A cautionary Tale-recommending sun block

[bikercolin]

As it's the first really nice spring Sunday in the Midlands I thought I would share what I happened to me last year.
I have always worn sun cream and thought I was sensible when out doors. However a year ago I developed a freckle with a dark centre on my Jaw line. I was referred to my local Hospital for a biopsy.
Following this diagnosis with Lentigo Maligna which was then removed and sent for further biopsy.
This resulted in two further operations the final one with general anaesthetic and skin grafts over a wound 10cm in circumference and 5mm deep. Reaching up onto my cheek and down round my Jaw. Final diagnosis Malignant Melonoma a metastatic Cancer with me now facing five years of follow up appointments.

Firstly cover up and use good quality sun block certainly SPF 30+, and cover all exposed areas. Secondly the Oncologist told me he was seeing far more Cyclists these days he thought anecdotally second only to sun bed users in younger age groups
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfor ... anoma.aspx

[Audax67]

Friend of mine now rides in long sleeves all year round after a very unpleasant couple of months waiting for bad news (which was good in the end). Nonetheless I don't use anything, mostly because sweat plus sunblock makes a horrible paste that gets onto glasses etc and is a messy pain.

I ought to, though.

[Tangled Metal]

Can i recommend Reiter p20 sun cream. It's an "all day" cream, more realistically up to 8 hours. You put it on half hour before going out to bind to the skin or something but that's to get the protection. It comes in spf 20, 30, 40 and 50+ IIRC. I know of people who use that as a base with spf 50 normal lotion over the top. They've got a skin deficiency that means they've got lower protection levels so they know what is best.

I've used their spf 20 and 30 for a few years now.

The other thing I find helps with burning is to get out as much as possible early on in spring. Even on those warm February or March days you can get the beginnings of a light tan. I find I don't burn that early but a little colour to the skin seems to prevent me burning later on when the sun is a lot stronger. I still use the p20 stuff but I never top up but I don't burn and I've so far been mole free. My grandad did get a really bad malignant mole so I'm still cautious. BTW always and I mean always get any mole that starts to rapidly change checked out. If it grows, change colour or form suddenly or bleeds check it out. If your gp says it's OK without getting it checked out then if you have doubts or worries get someone else to see it. Skin.cancer does take lives in this country. GPS are not infallible and even if they're right and it is safe the doctors do not talk to you about it. They send you off saying it's ok but not what to look for or what constitutes significant change and to come back. You do have the right to question them. I know they're under pressure with just 10 or 15 minutes per consult but it is important to get things right and understood by the patient.

Sorry, rant over. I respect general practitioners but I know too many cases of failings. I believe in the patient needs to know enough to manage their health and to get the most from the gp.

[wirral_cyclist]

I wear long sleeves all year round because I don't like putting cream on my arms - way too much mess and all the little thunderflies wiggling in a sweaty/oily film <shudder>

[rualexander]

Conversely, many people in Australia are now suffering the effects of vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun exposure following the 'slip,slap,slop' campaigns of the past couple of decades encouraging people to avoid the sun.
The result is higher levels of osteoporosis and other conditions.

[bikercolin]

Thanks for replies Tangled Metal-It was only persistence at the GP that got me to a Dermatologist. My GP gave me anti fungal cream on two occasions over a 5 month period before referring on to a specialist. From there to three ops and discharge was around 10 weeks. My GP did say he was surprised at the biopsy findings though?

[bikercolin]

Conversely Vitamin D suplelements around £3 come in a bit cheaper than a cure for Cancer.

[sm500]

Human nature is a strange thing. I am stunned by how how people are with the attitude i am ok it will not get me.
.. I bet if they were faced with the doctors, tests, being told it is cancer.
i am sorry, says the doctor, but there is nothing we can do for you except chemo.. Come on guys common sense.
Cancer is a killer.

[go4it]

Re Tangled M
Taking your advice as I am off to Sunny Spain, I googled without luck your reccommendation of Reiters Sun Cream to no avail.Instead I have opted for Riemanns, as it is a once-a-day application with good water resistance properties, can be bought in Super Drug but I opted for Amazon.
I sympathise with Wirral Rider (especially around Parkgate in summer) re bugs and such attracted to the cream..but a small price to pay.

[gerrymcm]

This is the P20 link.
http://www.p20.co.uk

Have used it myself extensively in the past as I traditional oils/ lotions, once this has been applied it's invisible.
You need to be methodical during application to ensure even coverage.
Gerry

[horizon]

1. Sunshine causes skin cancer.
2. Cancer is a killer.
3. Sun cream protects the skin against cancer.
4. Come on guys common sense.

sm500: I've put in two extra lines (1 and 3) which I thought were missing from your post. I don't necessarily agree with either of them but your post IMV doesn't make sense without them.

[Tangled Metal]

Sorry I meant the riemanns, I got the name wrong. Can be found with spf 50+ version for those extremely sun.wary.

TBH with my family history I've accepted cancer will get me. Sun related skin cancer is not my worry though. I'm aware of what to look for, use lotion of 20+ spf and cover up in preference. I also find i doubt really burn but tan. That doesn't mean much but there's no really family.history of skin.cancer but a lot in one other type.

Isn't vit d metabolized not absorbed in a useful way? Thought it could only be utilized if created with use of sunlight? Old ways still the only way...need Sun exposure. All this reaching for supplements we have in the modern age is guff. You only need help if your diet sucks and in that case change your diet not pop pills and prop up the fairly unregulated supplements business.

[Bonefishblues]

Just on this theme it's not necessarily the SPF of your suncream - providing it's at least 15 (93% of uvb blocked, SPF 30 is 97% and 50 is 98% - logarithmic scale, note) it is good enough for all but the very fairest.

What matters is how well (and often) it's applied. Many people apply way less than is needed and effectively end up with SPF 5...

I spend a whole week in the Tropics fishing in the very harshest marine conditions and come back with a light tan on those bits that are exposed, much to the confusion of friends and colleagues

[Cyril Haearn]

If one wears long sleeves, two layers, floppy hat, may one do without suncream?

[bikercolin]

Thanks for all the replays on this thread.
I'm just back from my Oncology check up,in remission following more treatment, after my initial post. The waiting room today contained patients from late tean age years up to Octoganeirians. All with Cancer related skin conditions.
Also another club cyclist I know from Audax.
I can't stress enough how uncomfortable and unseatling being treated for skin Cancer is.

There is plenty of good advice around though.

https://www.shponline.co.uk/the-hidden- ... un-creams/
https://www.nhs.uk/video/pages/how-to-a ... creen.aspx