Protection against the sun

[iriejohn]

Hi ! I had a specialist who told me yesterday I had a pre skin cancer on my face...

Be aware that many skin clinics sell expensive chemical treatments for "pre cancer" skin conditions. We all have "pre cancer" skin. You might want to check with a real doctor. Be careful you aren't falling for a sales pitch. Just a thought..

I don't mean to belittle the issue and I certainly take precautions myself.. sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, and avoiding sunshine whenever possible.

Early Bird2 above said " I had a pre skin cancer on my face...". This is not the same as what you call ""pre cancer" skin".

[Da Yoda]

Hi ! I had a specialist who told me yesterday I had a pre skin cancer on my face...

Be aware that many skin clinics sell expensive chemical treatments for "pre cancer" skin conditions. We all have "pre cancer" skin. You might want to check with a real doctor. Be careful you aren't falling for a sales pitch. Just a thought..

I don't mean to belittle the issue and I certainly take precautions myself.. sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, and avoiding sunshine whenever possible.

Early Bird2 above said " I had a pre skin cancer on my face...". This is not the same as what you call ""pre cancer" skin".

+1
I currently have Actinic Keratosis. My dermatologist (a specialist medical doctor, not a skin clinic) confirmed my pre cancer.
Actinic Keratosis (A. Cheilitis - lips) and Bowen's Disease are the two forms of true "pre cancer" skin. In the US, prescription based treatment is affordable and proven effective.

[Kamikuza]

Well, am glad you have decided what has been finalized about all these 'questions' and is no longer up for debate. The 'real' science' has spoken and , of course, will never be open to re-assessment again so why talk about it. All I was asking was
Have there been any well done long term studies published? Sorry I asked. I'm out if this silliness.

How long is long term enough for you to show your unknown effects?

How the stuff in sun screens work is pretty well understood. It's been around for a while and there's no mystery illnesses or side effects, except in the advertising materials of those scumbags pushing their own products and demanding the "competition" prove a negative.

[Bushflyr]

scumbags pushing their own products and demanding the "competition" prove a negative.

It's all just a "theory," man.

[coffeeking]

What is "our" - which country ?

I use sunscreen here in Denmark, it is needed in the summer here at 56° latitude.
PF

Scotland. 99 days out of 100 there's 100% cloud cover. I've used sunscreen on 2 days in the last 8 years here and never once needed more.
Certainly would elsewhere, but I'm also not a fan of complete cover-up, controversially my dermo encourages me to head out in the sun but be vigilant. Sun isn't the enemy, excessive sun is.

[Nem0]

I stand by my previous assertion that claiming sunscreens are more dangerous than sunburns...

In my point of view the discussion went wrong...
Sunburns never were an option!!!
But if I have the joice to wear clothes I would prefere this before using sunscreen. If it's not clear what's happening in the future this is the best way for me.

Btw. I don't like the sticky feeling of sunscreen on my skin!

[PullStrings]

Yes put some type clothing with SPF protection over head,face,upper body,arms if going to be out when high UV index...if you dislike sunscreen
We put sunglasses in front of our eyes and surrounding area to protect against UV cumulative effect
Many of us wear soft contact lenses that have UV blocking properties....combine that with shades and its a great combo
Most people who have spent a lot of time outdoors in the strong sun unprotected when they were younger...possibly by age 18 the UV damage can be already up to 80%...eyes...skin
Later on in life problems can appear from what we have done a long time ago

[early bird2]

I begun the treatment with efudex 10 days ago , this is not that bad . Cream twice a day for 14 days , then 2 weeks off and then another 2 weeks to complete the treatment .
So far part of the forehead and face become red almost bleeding . It does not burn but it is itching a little . Can't stand the sun even for 2 minutes walking from my car to the food store .
I bought a full face Gath helmet along with three differents lenses colors . Each is 98 percent UV .
Also bought differents sweaters , hats , and a half face mask . I used the gath this morning , tough to get use to the lens but I think the lost of the perception of the wind in my ears is the worst part .
65 percent uv sunblock .
Thanks again everybody for your experiences and tips . Good wind to you guys .

[Windstoked]

Why hasn't anyone stated the obvious we all learned when we were kids: the best protection against the sun is a good tan.
Studies have shown that it isn't sun that's worst for skin, it's bad sunburns. In the good old days before sunscreen, we used to get plenty of sun starting in March/April, and by the time summer came we had good tans and rarely got bad burns.
Nowadays, people obsessively use sunscreen that prevents even a mild tan, and then they forget to use it one time or miss a spot and get fried. That's the worst thing possible.

[early bird2]

This is probably what I did and now the result shows me I was wrong .
There are differents skins types , so I might have a more sensitive one than others . Everything was fine so far but it came all of a sudden . Accumulation appears suddenly with age and from this moment we have to stay in the shade . Our skin could not take anymore . Body talking to you .I have been working my entire life outside as a linesmen , so basically I had a tan all year long , but even with this tan I came home once in a while reddish through my tan ...
Anyway I don't think my case is that bad from what I have been told from the skin specialist . It only made me realised that time is arrived to take good care if I don't want it to turn very bad . I have spent my entire life outdoors and I'd like to keep doing it till the end ....