To Your Health: Slather on the sunscreen before you leave the dock

By Melissa Waterman

It’s the start of another Maine summer. The roars of lawn mowers echo throughout the land as sunshine-starved Mainers break out the grills and get ready to soak up some rays.

This is exactly what you do not want to have happen to your skin. Cleveland Clinic photo.

Lobstermen are always soaking up rays, of course. The sun beams down from above in summer and winter. Those rays then bounce up from the water’s surface into your face. A long day hauling can really do a number on skin and eyes. That’s why making a habit of using the proper sunscreen (and proper sunglasses) is so important as the season gets underway.

Sunshine is made up of multiple wavelengths of light. Two in particular can cause harm to your skin. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays penetrate deeply into the skin. They cause wrinkles, leathery skin and age spots over time. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays do not go as deeply. Instead they are the main cause of painful sunburn.

Consistent use of sunscreen can protect your skin against both. Why is that important? Because sunlight is radiation. Radiation can cause harm to the DNA in skin cells. Damaged DNA can lead to skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., with over 5 million people treated annually, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. An estimated 1 in 5 Americans will develop it by age 70. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined.

There are two types of sunscreen that can protect your skin. Chemical Sunscreens use ingredients that sink into the top layer of skin where they absorb UV rays, turning the rays into heat before they can damage cells. Mineral Sunscreens contain ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that sit on the skin’s surface and reflect UV rays away.

For sunscreen to work, though, it must be applied correctly, and that’s where many people fall short.

Dermatologists say that it’s very important to apply a thick layer of sunscreen well before you go out in the sun. If you are working outdoors on a daily basis, you should go through an 8-ounce bottle of sunscreen in approximately two weeks.

Because most people apply too little sunscreen, dermatologists recommend using a higher SPF sunscreen in order to get adequate protection.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

The SPF number indicates how long it might take you to get a sunburn after applying sunscreen versus not wearing any at all. So, if you can be in the sun for 10 minutes without any sunscreen on and not get sunburned, then a sunscreen lotion with SPF30 will multiply that time by 30. Slather on SPF30 and you can be out in the sun for 300 minutes without burning.

Sunscreen manufacturers emphasize, however, that any given period of time is only an estimate. Everybody has different skin. Plus factors like the weather and the directness of the sun’s beams come into play as well.

Regular sunscreen use is essential for reducing the risk of skin cancer, lowering melanoma risk by 50% and squamous cell carcinoma by 40% over time. That means every lobsterman should wear sunscreen whenever they go out on the water, whether it’s a broiling day in July or an overcast day in April or October. Do it for yourself and for your family.

Important Tips About Sunscreen

Broad Spectrum: Always choose a “broad spectrum” product to protect against both UVA aging and skin cancer and UVB sunburn rays.

SPF Level: Use at least SPF 30 daily, as recommended by dermatologists.

Application: Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating.

Protection level:

SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays

SPF 30 blocks about 97%

SPF 50 blocks about 98%

SPF 100 blocks about 100%