When we learn to fish, we are taught to be careful
with the hook, watch where we are casting, and when boating, always
use a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Unfortunately, most of us are
not taught to use sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. As a matter of
fact, if you were like me when I was little, my parents would put suntan
oil on me and send me outside. Now my ears have permanent damage as
a result of the sun exposure I experienced as a child.
Non-melanoma skin cancer, according to the American
Cancer Society (ACS), usually occurs in either basal cells or squamous
cells, which are located at the base of the outer layer of the skin
or cover the internal and external surfaces of the body. Where as melanoma
skin cancer begins in the cells that produce the skin coloring or pigment
known as melanin. Melanin helps protect the deeper layers of the skin
from the harmful effects of the sun.
According to the latest statistics from the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), skin cancer is the most common of all cancers in the United
States. More than one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are
found in this country each year according to ACS. The regrettable part
of these statistics is that skin cancer is preventable. Exposure to
the sun’s ultraviolet rays is said to be the most significant
factor in the cause of skin cancers yet 70 percent of American adults
do not use sun-protection measures.
Simply by using a sunscreen with a sun protection
factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, like Blue Lizard Sun Cream, to help protect
your skin from prolonged exposure to the sun, you can quite possibly
prevent the occurrence of skin cancer. Even on overcast or hazy days,
the ACS suggests using sunscreen as a preventive measure. With that
in mind, Blue Lizard Sun Cream is packaged in a container that turns
blue when UVA rays are present reminding us that there is a risk of
over exposure to the suns rays. I keep mine in my cup holder on the
boat so I can always tell when protection is needed.
Being outdoors a lot, I am pleased to have a found
a sunscreen that offers a full spectrum of protection. Blue Lizard
Sun Cream is very water resistant retaining an SPF of 32 after spending
240 minutes in a whirlpool.
Additional safety measures that should be practiced
when participating in an outdoor activity such as fishing are: avoid
the sun during midday, seek shade and practice the shadow rule (if
your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their
strongest), cover up with protective clothing, wear a hat and wear
sunglasses with 99-100 percent UV absorption.
If we practice sun safety, we can continue to enjoy
fishing for years to come without the concern of developing skin cancer
later in life. We should also teach sun safety to our children to reduce
their risk of developing skin cancer. Make it a habit or part of your
routine when getting ready for your fishing trip. Just as you habitually
put on a PDF when out on a boat, take a few minutes and apply Blue
Lizard Sun Cream.
Jim Marsh
Tournament Angler
H.O.O.K. Inc.
