Four things The first is don't get a tan - it is not worth it. Second, if you really must I'd try Banana Boat SPF 50; the kids version, it is cheaper and is what I use. I have to, just to go out of the house. Third, always wear very high quality sun glasses with 100% UVA/UVB protection - the last thing you want is an eye melanoma. Fourth, use a hat, preferably cowboy style* but if you don't want to look like a prat, get a genuine Panama, (one of these because they just roll up if you are not wearing it).
Years of being in the sun has trashed my skin. (Particularly the right hand side of my face, probably because I always used to drive with the window down.)
My first batch of skin cancer was diagnosed 27 years ago. This year alone I have had 9 bits sliced out of my face and scalp in two separate operations. It doesn't go away and is not fun.
* Get a Bailey rather than a Stetson, they are better IMO.
Edited to add: fun fact of the day Panama hats are made in Equador, not Panama.
My father died from skin cancer so my advice would be, sit in the shade with a cold beer instead. The holiday tan that was always so important to show you had been away, two weeks to get it, 2 weeks to lose it and permanent damage to your skin.
Living where I do, I'm horrified at some of the sights on show the minute the sun's out.
So many people still think the day out's not complete without turning themselves red raw. Most people seem a bit more sensible with their kids these days but there's still a huge amount of work to do educating people how bad it can be for our health.
There are few sights that say summer in England more than a bloke with a naked massive beer belly hanging over his shorts flip flopping his way to the shops, turning red.
I walked the dogs yesterday at Hall Place, Bexleyheath (before anyone says, dogs were in the water the whole time, apart from the walk to and from the car park, and I stayed in the shade, chucking the ball for them, and had my sun hat on)
There was a lady there with her 3 kids - the kids were in swim shorts, in the water, and no sun cream on that I could see
She was laying on her front, sunbathing and her back was as red as a cricket ball
I said ‘your back looks really burned, do you have sun cream on ?’
She says ‘nah, I never use sun cream, once I have burned, I will go nice and brown’
Utter madness - there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was around 30 degrees
Its not yet 10 am today, and my thermometer is already nearly 30 degrees - awful
I walked the dogs yesterday at Hall Place, Bexleyheath (before anyone says, dogs were in the water the whole time, apart from the walk to and from the car park, and I stayed in the shade, chucking the ball for them, and had my sun hat on)
There was a lady there with her 3 kids - the kids were in swim shorts, in the water, and no sun cream on that I could see
She was laying on her front, sunbathing and her back was as red as a cricket ball
I said ‘your back looks really burned, do you have sun cream on ?’
She says ‘nah, I never use sun cream, once I have burned, I will go nice and brown’
Utter madness - there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was around 30 degrees
Its not yet 10 am today, and my thermometer is already nearly 30 degrees - awful
A couple of my older mates never use suncream. One of them's got an old classic like mine (no roof) and we went out for a drive to Otford on Saturday morning. I had factor 50 all over my face/swede plus cap and sunglasses on. He didn't have anything. When you ask him about it, he just says that he's outdoors all the time anyway and is already brown.
I walked the dogs yesterday at Hall Place, Bexleyheath (before anyone says, dogs were in the water the whole time, apart from the walk to and from the car park, and I stayed in the shade, chucking the ball for them, and had my sun hat on)
There was a lady there with her 3 kids - the kids were in swim shorts, in the water, and no sun cream on that I could see
She was laying on her front, sunbathing and her back was as red as a cricket ball
I said ‘your back looks really burned, do you have sun cream on ?’
She says ‘nah, I never use sun cream, once I have burned, I will go nice and brown’
Utter madness - there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was around 30 degrees
Its not yet 10 am today, and my thermometer is already nearly 30 degrees - awful
A couple of my older mates never use suncream. One of them's got an old classic like mine (no roof) and we went out for a drive to Otford on Saturday morning. I had factor 50 all over my face/swede plus cap and sunglasses on. He didn't have anything. When you ask him about it, he just says that he's outdoors all the time anyway and is already brown.
I walked the dogs yesterday at Hall Place, Bexleyheath (before anyone says, dogs were in the water the whole time, apart from the walk to and from the car park, and I stayed in the shade, chucking the ball for them, and had my sun hat on)
There was a lady there with her 3 kids - the kids were in swim shorts, in the water, and no sun cream on that I could see
She was laying on her front, sunbathing and her back was as red as a cricket ball
I said ‘your back looks really burned, do you have sun cream on ?’
She says ‘nah, I never use sun cream, once I have burned, I will go nice and brown’
Utter madness - there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was around 30 degrees
Its not yet 10 am today, and my thermometer is already nearly 30 degrees - awful
A couple of my older mates never use suncream. One of them's got an old classic like mine (no roof) and we went out for a drive to Otford on Saturday morning. I had factor 50 all over my face/swede plus cap and sunglasses on. He didn't have anything. When you ask him about it, he just says that he's outdoors all the time anyway and is already brown.
Four things The first is don't get a tan - it is not worth it. Second, if you really must I'd try Banana Boat SPF 50; the kids version, it is cheaper and is what I use. I have to, just to go out of the house. Third, always wear very high quality sun glasses with 100% UVA/UVB protection - the last thing you want is an eye melanoma. Fourth, use a hat, preferably cowboy style* but if you don't want to look like a prat, get a genuine Panama, (one of these because they just roll up if you are not wearing it).
Years of being in the sun has trashed my skin. (Particularly the right hand side of my face, probably because I always used to drive with the window down.)
My first batch of skin cancer was diagnosed 27 years ago. This year alone I have had 9 bits sliced out of my face and scalp in two separate operations. It doesn't go away and is not fun.
* Get a Bailey rather than a Stetson, they are better IMO.
Edited to add: fun fact of the day Panama hats are made in Equador, not Panama.
Not as many times as your good self but I've been under the knife three times in the last 15 years. One was a melanoma that required the attempts to remove it. The other two times it was as a precautionary process All three ops required over 20 stitches so it's no laughing matter. Because I used to go Brown very quickly and never burn I never considered myself to be at serious risk. The reality is that everyone is at risk. Just be careful folks it's no fun if you catch it.
Just to confirm btw, that ain't me. I'm almost always the palest person on the plane coming home from a holiday. I got really badly burnt as a kid, so I'm always very cautious and have zero ability to either get a tan or keep a tan so gave up years ago even trying.
I've also had bits taken off my, otherwise perfect mush, taken off so I took that as a warning to be extra careful even when just walking about in it.
I picked up some skin pigmentation damage on my face from the years of cycling without skin protection, so I tend to wear either factor 50 or a big hat when I go out in the sun now, at the direction of my doctor. We've always got a spray bottle by the front door and always apply if going out for more than 10 mins.
Comments
2. apply suncream (minimum Factor 30)
3. lay down.
If you want to tan your front, lie on your back. If you want to tan your back, lie on your front.
All of the above generally works best in sunny conditions. It doesn't work if you are indoors or in heavy shade.
My general rule of thumb is that if it's raining, don't waste your time.
Years of being in the sun has trashed my skin. (Particularly the right hand side of my face, probably because I always used to drive with the window down.)
My first batch of skin cancer was diagnosed 27 years ago. This year alone I have had 9 bits sliced out of my face and scalp in two separate operations. It doesn't go away and is not fun.
* Get a Bailey rather than a Stetson, they are better IMO.
Edited to add: fun fact of the day Panama hats are made in Equador, not Panama.
https://www.livescience.com/62670-is-any-tanning-safe.html
The holiday tan that was always so important to show you had been away, two weeks to get it, 2 weeks to lose it and permanent damage to your skin.
So many people still think the day out's not complete without turning themselves red raw. Most people seem a bit more sensible with their kids these days but there's still a huge amount of work to do educating people how bad it can be for our health.
There was a lady there with her 3 kids - the kids were in swim shorts, in the water, and no sun cream on that I could see
She was laying on her front, sunbathing and her back was as red as a cricket ball
I said ‘your back looks really burned, do you have sun cream on ?’
She says ‘nah, I never use sun cream, once I have burned, I will go nice and brown’
Utter madness - there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was around 30 degrees
Its not yet 10 am today, and my thermometer is already nearly 30 degrees - awful
When you don't want to ask your mate to slap some cream over your back for you.
[insert Kenneth Williams pic here]
One was a melanoma that required the attempts to remove it.
The other two times it was as a precautionary process
All three ops required over 20 stitches so it's no laughing matter.
Because I used to go Brown very quickly and never burn I never considered myself to be at serious risk.
The reality is that everyone is at risk.
Just be careful folks it's no fun if you catch it.
I've also had bits taken off my, otherwise perfect mush, taken off so I took that as a warning to be extra careful even when just walking about in it.
We've always got a spray bottle by the front door and always apply if going out for more than 10 mins.