Right. After years of a lifestyle in the sun, I keep an annual appointment with the dermatologist. I have had basal cell frozen off - one was surgically removed by plastic surgeon couple of years ago......it was very small but it was on my face. I just keep an eye on my skin and any changes and make sure I make get into the Dr. if I have any doubt. I don't "lay" in the sun anymore but I continue to enjoy swimming, boating, sitting under a palm tree on the beach reading a book........and I keep lathered up with the water-proof 30+ from the time I rise from my bed in the morning until the sun goes down. I always wear a hat and UV-whatever sun glasses (I have hazel eyes) and so what if I have that "racoon" look. I do what I can to protect myself against the ill effects of the sun and enjoy my life.

I have been going to the beach for many years now, about 5years ago we were on ocracoke island NC, and my husband said to me you have something black on your upper lip and he tried to wipe it off and he said I'm not sure what it is go look in the mirror....to my surprise it was sun damage...i was only 32, that wasn't suppose to happen for awhile yet...ha ha wishful thinking. I love the sun and the beach but I'm no longer a sun goddess instead I'm a sunscreen goddess, I will never risk the chance of sun damage again or skin cancer.

hope everything goes OK for you.

take care
Sam

LandlockedBeachLover,
When I was young, my mother would bring me to the beach and cook me. Those day's they would use sun tan lotions or baby oil with iodine. After years of abuse I developed Basal Cell Carcinoma (Skin Cancer) on my face, ears, scalp, shoulders, back and arms. I've been Cut, Frozen and used Topical Creams to have them removed. 3M Company has developed a product for Superficial Basal Cell called ALDARA, (imiquimod Cream, 5%), works great for the face no scarring. Best advice for future, use Plenty of sun screen when in the water, long sleeve shirt, and a hat. I get checked every year and they always seem to find a new one. So be vigilant and you will be OK.

I grew up in So. Calif. with a swimming pool, and endless trips to the beach to boot.
Lived at 9,000 ft. in Colorado and in Hawaii.
I do have damage to my skin, but nothing black going on. More white spots that never
tan, than anything.

Does anyone know the best sunscreen environmentally safe for the ocean?? The
more I see photos of the coral around the VI's , it's making me realize we are a part
of the yucky factor in the water.

Lizard - - the 3M product you reference (Aldara) -- is it OTC? I would like to pick that up to minimize scarring.

Dreamconch - - my spots weren't black. In fact, it wasn't even the reason why I went to the dermatologist. Totally wouldn't have suspected skin cancer. They were just very small spots (<1 mm) that seemed to be kind of pearly raised bumps with a couple reddish areas. Also, I didn't know sunscreen was bad for the coral. At such low concentrations (especially if its waterproof) in an area so large, I can't imagine there would be a detriment. Now if someone spilled a ocean tanker full of sunscreen, that would be bad!

It's a good idea to go to the dermatologist once/year for a full body scan. They know what to look for, and personally I thought that looking for really, really nasty large black/red spots was the target. Apparently they don't sometimes look so ominous!

Thanks all for your well wishes. It really helps.

Well color me wrong. Apparently the Coral Reef association recommends a biodegradable sunscreen to prevent damage to the reefs. Found a line from a company called Caribbean Solutions (love the name). Link below:

http://www.caribbean-sol.com/catalog.asp?prodid=515231&showprevnext=1

LandLockedBeachLover,
ALDARA is by prescription only, and when you use it it must be monitored by your Dermatologist. Like I said It works great for the face. Approx time of use is 6 weeks, 5 days apply, two days off, during that 6 week period.

Ah, yes, skin cancer. I do have some experience with that. It wasn't until the second time that the doc had to hack a basal cell out of my cheek that I got serious about sun protection. The first one on my cheek didn't stop me. And all of the ones that had been cut, scraped and frozen on my back and shoulders certainly didn't stop me. But now I've had enough. I see the doc twice a year and have also used Aldara with good effect.

My brother recenly had a melanoma found on his nose. It was found early and, for now, does not appear to have metastasized. I'm almost casual about basal cells now, but melanoma terrifies me. That's what keeps me going to the dermatologist twice a year rather than once. Sometimes that six months can make a critical difference if it's a melanoma. As mentioned, they pick up on things that I might miss.

So I've given up chasing the tan. I use sun block liberally and often, cover up, stay in the shade.

Hey Blu,

The address for the biodegradable sunscreen would be great for your listing. (www.carribean-sol.com)
Help us do our part for the environment.

Remember those days of white noses and lips? Now zinc oxide comes in a transparent creme and it affords the best protection from both A and B rays and it is biodegradable. Might even be better without all those flavors, smells and colors that are added to the more commercial stuff. Anyone who didn't realize the effect of suntan lotion on the environment hasn't noticed the skim coat that can quickly cover a pool when people are in it!

landlocked,

best wishes and luck to you, hope all goes well

ccd

Landlocked,

I hope everything turns out fine and please let us know how it goes.

You are in my thoughts.

LLBL...good luck to you, everything will be fine.

Both my husband and myself have had some pre cancerous "things" taken off.

One other word of warning about the sun. My husband now has sun damage to his eyes and the doctor has told him to wear sunglasses and a hat when he's outside in the sun.

Was thinking last nite about the sun damage to skin and wondered why no one had mentioned that cataracts and macular degeneration are also related to sun damage when you get "older" especially in fair skinned, blue-eyed or green (hazel) - light colored - eyes. Macular degeneration can and does lead to blindness - and smoking increases speed of the degeneration! You should check with the ophthalmologist as to what lenses are protective from damaging light - and not just at the beach! Some ophthalmologists now automatically as a matter of practice put a protective coating on the lenses that does not alter the color of the lenses. Clinical trials have also indicated that vitamins like Macular Protect which contain large doses of lutein slow down the course of macular degeneration.

Thanks CS....it really makes me nervous about my husband. I always have to tell him to put his sunglass on. We're out in the sun alot and on the water and the glare can just about blind you some days. His eyes have gotten progressively worse and I believe it's because of the damage. He must keep 10-15 pairs of cheaters laying around the house, the car, on the boat, everywhere because his eyes are getting so bad.