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Original poster

Childhood sunburn from the 80s

116 replies

Iceniii · 14/06/2021 13:57

I use to burn a lot in the 80s and probably 90s. DB and I use to have competitions on the largest piece of skin we could pull off. My nose use to peel dreadful. Having watched a non blood relative die of skin cancer, does anyone else really worry? I don't think my parents knew about suncream and if they did it would be factor 6 or 8 once a day. I use factor 50 now but think the damage has been done.

OP posts:
Yellowbrickrobe · 14/06/2021 13:58

I don’t worry about it but I had severe sunburn every year for ten years in the eighties. Either I’ll get it or I won’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

FourTeaFallOut · 14/06/2021 14:04

No, I don't worry. It's no more a concern than every other thing that can cause cancer.

Imapotato · 14/06/2021 14:05

We have skin cancer in the family, uncle did actually die from it. I got sun burnt a lot when I was younger. I do think about it from time to time, but I’ve not had any signs yet and dwelling on it won’t make it less likely to happen, so I don’t give it loads of thought.

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Purplewithred · 14/06/2021 14:13

Was just discussing this today with a fellow 60 year old who's just had a cancer scraped off his nose. My older sister's also had a skin cancer, she spent most of the late 70s and early 80s frying in the Greek sun slathered in olive oil.

jasminoide · 14/06/2021 14:13

I remember crying daily with pain from sunburn on holiday and DM saying "no pain no gain" Hmm. Getting a tan (to show people we had been away) was really important to her. I'm very much a factor 50 person and DM always comments post holiday that it looks like we have never been away.

jasminoide · 14/06/2021 14:15

Just to add, we have melanoma in the family. I had to get a few moles checked out recently and the consultant asked if I'd ever been sunburned as a child. She said having sunburn three times increased your chance of skin cancer in adulthood by up to 60%, or some similar statistic. It's amazing I'm still here!

scubaprincess · 14/06/2021 14:21

Yes I worry too but try not to dwell on it as I'm controlling what I can now-daily use of spf on face/chest, shade etc.. I used to burn awfully on my chest as my DM used to say that sun burn meant you'd get a better tan! I think things were different in 80s as there is more info and knowledge around now. Just remain sensibly vigilant for skin changes and deal with them if they arise.

OpalBerry · 14/06/2021 14:21

One of the primary school dads died young of skin cancer sadly, when mine were at primary school, leaving 2 young dc.

Einszwei · 14/06/2021 14:23

I don't worry about it on a day to day basis. However, I wouldn't hesitate to get any strange mole checked out.

Fnib · 14/06/2021 14:24

I burnt as a child too. I think we all did in those days. Do you remember all the 'tanning lotions' that were aimed at getting you brown and nothing to do with protection.
I'm sorry, I can't help, only that most of us burnt (even in uk) and not all of us have or will get skin cancer.
DH was looking at child today wearing a hat and slathered in cream, and he wondered out loud if the sun is more dangerous now due to climate change, or if it's just that we didn't know years ago.
As usual, I replied 'it's probably a bit of both'.
I'm sorry you're feeling anxious OP, and can only suggest that we all check moles monthly at the same time as we check our breasts.
Best wishes Flowers

Original poster
Iceniii · 14/06/2021 14:28

Yes. We use to use carrot oil I think!

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 14/06/2021 14:28

I remember being sunburned in the 60s, nobody used sunscreen then just oil to help tanning. As a red head I had no chance of getting a tan. The dangers were known about in the 80s, though, I read an article in the early 80s and have slathered myself in sunscreen ever since even when my friends laughed at me.

ClaudiaWankleman · 14/06/2021 14:28

does anyone else really worry?

It's something to be alert for, but it isn't something to worry about. Not only is it completely out of your control whether you actually go on to develop melanoma, you cannot undo what happened before you were aware.

Everything in life carries some kind of risk, but you have to get on with it. Being sensible about noticing new moles or other indicators is the only thing that is in your control.

HarrisMcCoo · 14/06/2021 14:33

Was hospitalised as a child as DParents had left me running around all day in scorching sun without any sun cream on. Very painful.

I don't worry about whether I will get skin cancer though. If I get it, I get it. Just like any other type of cancer.

redheadonatractor · 14/06/2021 14:35

Oh I used to get so burned in the 90s. We used to lie outside with baby oil on HmmIdiotic. It really really hurt too, and I'm fair skinned!

I as an adult in my late twenties did a month in Australia, in January, (their summer, it was hot) and didn't come back with a tan. I had one incident of crispy shoulders whilst I was there where I missed a bit and got a real telling off from a local^^ lady when I went for a massage about how dangerous it to burn.

Factor 50 all the way for me these days, oh how times have changed.

Yes though I do sometimes think mine is a generation that will have a lot more skin cancer than my children's. My children have never burned, always wear SPF 50 or 30 at least, wear suitable light clothing, always have a hat on in the hot weather and drink a lot of water. We never drank a lot either!

Golden2021 · 14/06/2021 14:37

My mum was a right cunt over letting us burn in the 80s. At least one night would be spent in bed shivering with sunstroke. Encouraged to use sunbeds in my teens. Absolute fucking joke. She's had skin cancer now, but is still really really funny about using sunscreen. I just don't get it.

BertieBotts · 14/06/2021 14:42

Agree - something to be aware of and look out for signs of skin cancer. But not to worry about, what's done is done and worrying won't help.

I expect we've been exposed to lots of things which cause cancer without knowing about it. That doesn't mean everyone or even a large proportion will go on to get it, or the link would have been known much sooner.

PattyPan · 14/06/2021 14:43

My dad had a cancerous mole, fortunately he got it checked out and removed and it doesn’t seem to have recurred or anything. I guess all you can do it protect your skin now and check yourself regularly.

Doodahtee · 20/07/2021 15:41

@jasminoide - is that three times in childhood or in general?

Arsebucket · 20/07/2021 15:47

My mum thought any sun cream was so that you could get a tan.

I used to beg for some as a child when i would burn and I was always told off for asking, she thoughts I wanted it to get a tan so boys would look at me Hmm

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 20/07/2021 15:53

DH and I both grew up in hot countries and what you describe is very familiar OP. We both see a dermatologist regularly to get our moles checked over. I've had one removed that was pre-cancerous. We're also very careful about avoiding the sun as much as possible now.

sofato5miles · 20/07/2021 15:53

I burnt loads as a child and my dermatologist said it is the damage before 15 that is the worst. 🤷🏻‍♀️
I have had 2 v dodgy moles removed and have checks every 6 months now

SamusIsAGirl · 20/07/2021 16:06

I remember high factor sunscreen being a factor 15 and it costing an arm and a leg. And sucking up sunburn on noses and shoulders for days 1 and 2 until we'd got acclimatized - we did stay out of the sun around midday.

Iloveitall · 20/07/2021 16:07

@jasminoide

I remember crying daily with pain from sunburn on holiday and DM saying "no pain no gain" Hmm. Getting a tan (to show people we had been away) was really important to her. I'm very much a factor 50 person and DM always comments post holiday that it looks like we have never been away.
Oh my god. You poor thing.
superduster · 20/07/2021 16:28

I vaguely remember being taken to casualty in the late 1980s as my Dad decided it was a good idea for an exceptionally fair skinned child to spend a summer day on the beach in just pants.