Skin care for linemen and utility crews

01 · The work

Sun overhead, brush underfoot

Linemen spend hours in direct sun on poles and in buckets, with nowhere to hide. Then the job takes you through brush, tall grass and right-of-way where ticks wait and poison ivy climbs the pole.

And you can’t gear down every time your skin needs something. Whatever goes on your skin has to work with your rubber gloves and your FR clothing, not against them.

UV is strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is the middle of a crew’s day.R&R Lotion, Skin Cancer: Causes, Prevention and Treatment white paper (2024), Skin Cancer Prevention

02 · The exposure

Two kinds of UV, two depths

• UVB
• UVA
• Skin cells

Sunlight carries two kinds of UV that reach the ground. UVB, 280 to 320 nanometers, works on the epidermis, the outer living layer of skin, and is the main cause of sunburn. UVA, 320 to 400 nanometers, reaches the deep layers of the dermis and drives wrinkles and sunspots.

The brush brings two more exposures: ticks that climb grass and brush and wait for a host, and urushiol, the oil in poison ivy, which rides on gloves, tools and sleeves until it reaches skin.

UV rays can get through clouds and even glass, so overcast days and the truck cab still count.R&R Lotion, Skin Cancer white paper (2024), Importance of Sunscreen and Types of UV Radiation

03 · What develops

Sunburn now, DNA damage later

• UV
• DNA
• Damage

Sunburn is the part you feel. Underneath, UV damages the DNA in skin cells. That damage builds up over a career, raises the risk of skin cancer and speeds up skin aging.

• Basal cell carcinoma: the most common type; often a pearly or translucent bump on sun-exposed skin.
• Squamous cell carcinoma: scaly red patches, open sores or wart-like growths.
• Melanoma: less common and more dangerous. Watch moles for the ABCDEs: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving.

The brush adds its own: tick bites, which can carry Lyme disease, and poison ivy rash, an allergic reaction to urushiol.

Check your skin every month, and see a dermatologist if a spot changes.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer in the U.S., at about 3.6 million cases a year.R&R Lotion, Skin Cancer white paper (2024), Types of Skin Cancer

04 · Why we built it

Built around your PPE

Most sunscreens and repellents weren’t made for someone in rubber gloves and FR clothing. Sprays can be flammable, and some ingredients are hard on gear. So we make lotions, and we had them tested with lineman PPE.

Used as directed with other sun protection measures, a broad spectrum SPF 15+ sunscreen helps reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.The FDA’s broad-spectrum sunscreen statement (2011 labeling rule)

05 · On the job

When to put it on

1. 1
   At the tailboardSunscreen on all exposed skin: ears, neck, face and the backs of your hands. Repellent on exposed skin. Ivy Block before you walk the brush.
2. 2
   Every 2 hoursReapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, and after 80 minutes of sweating. Repellent lasts up to 8 hours; reapply as its label directs.
3. 3
   Out of the brushIf you’ve been in poison ivy, wash with I.C. Ivy Cleanse and cool water as soon as you can. Keep gloved hands off your face.
4. 4
   End of the dayCheck for ticks: knees, groin, armpits, behind the ears and scalp. Wash clothing and tools that touched ivy separately.

Follow each product’s label directions and your PPE program.