottle at each application to gain full effectiveness.

There are other ways to protect yourself. Stay out of the sun during midday when the sun's rays are strongest. Wear protective hats and clothing.

Some companies that make fishing tackle appreciate the fact that anglers don't want the odor and taste of sunscreen on their hands when changing baits and lures. So they've designed special sunscreens for anglers that will not repel fish. Check sporting goods stores for those items.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you should be checked at regular intervals by a dermatologist. You also should check yourself to make sure you don't have any red scaly patches that don't heal, brown or black lumps with irregular edges or small fleshy nodules on the exposed parts of the body.

Don't delay in finding a doctor should something not look right or skin conditions change. Early detection is very important in treating skin cancers.

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