I am out of the water for 4-6 weeks while undergoing treatment for Solar Keratosis - which are little patches of rough skin commonly found on the face, arms and legs.
The treatment for this is basically a course of topical chemotherapy and is both visually disturbing and from what I can gather amazingly painful. However this month of pain is far better than the alternatives of these pre cancerous incidences - such as having huge chunks of you cut out or worse leaving this world far sooner than you should!
To see what a treatment may look like go here: www.sannerud.com/people/efudex/
Following my treatment my sun habits will be changing - I am only 36 but the symptoms I have now are from my younger years of skin exposure which typically involved burnt or blistered lips from hours of surfing.
Winter and Summer will now be full suits or equivalent - I have heard of people wearing skins for cover up on their legs or the stinger suits. Also following my treatment I will need to wear a balaclava for the first few months while the skin heals - does anyone out there use similar on the water?
It sure isn’t going to look pretty - but its the thrill of kiting I desire not the look so I’m happy to take to the water in any way I can.
I can only urge people with sun spots, blemishes, changing moles and rough scaly patches of skin to get them checked by your GP and better still get referred to a Dermatologist who should know this stuff back to front!
Cheers
Lance
There was a post on ikiteboarding.com about using neoprene ski masks to shield from the sun. You can pick them up cheaply enough off ebay and they should do the job nicely.
My mother, who grew up in Hawaii, had an efudex-type treatment about fifteen years ago. She had her whole face and neck done and looked much worse for a while than the pictures on the linked site --- as close as you could ever bear to see to night of the living dead. But it was tremendously successful. Beforehand she was continuously getting bits cut out, but hasn't had a single surgery since.
I've worn a neoprene face mask while skiing and it wasn't very comfortable. Another option might be the Gath helmet with a visor. Their website claims it blocks 98% of UV.
Im a third of the way through treatment and its far from fun. Still im shooting for the same results as your mother - which I hear are quite common after this process. They tell me to treat the whole area not just what you can see - as its what you cant see that will come to haunt you soon enough.
My biggest issue is my bottom lip and effectively covering that - a physical barrier would be so much better than zinc and other creams that eventually wear off hence my ask about masks.
I have a gath helmet with the visor and its good but I actually find my surf hat better protection - I also think reflected rays from the water are the killer just like snow.
I've seen some guy up at pinaroo point who pretty much wears a balaclava so they are around. In fact it appears to be more like a rashie with a hood.
Anyway, stinger suits are a fairly light lycra, you still burn eventually, you might want to go for a stingray suit, which appear to be fully opague... www.stingray.com.au/stingray-the-original-sun-protective-clothing-company-in-australia/?intCatID=5 . The benefit is you won't be sweating in a full neoprene suit in the middle of summer... sometimes I even find a spring suit to be a little hot...
EDIT: I R gud speeller.
Thanks Kalavas, the only balaclava I can find so far is from Fox Wetsuits but they have no images, a mate has suggested a dive version that is similar to the Radiator material so Im waiting to lay eyes on it soon.
Par I feel for your mum - it must have been hell for her! Its bad enough now but I have yet to come across one person that didnt appreciate the end result.
Lance,
I'm sort of in the same boat - 38yo, career in tropical marine biology here in NQ since 87, solar keratoses appeared all over the lower lip and a few other places late 2005 after first year of kiting, 3 rounds of freeze treatment didn't get rid of the aggressive (split/ulcerated) one so I had it excised late last year. No probs since but the bank account took a $600 flogging!
My solution has been use of a lycra hood over the top of my oakley sunnies but underneath my gath (see avatar pic). Plus a liberal dose of zinc on the lip / nose before launching. This has really helped a lot to keep it all under control, as my nose is really the only thing not covered. Breathing can be a bit funky to get used to, and you need to pull the hood down to talk or breath while body dragging, but it is a lot better than no kiting at all. Plus good rashies etc.
For general outdoor and marine work I have found the Frillneck hats (frillneck.com.au/) are great, they have a wrap around piece which again keeps nearly your whole face covered.
Go the Urban Turban mate, hope you heal quick and get back on the water.
Andy
Hi Andy yeah I had it burn off a couple of times a few years back but learnt that its really hit and miss - the same as laser treatment, Efudix is one fo the only creams that target the actually cancers (fast growing cells) or pre cancer growths.
I urge anyone that has these scaly spots to treat them asap before they become something much worse. Then adopt new methods for covering up in our harsh sun, looks arent everything...
with your frillneck hat - i take it its not a close or tight fit around the face and neck? I have had a look at their website - the only way you can keep it on while kiting is the use of the gath?
Appreciate the feedback!
to clarify:
I use the lycra hood under gath helmet while kiting or surfing
and use the frill neck while on the water doing the boat work.
The frillneck wouldn't stay in place while kiting, it only sticks together by velcro.
A.
yes you get all sorts of names....went for a surf at our local a while back with the full rig on and riding my yellow McTavish 7'2"....
"Look out here comes Darth Banana!" was the call from the boys!
eat my spray mooda-faarkers!
WTF would you wear a neoprene mask while SKIING?!?!
Dave,
snow is generaly @ high altitude = cold + more UV radiation than lower altitude
(not to mention the additional UV reflected from snow)
cut & paste from another post by 'Jeremy'
see www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32544
I read with interest an article in the NOV 2007 medical journal of Australia regarding a 35 yo male professional kite surfer who died from metastatic melanoma. He presented with multiple liver lesions. The primary was found to be from his eye,more specifically his retina. The kite surfer never wore sunglasses. Melanoma from the retina spreads more quickly than skin lesions as their are no lymphatics in the retina. Skin melanoma's might spread first to a lymph node (surgical treatment still reasonably effective ), whereas from the retina it goes straight into your blood stream to your liver ( your cactus).
Kiting exposes you to direct UV radiation as well as reflected. You can reduce your risk of melanoma by wearing sunglasses.
Just came across another melanoma of the retina victim.
No problem at all till 4 weeks ago.
Now facing the big end in about 2 weeks time. 
In his 40's & all he did in the sun was play cricket.
Go get some glasses - they are a pain in the butt - but the alternative isnt real cool either.
see also: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32615
Some thing else you could do is just try to change the time that you get out on the water. UV radiation drops off dramaticaly in the later afternoon, charts are available.
If you have had a wake up call and dont want to quit kiting, go out late.
Some of the best sessions can be had, just before the sun sets.
Tell your mates to join you and you all benefit.
Seen some windsurfers at Lano with full face Ballaclavas, you could ask on the windsurfers forum about where to get from.
Dave I actually need a physical barrier to cover my lips, this is why I ask about balaclavas. In the snow the reflect UV radiation is far worse than that of water or sand so I can understand why someone would shoose such a path - especially if conditions are not idea - its not a question about vanity! Hat/helmet and googles only provide protection to the top half of your face.
POAS - I hear you about the glasses - what do people put on thier glasses to stop them from fogging? I have an issue with mine - when I get hot the sunscreen tends to evaporate and coat the lenses - other than that they are pretty good once you get used to them!
Dave - this is meant to be a constructive post about how to protect yourself from the suns negative effects and hopefully awareness about the initial warning signs of what can become a life threatening condition.
Heading down the vanity path of "Also you look like a dork when you wear one" is only going to harm the push towards awareness and acceptance in dealing with these issues.
If its not constructive why throw it out there with a topic as serious as this?
My face and lips are breaking out today from this treatment - a pain that is really hard to compare to anything else I have experienced before - blow torch on the face would be close - I wish I had used better protection in the past (creams and physical barriers) instead of thinking I was invincible like most young guys do!
Sooo you only read what you want do you? Probably missed the bit that said
"Wear whatever you want, just think a neoprene mask sounds bulky and uncomfortable."
And I'm suggesting a better and more comfortable alternative (that as a bonus also looks good). That sounds pretty damn constructive to me!
Lance,
Curious as to why you're doing this treatment now and not waiting until winter when UV radiation is at its lowest?
Solar Keratosis is not life threatening and Efudex will make your skin photosensitive, plus you miss out on kiting for 2 months...
Hi Neil - I had a solar keratosis that has been errupting for lack of better words on my lip for the past 6 months - had it for about 10 years at least now with liquid nitrogen being the weapon of choice.
The pain and lack of healing was the greatest concern and this was seen as the most effective form of treatment when compared to the others on offer.
I started the treatment straight away as I just need my lip healed, and since I was going through that I decided to do the entire face (amazing what shows up that you didnt think was there before!! especially on the drivers side (right side) of my face!!).
Solar Keratosis isnt life threatening and there are no studies that conclusively point to them being precursors to BCC, SCC and Melanomas, but I consider this to be the start of something worse - which most people including the medical community also believe.
As for the sensitivity - thats why Im chasing a balaclava - dont care what I look like as long as I can still get out there. Hoping that the healing happens quick and I can be back out there first or second week of March. Plus looks like I timed it right - cant remember the last seabreeze we have had in Bunbury. The only downside is the hot weather - but I have drugs for that 
Also Neil I have a family history of melenomas - took my Uncle and Grandmother...
Lance
i dont think there is any doubt that Sks are precursors for SCC. The only controversy is what percentage will develop into SCC(0.1-20%) with some experts considering all SKs to be the earliest form of In situ cancer.
A SK on the lip needs to be managed carefully. If any Chronic induration, tenderness or ulceration you should think about a biopsy, as an invasive scc on the lip is a serious problem.
Lancekenny said
Regards to the balaclava.
imo the neoprene and most other matterials will be way to harsh for new v tender skin, the design of standard balaclavas may not be suitable either.
Check out the Cancer Support Association for products or specialist people who deal with protection post surgery to the face.
I know you dont have cancer and hope this doesnt make more stress for you, but these people are experts and should have the contacts/info to help you get kiting sooner and safer.
Best of luck with everything.
Hey CT - thanks for that - Im sure I dont have any form of cancer and this is all to nip it in the bud - prevention is the key...
The skin should be fine after a week or two (fingers crossed) but will be inside until I reach the stage where I can move to the Balaclava with no irritation...
I have to say as I break out more and more today - driving cars with windows down or windows with no UV treatment looks like a bad thing... my driving side looks far more like christmas (bright lights everywhere) compared to the left!
Im on my last week of treatment and damn this stuff can hurt.
I am amazed though at where my sun damage is (and since further investigation where other people also have a lot of damage) and they are:
Right side of face which can best put down to driving... always tend to put suncream on once at the beach not when leaving.
And the underside of the top lip - which I gather is from the suns reflection on water - I never used to put zinc on my top lip now I wish I did as it looks like a burst sausage!
This has been a wake up call for me and my friends who have seen it, its going to be full time cover up after this!
at pinnaz has a oceAN earth1 with full hoodie thing 
