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When we fish from our kayaks, we are fully exposed to the sun. Many of us wear sunglasses and hats, but I frequently see kayakers with shorts or bathing suits and short sleeve shirts. Feet are often left uncovered or with sandals.
As great as it is to be on the water on a sunny day, solar radiation is not our friend over the long haul. Yesterday I had my third patch of basal cell carcinoma removed. This was a tiny spot on the side of my nose. The dermatologist removed a chunk of flesh with a size between a pea and a marble. The wound was stitched and will take some time to heal, keeping me off the water for a week or so.
Last year I began going to full sun protection mode. I wear long fishing pants, long-sleeve fishing shirts, a buff, and hat with long front brim and neck flaps, shoes, and sun gloves. This looks goofy and is not particularly comfortable to wear on very hot days. But I do feel safer now. However, sun exposure is cumulative over a lifetime. When I was a kid we ran around with shorts and no shirts and did not bother with sunscreen. I spent many summer afternoons at the swimming pool with no sunscreen. Decades later, my skin is showing the effects.
My advice to those of us who spend a lot of time in the sun is to cover up what you can and use good quality sunscreen on the other body parts. Sunscreen and hot clothing are not fun, but having chunks of your body cut away is even less fun.
As great as it is to be on the water on a sunny day, solar radiation is not our friend over the long haul. Yesterday I had my third patch of basal cell carcinoma removed. This was a tiny spot on the side of my nose. The dermatologist removed a chunk of flesh with a size between a pea and a marble. The wound was stitched and will take some time to heal, keeping me off the water for a week or so.
Last year I began going to full sun protection mode. I wear long fishing pants, long-sleeve fishing shirts, a buff, and hat with long front brim and neck flaps, shoes, and sun gloves. This looks goofy and is not particularly comfortable to wear on very hot days. But I do feel safer now. However, sun exposure is cumulative over a lifetime. When I was a kid we ran around with shorts and no shirts and did not bother with sunscreen. I spent many summer afternoons at the swimming pool with no sunscreen. Decades later, my skin is showing the effects.
My advice to those of us who spend a lot of time in the sun is to cover up what you can and use good quality sunscreen on the other body parts. Sunscreen and hot clothing are not fun, but having chunks of your body cut away is even less fun.
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