I got fried the weekend before last, third time since I've been here. I put on sunblock wearing one top (I know) and then changed into a different one and there were bits I'd missed (I know!!). I was out for 90 minutes and I was FRIED. I blistered, the burn was really tight and painful for three days and now is peeling beautifully making me look like a right leper. I put aftersun and various creams on it, didn't help much I don't think. I am officially stupid. I'm fair and red-haired too so i should know better.

*off to sit in the naughty corner*

Poms just don't understand how strong the sun is Australia I think. When we have family here we have to beg them to put on sunblock but they think they know it all and every time they waddle back to the house like lobsters in agony with the next three days of their holiday. They literally never learn.

We've got a load of Aloe Vera in our front yard. Had to use it last week on my arms. Forgot to take the sunscreen with me when meeting some other mums in the morning. Was wearing a shirt but had the arms rolled up. Was a bit pink, wacked on some aloe vera and next morning it was gone.

Now L wants the aloe on every single scratch, scrape and buise she gets - won't have any left at this rate

I wear long sleeves, if I dont have something suitable to wear, I drape a white cotton scarf over me, I have a big piss off hat to wear and cover up and wear total sunblock and basically try and avoid going out in high UV times - I even have a UV app on my iphone that tells me what the UV index is for wherever I am.

I just go from A to B and that is it, I feel shite even with a few minutes exposure although I dont seem to burn as easily as others.

Yeah, same here. Wide brimmed hat, long sleeves, and avoiding spending heaps of time outside between 10am-3pm. I only do sunblock if I'm going to be walking out in the sun for quite a while. Thanks to my heritage, I rarely get sunburnt--I can count about three times in my life--but still, no reason to bask in it or anything.

I'm still amazed at Aussies though who refuse to wear hats or long sleeves and who will sit outside in the midday sun in singlets. I guess that explains some of the women looking 60 when they're 40.

Oh I get it...most of the time! I got burnt in Ireland a few times so i know I have no chance here. I have litres of factor 30, I have hats, glasses, scarves, the whole shebang. But I just wasn't thinking that morning I have a friend coming over from London who, despite being a perfectly intelligent girl in every other way, refuses to wear sunblock in the attempts to get a tan. I have WARNED her that doing that just won't fly here!

I always catch it when I am gardening and where I am bending over and my t shirt rides up, so it's always at the base of my spine where I get a big red patch!

Hmmmm... An excellent reason to not do gardening....

I love the sun and can lay out all day. I always wear SPF 30 and a hat and glasses. I am English born and bred and heritage I can trace back on all sides of family to 1500 to 1600 and all from Sussex. I think the only times I have really burn was 1976 as a kid with the hot summer and maybe a handful of other times as a youngster.

Are you related to the Sussex Prunes by any chance?

Ha ha ha. Skin is in good condition. Regularly wash with a little olive oil mixed with my body wash, eat well and drink lots of water. My sister who is 10 years older is the same in that she is a sun lover and has skin like a baby. I can't say the same for the other sister who fries like a prawn!!

I was burnt regularly as a child in the 1960's. Spent most of my holidays in the beach hut covered in calamine lotion.
Here I always wear a hat and glasses- even when swimming outdoors!
I have factor 30 in my face cream. I put on extra sunblock if I know I'm going to be outside, and I never wear a singlet/camisole top or anything that leaves my upper arms exposed or I'd burn in a few minutes. The only area I forget about is my feet, which have brown patches on them in summer and look dirty, due to open toed sandals. I also have brown arms below the elbow.