Gardeners need sun protection, too

Tag : SPF fabric

All that weeding and watering, mowing and mulching was onceconsidered a happy way to build a tan. But years of sun exposurecan have a terminally dark side.
"A raisin is a grape that didn't have the sense to get out ofthe sun," the Skin Cancer Foundation says in a new series ofpublic service print ads. "There is no such thing as a safetan. Go with your own glow."
Get the picture, gardeners? More than a million cases of skincancer are diagnosed annually in the United States, with one infive Americans developing the potentially fatal disorder. And themore time spent in the sun, the greater the risk, says the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention.
The average gardener spends 2.8 hours a week on the hobby,according to Bruce Butterfield, research director for the NationalGardening Association.
"Because of increased sun exposure, gardeners and farmers areat higher risk for skin cancer," says Dr. Robin Friedman, adermatologist from Memphis, Tenn.
Sun avoidance is the best deterrent, although that's not areal-world solution for people whose jobs or activities requirethem to be outdoors. So here are some practical sun-safetysuggestions:
Work in the cool of the day , before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Do not discount the solarradiation danger from an obscured sky. "You can get some ofthe worst sunburns on a cloudy day," Dr. Friedman says.
Inspect your skin head-to-toe at least once a month. Remember the shape of mole and frecklepatterns and then note any changes. "Examine yourselfeverywhere," Dr. Friedman says. "You can get melanomas onthe bottom of your feet, between the toes, on your scalp. Payparticular attention to exposed areas."
Make a yearly appointment with a dermatologist. Early detection is key, particularly formelanoma, which has a tendency to invade other parts of the body.
Use a product with SPF 15 or higher . Apply it at least 15 minutes before going outdoors, and reapplyevery two hours.
Wear sun-protective clothing , including a broad-brimmed hat, loose-fitting smock, trousers,gloves and UV-blocking sunglasses. "This is an excellentoption for gardeners," Dr. Friedman says. "Such clothingis designed to protect the back of the neck and other areas exposedto the sun while doing all that bending and stretching."
In Australia, where skin cancer is more prevalent than lung cancer,sun-protective clothing is tested and rated by a federal agency,says John Barrow, a transplanted Australian who started theCoolibar clothing line.
"Something like four or five times as much money is spent on[Ultraviolet Protection Factor-rated] clothing in Australia than onsunscreen," Mr. Barrow says. "It's easier to use. Put thesmock on or the hat on, and you have it done."