Canoes, super sunburn, and pain

I don't know if you have ever paddled a canoe. The senior class had decided to all take a canoe trip on the local river that flowed by the campus. This was a major event as we were all living in a boarding academy that was church owned and run and was super strict. We just might get to look at our fellow female classmates in swimming suits, which was something really out of the ordinary. No two piece suits mind you--no, no, no!

Actually, most people wore cut-offs, and wore tee shirts. Oh well. I too went with a tee-shirt and cut off jeans.

When you are sitting in an aluminum canoe, the sides of the canoe are almost parabolic, and the canoe acts as a parabolic mirror reflecting ALL the suns rays into the middle of the canoe. And the sun's rays are bouncing off the water too. I don't know why I never realized this before the trip.

Within a couple of hours of getting into the canoe, I knew I was in big trouble. My legs which were NEVER exposed to sunlight were turning a nice shade of pink. Of course I did not have any long pants with me, and the sun tan lotion wasn't doing its job--this was years ago before people discovered how to create effective sun blocks. Another hour and I was in pain. The sunburn was bad. The worst thing was that the trip was about half over, and there was no getting out, no turning back.

It occurred to me that I was actually grilling my legs in a primitive solar oven. My legs turned bright red and the pain was unbelievable. Even the light breeze blowing across the bow of the canoe was painful. When I finally got home, I was almost unable to walk with the pain. I hobbled off to my dormitory room and smeared something on my legs to alleviate the pain.

The next day, I discovered that my shins had BLISTERED. My legs just hurt so bad. It took about three days before the pain began to subside. I could scarcely wear pants. But I had too. Cut-offs were not allowed in class, and besides, if I did wear them, I would only be getting even more sunlight. When the sun warmed up my pants I was in pain. I could hardly stand to walk, because the fabric rubbing against my skin was just excruciating, and the salve I had smeared on my legs was causing the fabric to stick to them. I was in complete and total misery.

If you ever go canoeing, or boating, or ever go anywhere near any body of water, limit the time your skin is exposed to sunlight. Wear appropriate LONG clothing and cover up just as your skin turns the least bit pink. A little sunlight is good, but please don't get burned. It makes the whole outing a misery.

Happy boating,
David A. Youngs

sunlight prevents cancer!!

Wow was I suprised when I read a major report by Dr. Mercola http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/3/sun_prevents_cancer.htm
that sunlight does not cause cancer but actually can prevent and fight cancer! Dr. Mercola has been doing some very interesting research for a book that he is writing, and has discovered that the farther you live from the equator, the higher the incidences of cancer in a given population.

Dr. Mercola has decided from looking at all the scientific data available the simple act of exposing oneself to sunlight (without overdoing it) doesn't just feel good, but is actually good for your health on a number of levels--one of which is cancer prevention. He contends that exposing the skin to sunlight allows the ultraviolet rays to hit the skin and penetrate and then an amazing thing happens--the skin turns cholesterol into vitamin D. Vitamin D, as it turns out, is an incredible super anti-oxidant, and actually helps to prevent cancer, as well as doing all sorts of other good things for us. Anti-oxidants are one of the things that go around attaching themselves to free radicals (which are super bad) and neutralizing them.

There is an optimum amount of time to be out in the sun. Don't over do it and get sunburn. Just as soon as your skin starts to turn the least bit pink, cover up and get out of the sun. Sunburn is no fun.

Happy sunning,
David A. Youngs