Geordie George

I walk to work (it takes 20 minutes) and I don't wear suncream when I do that - that way, I get my vitamin D before the sun gets too strong. As I only work part time, when I walk home again, I use a 30+ suncream: 20 minutes in the sun at 1.00 pm would have me burnt to a crisp without it! I also make sure I wear long trousers all summer (sweaty is better than burnt, for me) and cover up my shoulders - they seem to burn within about 10 minutes, even on a cloudy day. I'm not as good as I should be though - I usually forget my feet and my ears.

BadgeIsBack

Most people seem to position a 'dispenser' running to a litre or so at the front door filled with some fairly common 'own brand', and not normally expensive, cream.

Watch the expiry date I might add!

iPom

Yeah, we have a huge thing of chemist own brand in the kitchen. We also have small hand sprays in the car for emergency. Doesn't cost much. $10 I think.

iPom

Your attitude changes when you live here. The sun's always here. It's not special to be tanned. It just makes you look like a local and burnt people look stupid here.... don't do it.

mbike

My wife had a level 1 melanoma cut out 3 1/2 years ago (when she was 30). Again, the doctor said the damage had been done when she was much much younger (in the Poland). She too has to live with constant 6 month check-ups and a strict sun regime for her and our son (who is now more disposed to develop melanoma having had an immediate family member diagnosed.) So he has a hat always, factor 30, always and a full length solar suit at the beach. I worked on the SunSmart campaign recently and what is interesting about the Governement's national strategy is that it is aimed at teenagers and gatekeepers of young children. They have recognised the the message is largely wasted when you get beyond 22 (as the damage has already been done). Melanoma is a completely different thing to basal and squamous cell cancers and is the fastest growing cancer among the young. Scary stuff

Mark

Sandra

Agree very much you end up ignoring the sun - though our english mates we spent time with in Spain this summer, thought it was very funny how little Andy and I went in the sun, including sitting in shade if we were out and about including brollies for the beach.

I came back to work after a month in the sun and being on holiday rather than the office meant I did get more exposed, but not as much as I ever used to. My work colleagues were amazed I actually had some colour . The comments where all about how relaxed and healthy I looked !!! The underlying feeling that people are healthy if they are tanned is still very present which is aggravating especially when trying to bring up teenagers to be sun smart.

Ransi

I get the factor 30,but to be honest it's a pain in the ar*e,but I do it because I want the kids to follow on.

chels

I use factor 30+ if I'm on the beach (ie with less clothes on than normal), factor 18 for my arms etc the rest of the time as they don't burn having built up some colour, and my moisturiser has factor 15 built in.

I have bought a hat this year to prevent scalp burn, my hair is really dry anyway out here and the sun makes it even drier and the scalp gets flaky ueeeghhh.

I am getting better at remembering to put sun cream on when just 'popping out'. 20 mins in the midday sun is enough to burn me. But first thing in the morning and on my return from work, I don't worry about a few minutes in the sun. The very slight tan I now have makes a huge difference to my previously deathly white colour in England, I think I do look healthier but it is definitely something to do in moderation.

We have a big pump container of sun cream, have tried various different types for the least greasy, like what I use now (but can't remember it). Other half has a big problem with sun cream on his face getting into his eyes, so we're going to try some kid versions which hopefully won't sting so much.

I can tell who are the visitors / people just arrived in Sydney by:
1. The very pale legs of the sensible / or just stepped off the plane arrivals
2. The bright red sunburn of those who have been here two days

Nomore

no i don't do it...i used to on holidays in Europe but here it is different. I don't use suncream because i don't stay in the sun long enough. I don't want to be wrinkly as when i see some old Aussie woman they look terrible..
I sit inside or under shelter when the sun is out. Can't be bothered with suncream or tanning myself.

Get the fake stuff out!! that will do me thanks.

aston man

you would never in a million year believe that people would use fake tan ,when the tempreature gets up to 120 deg..this is unbelievable reading.
as i am a bricklayer its also essential reading.

again more valuable information stored in the old brain box.

thanks all.

A

iPom

I fake tanned my legs the other week, so I matched all over for a christening I was going to. A little colour does make you look a bit healthier than deathly white (as much of me is) but I'd rather fake it than have to have a melanoma cut out.

mbike

Unfortunately you are just as likely to get burnt with fake tan as with nothing at all. It is a vegetable dye which justs colours the skin. Look out for Melanotan pellets on clincal trial in Aus. They are injected under the skin, give you a naturall tan for a month and offer some protecting from the sun as they stimulate the production of melanocytes - the bodies natural defence agianst UV. It's not a panacea though and authorities are still recommending multiple protection strategies.

More here: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=6182

Mark

aston man

to right.us brits that go on holiday and get burnt to a sizzle could all do withe reading this..it is truly frightening...

Nomore

Fake tan is a great invention!!! it also has sunblock in it so you get best of both worlds.

Gives u Instant tan!!...instead of lying on a beach all day feeling lythargic and peeling later..no thanks

jad n rich

To your mind into aussie mode re the sun, your a tradie, get on a site and look at the workers especially the blokes over 35, i would lay money on it you will guess most are 55 not 35 and worse.

UV levels today are extreme, recommended time in sun is probably about 9 minutes, most tradies will spend more like 9 hours in it. You do see some working without shirts, but many sites dont allow it now, the sons electrical company now insist on Head to toe clothing including gloves, the material is thick tight weave navy blue. On top of that they must wear full brim hat which fits on the hard hat and proper company supply glasses to protect the eyes from the UV. Basically the only part of the human you can see is the area around the mouth.

Keep your kids out of it too, our youngest one is real fair skinned, not that being dark skinned stops you buring our mates from PNG and Singapore are obviously not fair and they all get burnt Anyway son developed a skin cancer at age eight, so yes I do feel like saying something when you see poms arrive and start browning up the kids :scared:

While on sun one more thing, havent read entire thread so apols if somebody has already said this. SUNGLASSES, proper ones for the whole family, a hat only cuts 50% of dangerous rays, its now recommended kids wear sunglasses as well as the hat.