Mitzyboy

Now, being fair skinned and slightly folicly challenged I have encountered a problem in Spain that I had not totally appreciated would be so difficult before I came here.

I only have to be out in the sun for a very short time and I start to burn, although I do get a nice tan the following day. I've tried 30 factor waterproof sun cream, but a 30 min dip in the pool leaves me tingling later in the day.

So what kind of stuff do you lot use. How do you cope with the very strong sunlight. How does the spectre of skin cancer effect your actions?

lynnxa

a neighbour of mine only swims at night

they have lived here for years....both very fair - no tan at all!

better than sunburn

Fuzzlepop

I burn at first then from then on its all tan, once I get the tan I hardly burn. I use factor 12 and it works for me. Although at the start had painful sunburn on legs when I made the switch from sunbathing with trousers on to wearing shorts. Just don't go in the pool if you do put more cream on, the waterproof thing is a lie imo. I went in the other day and came out went on balcony in sun then got burnt arms but luckily went overnight.

Right time to go out and and catch some more rays

crispy

Use a higher factor, even a total block and apply it more often. I always ware a baseball cap even when I am swimming as I have burnt my head when in the pool (take it off if swimming underwater and pop it back on after).

OH always where his hat when pottering about in the garden, you would not believe just gardening for 15 mins can cause sunburn of the old bonce if you are a wee bit thin on the ground

Mitzyboy

Trouble is I'm coming to the conclusion I'm getting burned in the pool. I remember in Vegas some years ago staying in the pool to keep cool and I got terrible sunburn, naively not realising it can be worse in the water

crispy

As well as the cap you can slip on a thin T-shirt....just a thought

jdr

I only used cream once and ended up burnt, it gives a false sense of security.
I just go in it for a while then go in the shade, increasing the sun time slowly each time.
I never go white though, so never seem to burn, but I can tell when I have had enough and never overdo it.
Dont forget the rays still go through water, sun shades etc though so be very careful. ;-)

Pam Sarky

My hubby was a work one day listening to the radio. There was an item on skin cancer discribing what the mole looks like if it is cancerous. Hubby then looked at the mole he had on his stomach and decided to get it checked out to put his mind at rest. His doctor had a look at it and told him he didnt think it was anything to worry about but would refer him to a specialist just in case. It a good job he did because it was skin cancer!! They took a biopsy and within a week he was in Christies having half his stomach taken away to make sure it couldnt spread. He had the all clear a few years ago but he is now paranoid about the sun. From now till September he will put factor 30 or above all over then put his hat on and sit in the shade. He then re-applies sun cream about every half hour. In the winter he puts factor 30 on but only once or twice through the day.

When we first met 19 years ago I had a mole on my arm. Benny had just been through his ordeal and noticed this mole. I thought my mole looked quite attractive but he kept mithering me to go to the doctors. The doctor referred me and they took the mole out. The specialist told me there were the very early signs of cancer there but it was so early that I didnt need further surgery. They also said that if I had never had it looked at then there was a chance I could be dead in 5 years!!!! So in my view Benny saved my life, because there was me thinking I had an attractive mole but it could have been deadly.

crispy

Where the sun is concerned I am a shrinking violet, I think I must be the only person that had 3 weeks in the Caribbean and came back as white as I went.

The only time I am out in the sun is walking between the house/shop and car, when we go for our late afternoon walk, and just before I dish a meal up (very hot cooking) then on with the cap and in to the pool. I will not even sit outside a bar unless there is some shade, and I still get a tan so just imagine if I was to sit out in it; I have never got sun burn in the four years I have been here except for the once I burnt my head in the pool.

rugbymatt

may I suggest something?

Rosemary

To wear or to dance around?????

Rosemary

rachelk

Good point. Even when you think you're in the shade you're not completely protected. I try to wear factor 50 at all times (fair skinned and burn easily) but I think the danger is those "oh, i'll only be out for 10 mins" as you go to hang out the washing / nip to the shops etc. Those 10 mins all add up.

julie22

Mitzyboy - coat your head with tomato ketchup and put on a rubber head cap - it worked for me

jdr

I use one of those Ozzie/jungle type hats, half fill it up with water then put it on your head, excellent cooling system.

jdr

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