I had the worst sunburn of my life last week, on a very unexpected place. My lower lip. I have a Nordic complexion and don't like sunscreen, so I cover up religiously with long sleeves, a buff, wide brimmed hat, etc. when I'm out in the sun. My best guess is that my hat brim wasn't quite wide enough to shade my lower lip, because that was the only thing that burned. Everything below that was covered by the buff.

By the time I realized what was happening it was too late. My lip was basically one giant blister, which made eating and drinking quite unpleasant. It's slowly healing, but I have to slather on vitamin e oil all day long to keep it from breaking open. I guess I'll be using sun-blocking lip balm from now on!

Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this?

So sorry you are going through this. My own English/Nordic heritage never kept me out of the sun but my daughter literally can’t go anywhere near it. Yes, as a mountaineer, I learned early on from hard experience that standard lip balm wasn’t good enough on glaciers. Dermatone Medicated 30 is the high climbers’ sunblock of choice, because of the tough barrier it creates (which is the real issue, not just the APF) and you might consider looking for lip balms for fishermen with zinc if there are any that are safe. Dermatone has always done it for me. Get the little tub stick (about twice or 2.5x the diameter of a standard stick) and make sure you apply it to the lips but also to the skin attaching to the lips.

Hang in there and I hope you can enjoy the rest of your trip. I’ve been where you are now, and it’s no fun.

Find 'Aquaphor' lip healing. The best. Good luck. Takes lots of time.

Another Casper the ghost here. I go from white to red.

I love the sunscreen. When I slather my face, I also slather my lips.
Also use all the other methods of sun protection on the water. Hat, bandana, long sleeves.

I worry about the effects of sun damage as I age. I won’t say the word.
Tom

LaVirginienne: "So sorry you are going through this. My own English/Nordic heritage never kept me out of the sun but my daughter literally can’t go anywhere near it. Yes, as a mountaineer, I learned early on from hard experience that standard lip balm wasn’t good enough on glaciers. Dermatone Medicated 30 is the high climbers’ sunblock of choice, because of the tough barrier it creates (which is the real issue, not just the APF) and you might consider looking for lip balms for fishermen with zinc if there are any that are safe. Dermatone has always done it for me. Get the little tub stick (about twice or 2.5x the diameter of a standard stick) and make sure you apply it to the lips but also to the skin attaching to the lips.


Hang in there and I hope you can enjoy the rest of your trip. I’ve been where you are now, and it’s no fun. "

I'll try that, thanks! Back home now, and it was still a fun trip. Never thought my worst BW injury to date would be a sunburn, though lol.

Too much Sun = Cancer:
As a person whom spent much of his life on water with no sunscreen I developed on my left ear and lower lip and below the lower lip pre cancerous cells. Twice in the last 2 years I ended up putting a chemical creme on them to kill them. My lower lip during treatment would get real bloody and scaley.
It is all fine now, but without treatment it was a good chance to turn into cancer.

Just wanted to past the info on and now think anyone whom doesn't put on sunscreen and wear a wide bream hat, many will pay for it someday.

Ger a lip balm with a high SP rating. It is worth it.

I keep a lip balm in my pfd pocket that has sunscreen in it. I apply it more often than the rest of my sunscreen. I hate burnt lips!

I never assume that my hat will block the sun. It helps a lot, but there is enough light reflecting off the water that you still need to apply sunscreen.

I'm similar where I have worn a bandanna around my neck in the past to block the sun. I just bought a buff and will try it out this trip. The bandanna is nice because I can use it as a towel or get it wet in the lake before tying it on when it is hot out. I even wear paddling gloves that leave my finger tips exposed, both to protect against blisters and to keep the back of my hands from burning. I don't have too much skin showing when on the water.

Many common meds can cause photosensitivity when UV rays interact with meds circulating in your skin. As you age and your body mechanics change and meds are added to your daily regime many come with hidden side effects.

Wow that sounds painful, never heard of that before. I’ve had skin cancer surgery 3x on my face. Not real fun trust me. There was nothing called sun screen back in the day. My dad’s theory was get a good sunburn let the skin peel off and you’re good to go for the summer. I still forget to put it on.

Sounds like the perfect time to schedule your annual full body skin check with a dermatologist!

Skin cancer, when caught early, is highly treatable. Take this as the sign you've been waiting for to call your doctor and schedule today!

Ok, the PSA is over now ;)

It’s treatable ya. I’ll go ahead and describe the process I went thru to remove basal skin cancer from my face. First time, local anesthetic, tried to numb the area with about ten pricks of a needle. Then it basically entails getting your flesh gouged out, there is no other way to describe it. In this case, Dr Nguyen kept yelling at me telling me I was making it worse by bleeding too much or what was his problem. I never whimpered made a sound I swear. Then after an hour or so of complete agony, I was told I had to wait in the lobby for a hour or so while they did a biopsy to see if they got it all. I had to go back and do it again! Gouging out my face while getting yelled at by a Vietnamese doctor with the bedside manner of a sadist I swear. The kicker was the smell of my burning flesh when he was cauterizing the ends of the bleeding blood vessels. Then to feel every stitch pulling on my face at the merciful end. Unfkng believable. First thing I did after release from the torture chamber was find a liquor store and get a bottle of booze and start sippin. Second time they put me under. No issues, I woke up to a smiling nurse with a 2” zipper on my face and no agony like the first time. 3rd time I had like a zit on my nose, was a relatively easy thing but still, I had my cute little button nose gouged into, kindofadrag…. Ya treatable you betcha
Put on your sunscreen kids!

NEIowapaddler: "I had the worst sunburn of my life last week, on a very unexpected place. My lower lip. I have a Nordic complexion and don't like sunscreen, so I cover up religiously with long sleeves, a buff, wide brimmed hat, etc. when I'm out in the sun. My best guess is that my hat brim wasn't quite wide enough to shade my lower lip, because that was the only thing that burned. Everything below that was covered by the buff.

By the time I realized what was happening it was too late. My lip was basically one giant blister, which made eating and drinking quite unpleasant. It's slowly healing, but I have to slather on vitamin e oil all day long to keep it from breaking open. I guess I'll be using sun-blocking lip balm from now on!

Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this? "

NEIowapaddler,

Look into getting a a buff or UVA/UVB blocking hoodie. Columbia PFG (ProFishing Gear) is my preferred brand, but there are many to choose from. The biggest problem with topical sun-block lotion is the need to constantly re-apply; this is not an issue with the clothing. Paddling and portaging all day and remember to apply sun-block .... it never has worked for me.

Good luck with the lip.

scat: "Wow that sounds painful, never heard of that before. I’ve had skin cancer surgery 3x on my face. Not real fun trust me. There was nothing called sun screen back in the day. My dad’s theory was get a good sunburn let the skin peel off and you’re good to go for the summer. I still forget to put it on."

No and if there was sunscreen it was like a very low number SP reading protection.

prettypaddle: "Sounds like the perfect time to schedule your annual full body skin check with a dermatologist!


Skin cancer, when caught early, is highly treatable. Take this as the sign you've been waiting for to call your doctor and schedule today!


Ok, the PSA is over now ;)"

Yes my Dentist, actually said I had a problem of potential future skin cancer on my lips and below and my ear. I had open blisters just starting. Got to a dermatologist immediately and put on treatment. For now it is hopefully gone for good
Kind of strange-the treatment on my lips and the blood at night my lips would stick together some because of the drying blood. I would not of won any beauty contests that is for sure.

OCDave: "NEIowapaddler,


Look into getting a a buff or UVA/UVB blocking hoodie. Columbia PFG (ProFishing Gear) is my preferred brand, but there are many to choose from. The biggest problem with topical sun-block lotion is the need to constantly re-apply; this is not an issue with the clothing. Paddling and portaging all day and remember to apply sun-block .... it never has worked for me.


Good luck with the lip."

I have (and was wearing) a UV blocking buff. The issue is that I can't pull it up over my mouth and nose or my sunglasses fog up from my breath, even when it's hot. I've never had issues with that small area burning before, since I also wear a wide brimmed hat, but this time I sure did. Don't know what was different, although I did spend more time on the water than usual. Guess I'll just have to take a bit of sunscreen for my mouth and nose area in future.

NEIowapaddler: "

OCDave: "NEIowapaddler,



Look into getting a a buff or UVA/UVB blocking hoodie. Columbia PFG (ProFishing Gear) is my preferred brand, but there are many to choose from. The biggest problem with topical sun-block lotion is the need to constantly re-apply; this is not an issue with the clothing. Paddling and portaging all day and remember to apply sun-block .... it never has worked for me.



Good luck with the lip."

I have (and was wearing) a UV blocking buff. The issue is that I can't pull it up over my mouth and nose or my sunglasses fog up from my breath, even when it's hot. I've never had issues with that small area burning before, since I also wear a wide brimmed hat, but this time I sure did. Don't know what was different, although I did spend more time on the water than usual. Guess I'll just have to take a bit of sunscreen for my mouth and nose area in future. "

I find even a wide brim hat can't protect you from the reflections off the water, especially on those intensely sunny, clear days.

I use Burts Bees lipbalm.

TuscaroraBorealis: "I use Burts Bees lipbalm."

I think that0 has a high SP rating also, I like that one also.

Yes, treating it is no fun. Do not forget your ears!! I had a nice chunk, cut out of one ear and was told it could not see daylight for over two years. Also, my cheek, my chest, and the top of my thighs... cover up folks!

BWPaddler: "Yes, treating it is no fun. Do not forget your ears!! I had a nice chunk, cut out of one ear and was told it could not see daylight for over two years. Also, my cheek, my chest, and the top of my thighs... cover up folks!"

Yes my left ear got the pre cancer cells that I had to treated. Being in a boat or canoe you get reflection also off the water and canoe. A nice calm sunny day you burn much easier,
Thanks for sharing and take care.

I burned my lips skiing in Montana one year. Blisters too and I will never forget the smell. Gross.

I don't worry about such things since growing a beard.

Pinetree: "

BWPaddler: "Yes, treating it is no fun. Do not forget your ears!! I had a nice chunk, cut out of one ear and was told it could not see daylight for over two years. Also, my cheek, my chest, and the top of my thighs... cover up folks!"

Yes my left ear got the pre cancer cells that I had to treated. Being in a boat or canoe you get reflection also off the water and canoe. A nice calm sunny day you burn much easier,
Thanks for sharing and take care."

Good point on the water reflection. Lucky for me, all caught early and no real worries. Also likely all a result of a cavalier attitude toward sunburn when I was much younger. All my various concerning spots were discovered separately in different "annual" dermatology exams - so you cannot just think that one exam and you are good. They evolve. I try to get an "annual" exam every couple of years.

Note that sunburned lips can also trigger mouth blisters, especially if you are a carrier for HPV. Chapstick 15spf is my go to but Chapstick Medicated+SPF is very soothing if you have blisters appear.

I had a squamous cell skin cancer "bump" removed from my ear at 47 years old.I didnt think it was skin cancer in the slightest.It came out very quickly and I thought I had a small thorn or something in my ear that got sore.Do not hesitate to go to a dermatologist for anything that seems out of sort.
Between fishing and working outside as a pipefitter I've been exposed to alot of sun,not to mention I grew up in a time where my mom would rub baby oil on us at the pool all summer long.Never even heard of sunblock.
I use a sunblock chapstick made by Burts Bees,not sure of the chemical content of it but at this point it's the lesser of the 2 evils.I came back from 11 days in the Quetico bush the 1st 2 weeks of June with zero sunburn,I kept covered constantly up while on the water.Even wearing fingerless Huk brand fishing gloves.Of course you certainly had to be covered up on land cuz the skeeters would suck you dry if you didnt.

soundguy0918: "Note that sunburned lips can also trigger mouth blisters, especially if you are a carrier for HPV. Chapstick 15spf is my go to but Chapstick Medicated+SPF is very soothing if you have blisters appear."

For anyone who suffers from cold sores here are two pro tips:

Taking Valacyclovir when you first feel the tingling of an oncoming cold sore dramatically reduces the size and duration of a flare. (A dentist or doctor can prescribe it and it only took me 20 years before finding out about this.)

Even better, if you have outbreaks all the time and get huge blisters, have your doctor check your iron levels. After finding out I was severely anemic, I started taking iron supplements and went from having a cold sore every month to having maybe one a year.

But still put sunblock on your lips like soundguy says because sun exposure can still trigger them

And schedule your annual full body skin check with a dermatologist!

Remember the year at Canoecopia when they had an enormous bin of Badger Balm lip balm free for the taking? People went home with handfuls, and had lip balm for several years.