WHY YOU SHOULD SURF LIKE A GIRL

By: Dr. Ellen Rodarte, MD

Tutu gliding in Fiji

The surfers I care for are some of the healthiest patients I see. Yet all that time in the sun can lead to some unwanted surgeries. So if you want to surf without getting your face cut on by your neighborhood friendly Doctor, I have a suggestion. Before you paddle out, borrow a few things from your resident teenager’s makeup stash, and go surf like a girl. That’s right, it’s time to channel your inner David Bowie and lather up in some protective makeup. First, you need to dress up that pretty face with a thick layer of “foundation.” For our light skinned water lovers (I’m talking to you Irish Kid) regular sunblock will not give you enough protection against skin cancer. A thick layer of zinc may be a good choice but leaves you looking like a Geisha. Instead, I recommend you choose one of the many new zinc or titanium based skin tone sunblock sticks (SPF 45 or higher) that are now on the market.  My favorite is the Vertra Line. It comes as a stick and is available in many skin tones including Jon Jon Florence’s signature color. This stuff goes on thick and is a bit on the pricey side, but it will help protect you from developing squamous and basal cell cancers. These cancers are often treated with Mohs Surgery. Take a moment and google a few photos of what Mohs surgery looks like and I bet your next online order will include a few zinc skin tone sunblock sticks. Next, find some waterproof mascara and apply a good dose to your lovely lashes. Not only will this make you the Bell of the Ball, it may also protect you from Surfer’s Eye. Surfer’s Eye is that fleshy growth seen on the whites of many salty, veteran surfers' eyes. It is also called a Pterygium, and can grow in size and even block your vision if left untreated. Pterygiums can be corrected with surgery, but the surgery is notoriously uncomfortable. These growths are likely caused by a combination of wind and UV light from the sun. Eye protection like UV sunglasses may prevent Pterygiums, but are impractical in the water. Lengthening your eyelashes with waterproof mascara can work like an umbrella protecting your eyes from UV rays. I find that using waterproof mascara decreases how much I squint in the sun while waiting for the next set. Be brave boys and girls, and give it a try. If you notice you are squinting less while sitting on your board, then waterproof mascara may be just the thing for you. Make sure the brand you choose does not cause eye irritation.  Also please throw a little zinc on that lower lip. As the most kissable part of the face, the lip deserves a bit of love. Surgery on the lips often leads to an asymmetry of the face that is very distressing in my patients. So always remember to apply a zinc or titanium containing lip sunblock (SPF of 45 or more) and protect that kisser.  You can also protect your face from the sun by growing out those lovely locks. Letting your hair grow long enough to cover the tops of your ears from sun is a simple way to protect them from skin cancer. The top of the ear is a common cancer site, and it’s hard to remember to put sunblock there. You don’t have to go full Twisted Sister hair glory to get the protection you need. Just a little Scooby Doo scruffiness is enough to help you avoid that operating table.  So there you have it; a little girl time can protect you from a little operating room time. Please remember to get pretty before that next session, and you’ll be sure to look great, both now, and in 30 years.