The following is from Jeff Burbrink, Elkhart County Extension educator.
You can hardly go a day without hearing a warning about something that is going to kill you or make you sick. It gets to the point that you don't pay attention anymore, at least until it affects you personally. That's exactly what has happened in my case. Twenty years ago, a member of my family was told he had several pre‑cancerous spots on his skin. I am now much more careful about exposure to the sun.
My dad farmed for 40+ years in southern Indiana. Like his father and brothers who farm, he got a lot of exposure to the sun over the years as he worked outdoors. When dad showed me the spots all those years ago, I knew I had seen this type of condition on many of the farmers that I workwith. It's a condition called actinic keratosis and is caused by exposure to the sun over the years.
Typically, there are small rough spots that may be pink‑red or flesh colored. Most often, the spots develop on the face, ears, hands and arms and other sun exposed areas of the body. Most of the time, this condition does not lead to cancer, but it is a warning sign that the skin has been damaged by the sun and that you should be checked by a doctor regularly.
According to some information I received at the American Cancer Society internet site, farmers, gardeners, construction workers and others who work outdoors are most at risk for skin cancers due to the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Men are more likely to develop problems than women. The risk for skin cancer among people of European decent is 20 times higher than for dark‑skinned African Americans due to the lesser amount of protective pigment in fair skin.
As I mentioned earlier, I've seen this type of spot on the faces of many farmers. It would be easy to dismiss this as a risk of doing business, but it can be prevented with a little extra effort. The most important way to lower the risk of skin cancer is to reduce exposure to UV light.
Protective clothing, including a shirt and a hat with a broad rim are the minimum. Fabric with a tight weave provides the best protection. The traditional "baseball caps" that farmers wear provide little protection from UV light.
Sunscreen lotions with an SPF factor of 15 or more should be used on areas of the skin exposed to the sun. Depending on the product, it may need to be reapplied several times to replace the sunscreen that rubs or sweats off.
Don't be fooled into thinking that cloudy days are safer. Even on a cloudy day, 80 percent of the ultraviolet light can still reach the ground, and your skin. Sunscreen must be applied to your skin before exposure to the sun to be effective.
These skin conditions are not something to ignore. If you discover a suspect bump or discoloration on your skin, or if your spouse develops similar symptoms, it is time to go see your doctor or a dermatologist. Waiting can only make things worse.
As for Dad, he has been very diligent, going to the doctor every six months for a checkup. They apply liquid nitrogen to freeze the cells in most places, and once or twice they have given him a topical cream. Unfortunately, I have known a few people who have had portions of their ears, nose or lips removed, and in one case, a friend died when a cancer on his back went unchecked for just a few months. One cannot be too careful when dealing with skin cancer.