Chris NewbyFraser Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 As outdoor sports enthusiasts, we spend a great deal of time in the sun. When this is added to our habit of working in gardens, watching outdoor rugby and cricket, maybe doing water sports, sun bathing etc, the amount of direct and reflected sun we receive becomes enormous. Now add to this mix a further dollop of sun through your car's side window and the recipe becomes ideal for the development of skin cancer. Hopefully is starts and remains as Solar Keratosis which is treatable. But... it still causes massive damage. I am currently treating a face and arms full of Keratoses. After trying to treat the individual lesions with freezing and a few surgical procedures, a GP eventually admitted defeat and sent me to a specialist. The man was horrified and put me on a nasty programme of skin absorbed chemicals. It's not pleasant and when I go out in public I scare the kids. My arms come next........... what more? Most of the damage is on the right side of my face and particularly the area around the ear and temple. Why? Because I have spent a life of work in my car, travelling much in the last 40 years. The sun has fried the right side of my face on a daily basis. I have ridden a bike for 55 years and I lived in the sun as a country kid. I now face the risk of full on skin cancer. Of interest is that, on any place on my scalp that is not covered by thick hair, the Keratosis has developed. So, I need to ask forum members to please use sunscreen, wear wide brim hats (those American style peaked hats only cover your nose, not the temples). If you have short trimmed (buzz cut) hair, be aware that the sun will target your scalp - through the helmet vent holes. Take precautions, regardless of your age and level of perceived impunity. I always felt I was in control. Now, at sixty, I must fight for my health because of my ignorance and arrogance in earlier years. Don't let this be the future for your kids. Cheers Chris Newby-Fraser
Sepia Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Too late for tears my side. I have given up. Too much dingy sailing, keel boats, canoeing and cycling in the days before sunscreen was invented. I kid you not. We all felt invincible in Speedo's!
MrJacques Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 One of the reasons I wear a bandanna under my helmet (also wicks away sweat) is because I don't have much hair left on my head. Had a helmet tan before as well with the vent hole pattern, but the bandanna prevents that. Tinting your car windows will help stop the uv if you drive a lot.
Eldron Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Those of us that shave our heads are particularly paranoid about sun and sun screen. Good advice above!
JXV Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Was surprised about the car window issue. I'm not medically trained and I also have no connection to window film business but these films seem like a good idea. Reading up a bit it seems:1. the laminating film in between the glass layers of your front windscreen provides quite good protection from UVA and UVB.2. The normal glass in car side windows blocks much of the UVB but not much UVA. UVA is v.bad for skin. 3. Solar protection window films that block 90 to 99% of UVA/UVB are available. Even totally clear films can give high UVA/UVB protection. So its a good idea to fit film on side windows. Cycling of course is another matter. Gonna be more diligent with the sunscreen from now on
V12man Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Sunblock is mandatory for riding after dawn.... Every race should put the stuff in goodie bags.... Odd you mention this today - tomorrow is my day for having bits burned/chopped off...
BarHugger Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 The ears, especially the tips, also need protection. Seen so many people applying sunblock to the face and wearing a cap (golfers). Skin cancer on the ear is a serious problem as it can easily affect the ear cartilage just underneath..........need to have it cut out.......and then you can boast that you had a few rounds with Mike Tyson.
Chris NewbyFraser Posted October 16, 2014 Author Posted October 16, 2014 Sunblock is mandatory for riding after dawn.... Every race should put the stuff in goodie bags.... Odd you mention this today - tomorrow is my day for having bits burned/chopped off... Enjoy the pain. But chat to your vet about Efudix. This is an ointment used on an area greater then the visible problem. Turns out the crusty bits the vet burns off is only a small part of the greater problem - been doing that twice a year for 15 years. Since I started the Efudix treatment large areas of Keratosis have come to light. Some pain and a more than usually fugly face involved but apparently I will be a whole heap better after after 6 weeks.
V12man Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Enjoy the pain. But chat to your vet about Efudix. This is an ointment used on an area greater then the visible problem. Turns out the crusty bits the vet burns off is only a small part of the greater problem - been doing that twice a year for 15 years. Since I started the Efudix treatment large areas of Keratosis have come to light. Some pain and a more than usually fugly face involved but apparently I will be a whole heap better after after 6 weeks.Thanks - I have a couple of bits I suspect are not simple Keratosis.. might be wrong, but I doubt it... On the other hand, there are a few simple ones too... have to wait and see...
Plentipotential Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Nasty stuff Efudix. Made the fatal mistake of telling my GP what I thought of the medical profession before he took out the liquid nitrogen and am now trying to get over these.
V12man Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Nasty stuff Efudix. Made the fatal mistake of telling my GP what I thought of the medical profession before he took out the liquid nitrogen and am now trying to get over these.Cover them with superglue
johannrissik Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Good thread, I sometimes wonder if we should be wearing sunhats instead of helmets? (OK, OK, don't shoot Can anyone give me the name of a good dermatologist in PE?
arendoog Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 As outdoor sports enthusiasts, we spend a great deal of time in the sun. When this is added to our habit of working in gardens, watching outdoor rugby and cricket, maybe doing water sports, sun bathing etc, the amount of direct and reflected sun we receive becomes enormous. Now add to this mix a further dollop of sun through your car's side window and the recipe becomes ideal for the development of skin cancer. Hopefully is starts and remains as Solar Keratosis which is treatable. But... it still causes massive damage. I am currently treating a face and arms full of Keratoses. After trying to treat the individual lesions with freezing and a few surgical procedures, a GP eventually admitted defeat and sent me to a specialist. The man was horrified and put me on a nasty programme of skin absorbed chemicals. It's not pleasant and when I go out in public I scare the kids. My arms come next........... what more? Most of the damage is on the right side of my face and particularly the area around the ear and temple. Why? Because I have spent a life of work in my car, travelling much in the last 40 years. The sun has fried the right side of my face on a daily basis. I have ridden a bike for 55 years and I lived in the sun as a country kid. I now face the risk of full on skin cancer. Of interest is that, on any place on my scalp that is not covered by thick hair, the Keratosis has developed. So, I need to ask forum members to please use sunscreen, wear wide brim hats (those American style peaked hats only cover your nose, not the temples). If you have short trimmed (buzz cut) hair, be aware that the sun will target your scalp - through the helmet vent holes. Take precautions, regardless of your age and level of perceived impunity. I always felt I was in control. Now, at sixty, I must fight for my health because of my ignorance and arrogance in earlier years. Don't let this be the future for your kids. Cheers Chris Newby-FraserThe easiest way to recognize another Saffa at the airport is to look for the white people with most damaged skin .I see these people on a daily basis ,presenting with skin cancer at age 45 +.In Australia children are not allowed on some beaches without sun protection full costumes and hats
Latent_Blue Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Sunblock is mandatory for riding after dawn.... Every race should put the stuff in goodie bags.... Odd you mention this today - tomorrow is my day for having bits burned/chopped off... I work in an office and i put on sunscreen every day!!! (I see to many skin carcinomas to do otherwise)
V12man Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 Good thread, I sometimes wonder if we should be wearing sunhats instead of helmets? (OK, OK, don't shoot Can anyone give me the name of a good dermatologist in PE?derrick Odendaal - neoderm clinic
V12man Posted October 17, 2014 Posted October 17, 2014 Thanks - I have a couple of bits I suspect are not simple Keratosis.. might be wrong, but I doubt it... On the other hand, there are a few simple ones too... have to wait and see...So - in case anyone is interested - about 10 small spots cold burned off, and 1 of the 2 bits I was worried about taken out with a scalpel (and a biggish chunk of surrounding skin) - and sent off to the lab - the other one he was not concerned about... So mostly good news - have to wait and see on the lab results - take a few days.
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