Comments for Paddlers beware: Silent Killer on the loose at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 16 out of 16 comments http://www.surfski.info Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:39:01 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2927 Gary, I wouldn't bother with the low SPF's unless that's all you had available i.e. they're better than applying nothing at all. I agree, I wouldn't go below 30. - Gavin Gottschalk Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:25:39 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2926 Stuart, I understand that Silversun contains beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin D. There is some literature on beta carotene as a sun protector, but the evidence is inconclusive. A recent published summary of the data suggests that oral supplementation may provide the equivalent of SPF 4 i.e. not very high. In addition, it may take up to 10 weeks of regular consumption for this effect to kick in. In summary, this should not be seen as a substitute for sunscreen and all the other measures mentioned above, but could be considered as a additive measure. The potential mechanism of action is unknown. I'm not sure of the rationale for either the Vit A or Vit D. In fact, consumption of excess Vit A can make one's skin more sun sensitive, admittedly in far higher doses than would be in this product. - Gavin Gottschalk Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:20:07 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2888 When i was a kid we used to put on sunscreen of spf 3, sometimes 5. I now wouldn't use anything below 30. Are the lower spfs worth using at all? - Gary Kroukamp Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:56:48 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2887 What about those silversun tablets we used to take. Did they work or was it our imagination? - Stuart Knaggs Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:14:00 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2886 Nick, I'd never heard of P20 until I read your comment. I don't know if it's available in SA. A quick Google search, however, revealed that it only protects against UVB, whilst letting the 'tanning' UVA through. This is bad. Repeat: this is bad. UVA causes photoaging and skin cancer. Further Google searching though, revealed that there is a 'new formulation' that also protects against UVA. So beware of the older product. I would like to see what the active ingredients are but couldn't find that info. If indeed it does protect all day following one application, then that's good. My medical scepticism dictates caution, however. One wonders why other companies wouldn't have adopted this technology, unless it's patented. By the way, does your lovely wife know that you're 'perking up' at the thought of the Island Tribe girls....? - Gavin Gottschalk Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:35:13 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2878 I second Gary's idea on the Island Tribe girls, and will add a couple more advantages to the idea: Firstly the Island Tribe girls actually rub the suncream on for you, which (other than being a nice perk) means you can cover the exposed bits plus the backs of your hands without getting the problem of greasy paddling-palms. Secondly, they can grease your face up with the Island Tribe GEL, which solves the other problem in that it does not sting your eyes (and it stays on better than normal cream). Being a brilliant organiser, hopefully Billy would be able to organise this for all the races! Good article Gav. I have a question on SPF: there's a product on the market called P20 which seems to claim a once-a-day application in that you put it on in the morning, you need to allow it about 40 minutes before it is effective, but thereafter you have a factor-20 protection for the rest of the day. I have even been told that once that initial 40 minutes after application has elapsed, you can take a shower and it will still remain effective aftwerwards - no need to re-apply. Are you aware of this product or can you comment on whether these claims are correct? If there's any truth in it I would have thought it would be the answer for water sports enthusiasts (it's also not greasy). - Nick Pickard Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:10:55 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2820 You can also try out cwx pants. http://www.cw-x.com/ss/products/mens/m_stabilyx_tights - MFB Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:41:32 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2817 I just got some great paddling pants from the Mockes - the Paddling Centre in Cape Town, but they export most places in the world. I'll be reviewing them in the next Cool Kit feature. They keep you warm in the cold and cool in the (moderate) heat. Dawid says they're made from IntelliTherm material (copyrighted to Dawid Mocke!) - Rob Mousley Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:48:33 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2816 Thanks Gavin, I'm also back marker and so a 35km paddle can easily take me nearly three hours plus, even with sun screen I've never felt comfortable, particularly when it comes to my legs which developed white spots from abuse over 4 years of paddling. I would generally wear long sleeve tops and so the logical next step was the cover my legs, but I kept putting it off and would get a couple of burns per season. I then saw Paul Marais wearing tights and thought thats the way forward, especially since he's been paddling a while. It was surprisingly difficult to find some though, I initially had visions of manly camo tights but got desperate in the end. I looked in sport stores, paddling stores, the works. Ended up going to Access Park (Cape Town) after nervously asking a fellow Oceana paddler, Aaron, where he got his, and found some Nike tights that have since become my standard long paddle screen: [url]http://www.startfitness.co.uk/acatalog/MensNikeClothingLongTights.html [/url] Apparently New Balance also makes tights but I gave up trying to find them. - Nico de Wet Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:37:20 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2814 I had a "section" of my lower back removed after a diagnosis of Clarks Level 2 Melanoma. I have ugly scars on my face from having cancerous areas excised and burned away. I am 48 years old, and plan on living to 100 even though I am at such a high risk for more cancer. I stopped paddling for two yearss because I hated the thought of greasing myself with sunscreen and wearing long sleeve shirts and a hat during mid-atlantic summers. Now, I paddle year-round and several times a week, and never go out without my "protection". Get used to the grease, hat, and heat shirts, or learn to accept the scars. No kidding. - James I. Smith Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:13:51 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2813 I'm glad that the article is proving of value to some. Unfortunately it's one of the peculiarities of human nature that acquiring knowledge often doesn't translate into altered behaviour. Nonetheless, if even a small percentage of the people who read this are encouraged to take extra precautions, then it's worthwhile. As an aside, the point on chin straps for hats is really a non-issue. They hardly ever blow off. No chance of losing one on a downwind. In the surf is a different issue. I've lost one hat before: I was paddling with Stuart Jones, grinding and crawling at 6km/hr into a ripping SW towards Barker Rock, when voooops, my favourite sun-protector disappeared backwards into the icy Atlantic. Stuart mentioned to me later that his criteria for throwing in the towel on a hectic upwind was if his hat blew off! For some reason he kept quiet that day (I couldn't hear him over the howling wind...?) and we battled on to Barker. The downwind return leg was fun, though, if not a little sun-exposed.... - Gavin Gottschalk Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:10:26 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2810 At the Fish River canoe marathon, Island Tribe had young women circulating with tubes of sunscreen available to apply to anyone who wanted it or had forgotten their own. What a brilliant idea! - Gary Kroukamp Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:43:31 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2809 What is this "yellow orb" that you people talk about! Never seen it here in the UK! :D Finally seeing a plus side to trying surfski in England.Great article, perhaps someone could do one for us..maybe on hypothermia. - Ivan Lawler Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:30:56 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2808 Take it seriously... you have been warned!! - Jay Baker Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:13:59 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2805 Thanks Gavin for this important article. I think you might have unnecessarily restrained yourself from recommending routine checkups from a dermatologist. My wife and I both go to a dermatologist for an annual checkup. Both of us have had moles removed that the pathology lab found to be cancerous/pre-cancerous. The process is you strip down and get checked over, even between your toes (you keep your undies on but my dermatologist checks out your butt cheeks too). My medical aid happily pays the bill. Gavin you must have quite a cool job sometimes ;) - Alain Jaques Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:25:07 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/829/147/#pc_2804 Thanks Gavin for giving something very valuable back to the paddling community. I have lost 2 friends to Melanoma in the past 5 years, aged 33 and 37. They both left the party well before they (or anyone) wanted them to... Cheers again. - jackal Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:14:17 +0100