To wonder about sunburnt children before suncream was popularised?

Yeah, the sunbed thing is insane. I tried one years and years ago, my in-laws had one in their house. It was awful. Hot, claustrophobic, and burny! I felt like a toasted sandwich. I never did it again.

It amazes me that they are still legal @KimberleyClark. I fear that many of those who use them will regret it.

But plenty of younger people still use sunbeds.

It's important to recognise that melanoma is generally a disease of the old though. Yes, those who started serious sunbathing back in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's are the prime candidates for it now, but also the 80+ are the biggest cohort, as they are with all cancers.

most new melanomas are diagnosed in people over 55, with the biggest increase in the over-80s

Thanks @trainedopossum It was a shock but they got it very early on... less than 0.3mm deep. I don't much like my scar but it's a small price to pay.

I go for a mole scan every November now. Costs a couple of hundred quid. They photograph every inch of me and the computer compares it with the images from the previous year to identify any changes. Much more effective than me trying to note changes myself.

I know so many people now who have had skin cancer issues from childhood and young adulthood without much suncream...

I was born in the late 60s and don't remember hearing about sunscreen (PABA) until the late 80s or possibly 90s? I didn't grow up in the UK, maybe it was different here. I vividly remember our lovely neighbour telling me she was using SPF sunscreen as though it was a brand new thing.

Surprised that the idea of a base tan being protective seems to have persisted despite a tan being evidence of sun damage.

PinotPony sorry that happened to you! Was it difficult getting diagnosed? I have a similar mole in what looks like exactly the same place but GP is saying it's not an ugly duckling so nothing to worry about. I've had several relatives with melanoma and if you look at the various melanoma websites it doesn't look as straightforward as the ugly duckling theory. Some of the benign examples look exactly like the malignant ones!

I was little in the 80s and don't ever remember suncream unless we were on holiday abroad.

My mum always made us wear a t.shirt when we were kids, even in the pool and especially on the beach and a sun hat.
Although we took the hat off in the pool / sea.
We never got sunburn as far as I remember.
I always made my kids wear the same, they've never had sunburn either.

80s child- we’d just be sent into the shade regularly and smothered in sun cream while my mum put on baby oil to get a better tan!!! My dad used to give out to her about it!

Interesting article in the Times today.
Perhaps they get there story ideas from here eh?

Melanoma cases are rising. Here’s my advice for avoiding skin cancer

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1ded3dd0-9830-4b39-8e86-d3946d82e222?shareToken=dd6b4b184ea0889e05108109607b5afe

Geography definitely plays a part as the UV index is much higher in countries like Australia which is closer to the equator and closer to the sun during summer. The UV index can also be high when the temperature is lower so there has always been an aspect of "it doesn't get hot enough" to worry.
The UV levels are increasing though, or the ozone layer is thinning, and will continue to do so. Thankfully, there is a lot more awareness now. It can often take decades to develop so an awareness often comes too late.

I don't understand why sunbeds are not illegal. Every single exposure causes skin damage, there is no 'safe' level. That's not to say everyone who uses one will develop skin cancer but their skin cells will be damaged.

Genetics plays a part as well with the more melanin in the skin resulting in a lesser risk of skin cancer.

I was born in 1978, we had sunscreen but we
re lax about typing up. I remember many bad burns and peeling skin.

I grew up in the late 70's/80s - sun cream was something that you would only use abroad not in the UK really. Getting sun burnt was seen as the first step of getting a sun tan. I can remember being pleased with getting sun burnt as it meant I was going to get a sun tan.

People really only got concerned if you got burnt to a crisp - blisters and peeling but then pretty much everyone I knew did this at some point to some part of their body.

The ozone layer is thinner, so UV more harmful now.

Some skin cancers are closely correlated with childhood exposure so takes years for the damage to come to fruition

It already exists! Just have a Google ☺️

As a child in the 60’s I got badly burnt a few times, and I mean blisters and very sore skin, and I actually have a skin that tans well. There was no suncream, we would wear hats, but other than that you just took your chances. Why so many of my generation have some form of other of skin cancer. Ignorance was bliss, and we were encouraged to tan until we were very, very dark. That was the fashion, whereas now days people are encouraged to have a healthy glow rather than very dark. The first time I used sun cream in Spain aged 19 it was little more than olive oil and lemon. Talk about how to cook yourself!

Born in 1953 in a seaside town, spent all my summer weekend/holidays at the beech burnt so badly my back blistered on more than one occasion. Touchwood I've had no nasties as a result of my exposure. Thankfully by the time my own children were out and about we were living in the Far East and had a load of Aussie friends who educated us on the harmful effects of the sun.

Born late 70's. We always used sun cream - usually of around factor 4 though. Indon't remeber burning until i was older. Both of my parents loved a tan!!

I wish pale would be seen again as attractive.

i like being pale. I don’t like this narrative that tanned is “lovely” and “healthy”

one of my kids has the most beautiful pale Celtic skin. She doesn’t see it and spends hours and ££££ on fake tan products.

fortunately my dire warnings got through and she does keep out the sun/wear F50.

@KimberleyClark there you go , one of many similar products

https://www.johnlewis.com/lancome-soleil-bronzer-cream/p919556?size=SPF50&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwr7ayBhAPEiwA6EIGxOa2WL6W3AN9aLNCydq_clxTW_auqo16NHA_TF8S45qV35NtBRROmhoCPY8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I just wish someone would invent a factor 50 sun ream that has a self tanning ingredient so you could tan and protect your skin at the same time!

Another problem with sunscreen at the time was that it only really blocked UVA. UVB wasn't considered as harmful then. So if you put high factor sunscreen on and then stayed out all day in the sun you would have got a massive dose of UVB. In a way, it was not necessarily a bad thing therefore that people relied more on staying in the shade and clothing not to burn.

Did you see my comment on 200ml of Boots Soltan F15 in 1997 costing the equivalent of £18 in today's money?

I think that explains a lot. Sunscreen was very expensive.

My mum worked and I was sent to an outdoor pool every day. Suncream existed. I remember asking for some one day and she said no, nivea was just the same. I would burn badly every summer and she thought it was hilarious. I would have huge blisters and all my skin would be peeling off. It was like a snowstorm every time I took my tshirt off. I remember having to stand in public while she jabbed at me with calamine and a bit of cotton wool and people would stare. I don't think she could have afforded the spf tbh.

To this day they don't like me using suncream on my DC. My dad is obsessed with vitamin d deficiency and starts on about it whenever I mention suncream. I would only usually put sun cream on them for school on sports day when they would be outside all day but he doesn't even agree with that. They are indoors at break and lunch the rest of the year.

I have nobody who could look at my back for me, and that worries me.