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Be Careful, Boaters: Don't Let the Sun Get the Best of You

July 08, 2008 - Here's a topic that no one really likes to talk about, or even think about, yet it's something every boater should consider: ways to prevent sun damage.

Chances are if you haven't had a skin cancer scare yourself, you know someone who has. They've been sent off to a dermatologist to have something looked at, removed and tested. Some were lucky enough to learn that the abnormality was benign; others have had the diagnosis that no one wants to hear.

So for the second week in a row, I'm going to sound like a mother hen. But I'm doing it anyway, out of concern for my fellow boaters. Please protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.

I consider today's young people to be incredibly lucky. There's a huge amount of information about skin cancer out there, and armed with that knowledge, they can keep from putting themselves at risk. I have yet to personally experience the skin cancer scare, but with my fair skin, freckles and relative lack of sun sense in my youth, I wouldn't be surprised if it crept up on me. If I knew at age 18 what I know now, I'd have been a lot more careful.

Along with information, there is also large array of products -- from sunscreen to protective clothing -- that people can use to defend against skin cancer and other sun damage.

First, the sunscreen. Gone are the days that people have to put up with the thick, oily, slippery, pore-clogging concoctions, and no one has to walk around smelling like a pina colada or the Coppertone girl.

Take a stroll down the sunscreen aisle at your local pharmacy and you'll find a broad range of varieties suitable for every imaginable activity. If you don't like oily, there are many water- and alcohol-based products to choose from. It you're engaged in active sports, there are sunscreens for that, too (I favor Coppertone Sport). There are water-resistant products that will hold up better through sweating or swimming (though you should still re-apply after swimming or active sports per product instructions). There are products specially formulated for more sensitive facial skin, and for children.

The most important thing to look for when buying sunscreen, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation: broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Use products with a Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, of at least 15. And if a product bears the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Approval, it meets the highest standards for safety and effectiveness.

The answer to how much sunscreen to apply is as close as your liquor cabinet. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you use the amount that would fit in a shot glass -- any less and you are compromising its efficacy.

But sun protection goes way beyond sunscreen. Tightly woven shorts and wide-brimmed hats are also good tools for the arsenal. Many retailers now offer clothing with the same kind of ratings that you see on sunscreen bottles. I've found that on certain hot, sunny days, I'm actually more comfortable wearing lightweight clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating of 40.

Topping it all off, so to speak, is the wide-brimmed hat with the similar UPF rating. Mine may not be the most stylish one out there, but it keeps my head cool and offers additional protection for my ears and neck beyond the sunscreen I've already applied.

Finally, don't forget your eyes. Opinions on sunglasses vary greatly -- some people insist on $200 Ray Bans; others settle for a $20 pair off the rack at the local pharmacy or department store. Others, like me, land somewhere in the middle.

Experts say the most important thing to look for when buying sunglasses is to make sure they are labeled for 99 to 100 percent UV protection. Sunglasses without such protection can do more harm than good. You don't have to pay a fortune for high levels of UV protection, but the superior lens coatings and minimal distortion you get with certain high-end glasses may be worth the extra boat buck. Pick a style that fits properly and minimizes the amount of sunlight that can sneak in from the sides. This is one of the reasons wrap styles have become so popular (in addition to the "cool" factor).

The bonus with sunglasses is that they counteract the geek effect that comes with the wide-brimmed hat. Fortunately, at my age, I tend to leave my vanity on shore -- the geek effect is no longer relevant.

More information about lowering your risk for skin cancer can be found at www.skincancer.org. Heed the advice and you will feel -- and look -- better in the long run.

GAIL RICE, Portland Press Herald, July 6, 2008

Gail Rice of Freeport and her husband, Randy, race and cruise their Pearson 30 sloop on Casco Bay.


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