I try each year to write an article about the importance of protecting yourself from the sun’s damaging rays. That applies to any activity that places you in the sun, and fishing is one activity that can account for many hours in the sun. We have had little sun over these last few weeks but even on cloudy days, you need to protect yourself because the sun’s rays penetrate the earth’s clouds.

You might ask yourself why I am such an advocate for wearing protection anytime you are in the sun. I am now a regular at an area dermatologist’s office to treat skin cancers that have come from many years in the sun without adequate protection. 

I grew up at a time when the thing to do was get a tan, so I spent many hours in the sun. No shirt and short pants were the dress code when out in the sun. I remember getting blistered pretty bad a couple of times at the beach. Even as I got older and companies began selling products to protect me from the sun, I still spent many hours in the sun fishing without using protective sprays or clothing. 

I began using sunscreen and a big hat a few years ago, but the damage to my skin had already occurred. Recently, I began those regular visits to the dermatologist to have cancers removed from my hands, arms, face and back. 

I am currently undergoing treatment to remove skin cancer from my face. Too many places for the dermatologist to remove by freezing, so I have to divide my face up into sections and apply a cream that turns the skin very red for a few days and then the skin heals and the skin cancers are peeled away in that section. Then I move on to a new section of my face. Not a pretty sight when going through that process. 

Fortunately, thus far, all my skin cancers have been squamous or basal cell cancers that are not as bad as melanoma cancers of the skin. However, a number of my skin cancers required surgery to remove them. On one occasion, one of the biopsies revealed that I have Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. 

It is now absolutely necessary that I cover up my entire body when I am in the sun. The additional requirements to cover my body from the sun have taken a little getting used to but after a few trips on the water, I have adjusted. I now wear special sun-protecting shirts, pants, gloves, hats and face coverings anytime I go fishing. Also, I use a good sunscreen before I cover my skin with clothing. 

I am writing this annual article to send a message to anglers and for that matter anyone who spends time in the sun. My message is for the young and the old who spend time in the sun. For the younger generation who might think they can handle the sun without protection, I can tell you that the sun damage to your skin will eventually show up down the road. It does not matter if you are fair-skinned or otherwise but especially if you are fair-skinned. 

Many of the things required to protect you from getting different forms of skin cancers are easy to purchase and easy to use. If you decide to choose only one solution for the sun’s dangerous rays, use a good, quality sunscreen that has good SPF (Sun Protection Factor) measure and apply it liberally and reapply it often. Also, wear some type of head covering that hopefully has good UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) protection.

SPF is used to measure the effectiveness of sunscreens and UPF is used to measure the effectiveness of the fabrics you wear. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will protect your skin for 150 minutes. Without sunscreen, your skin is only protected for ten minutes. Sunscreens only provide UVB radiation protection.

A fabric with a UPF rating of 50 blocks out 98% of the UV (ultraviolet) rays when worn. Hats, shirts, pants, gloves and facial coverings are now manufactured to protect from the sun. Those fabrics provide both UVA and UVB radiation protection. UVA and UVB radiation will penetrate regular clothing. When absorbed by the skin UV radiation can cause genetic mutations in our skin cells that could cause cancer over time.

UVA and UVB radiations are the leading cause of squamous cell and basal cell cancers. They may also be a possible contributor for melanoma which is a deadly form of cancer. The bottom line is you need to protect your skin from the sun and the only way to do that is either avoid the sun entirely (not recommended) or use sunscreen and specifically constructed fabrics that protect you from the sun. 

Damage to skin from the sun can come year-round and even in cloudy conditions. Time spent in the sun can become costly to your skin if you do not protect yourself from harmful UV rays. Good fishing and see you next week.