By the time summer roles around every year, we (as surfers) are generally so stoked to get some sun on our skin, some warm sand between our toes and a surf session SANS wetsuit, that we fail to remember the exact implications the sun can have on our bodies and skin, especially when we are pasty and white after a long winter indoors and under hoodies and wetsuits.

That initial summer sun burn though can be detrimental to your health, and can be the major cause of you forming skin cancer, which let’s be honest, is not all that cool. Hanging out in the sun for too long means that you get to much UV exposure, which causes DNA damage to your skin, which in turn, causes cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, beating the likes of breast cancer, lung cancer, etc, and what’s sad, is that it’s one of the forms that can be avoided by some simple sun care. Anyone who gets skin cancer, that hasn’t taken precautionary measures in the sun like using suntan cream and protective, clothing, almost deserves it. Unless of course, you are unaware of what it is doing t you, so here is the information you need.

Listen up!

Between 10AM and 4PM, the sun is at its harshest, and thus extra care should be taken. The sun’s rays literally burn your skin, your most outer epidermis, to the degree that your DNA is deformed, which is that start and cause of cancer. And it’s not just the sun that does it, if you think you are doing your body a favor by hitting a tanning bed; think again, they are just as bad. Those of you with moles are also at higher risk, as if you are born with them, or develop them within 6 months of birth, they are considered generically inclined to being cancerous, or to become cancerous. More time in the sun will aggravate them, thus causing them to change in shape and size, and bringing on a hefty case of skin cancer.

How do you know if you have it?

If you do have moles, or moles, you need to keep a close eye on their party life. Seriously, if that mole changes, in anyway, whether it’s the color, shape, size, etc, you need to get it check out. If you find yourself scratching a weird little bump on the surface of your skin, a hard, pearly lump that bleeds and scabs, but never seems to heal, get it checked out. Lastly, if you have a patch of skin that gets rough, itchy and rather red, get it checked out.

Basically, what I have described above are the symptoms of three different types of skin cancer, all very dangerous and horrid to have. They are Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma and melanomas respectively.

What will happen if I do have the above?

You will die. No, that’s a lie; I was just messing with you. Or was I? Skin cancer, although the most common form of cancer is the least harmful. Or should I rather say, the most easily treated. Most cases can be treated with a lesion, or if you want it bluntly, by being cut out. In low risk cases, radiation therapy or cryotherapy (freezing the cancer off) is the best and most efficient form of treatment. In some cases, however, if the tumor or melanoma is too big, or only partially cut out, thus metasized, chemotherapy is necessary.

How can you prevent it?

In reality, I know that as surfers, boarders, skaters, our lifestyles are designed to be outdoors, and thus in the sun, so the cure or prevention is not thus, to get out of the sun’s harmful rays. In fact, there is nothing more frustrating than having non surfers preaching to you the harmful results of too much time in the sun. But, you can take precautionary measures to take better care of your skin, and you can be armed with some useful information about the sun’s rays to throw right back at those shadow living hippies.

Use sunscreen that blocks out UVA and UVB. Just read the label to figure that out before buying it, and make sure it’s about SPF 50. Also, reapply it every two hours and after a surf. If it means coming in mid-session, do it, as believe it or not, water actually heightens the risk of sunburn, as not only do you get direct rays, but reflected rays off the water’s surface too.

Don’t tan. I know this one sucks; we all want to look good, but for the love of your skin, get summer glow body lotion. Rather sit under a brollie, wear a hat and wear sunglasses. A cancerous tumor on your eyeball would be far worse than one on your arm or leg. And think about it, you can’t exactly protect your eyes with sunscreen. Use a sun block of about SPF 50

Recent studies have shown that sunscreen does not protect from melanoma, so if you have a mole, stick a band aid over it if it’s not already covered. A blob of sun screen doesn’t work anymore.

What’s good about it?

Vitamin D is a crucial vitamin to have in your body, and is absorbed through UV rays from the sun. Once absorbed, the body turns it into the vitamin, and uses it for some very important functions. If you do not get enough vitamin D, you’ll get Vit D deficiency, and will have to get treatment and take supplements. Basically, it helps with the body’s function of maintaining the proper balance of calcium and phosphorus to support bone mineralization, thereby promoting strong bones. Without the correct amount, you could be left with weak bones, and if you’re into surfing or any board sport for that matter, weak bones are not what you or your health plan want.

So, sun isn’t all that bad, and as we all know, a part of our lifestyles that we cannot change. Apart from the Vit D you get, you also get a sense of feeling that healthy glow that comes with being tanned, that seems to make you want to eat salads and watermelon. It makes most people happy and smiley, and is generally, far better than being cold and pale in winter. But, please dear girls, read this and take care. Not only is skin cancer a risk, but if you don’t take care now, you’ll look 50 when you’re 30. How long does it take to apply sun screen, and there is nothing wrong with a bit of summer glow body lotion as opposed to getting a chunk of your nose cut off!

Tags: Health, Skincare