Childhood sunburn from the 80s

[Iceniii]

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.

Tans do look healthy on lots of people (but not everyone really depends on your skin tone)... But that doesn't mean it's healthy.

Meat eaters also look healthier than vegans and vegans live 6 years longer on average so you can't always trust your eyes about what's healthy.

@Shelddd

Tans do look healthy on lots of people (but not everyone really depends on your skin tone)... But that doesn't mean it's healthy.

Meat eaters also look healthier than vegans and vegans live 6 years longer on average so you can't always trust your eyes about what's healthy.

Oh yeah I know that, but it doesn't change my initial reaction! It doesn't stop me sitting in the sun either. I'd rather have less years that I actually enjoy. Hiding away from the sun but potentially living an extra few years doesn't appeal to me!

I sit in the sun too, I don't avoid it but just limit my exposure enough to not get burnt. That means covering up or seeking out shade in peak UV hours (or avoiding them).. or at least wearing a high SPF zinc oxide sunscreen if I can't avoid it. I don't wear sunscreen all the time just enough to avoid a burn. I haven't been burnt in years and still regularly go outside in the sun. I do have a tan for half the year. I don't think you need to run away from it but definitely need to be smart. Like I said before vitamin d deficiency is more likely to kill you then melanoma if you look at the statistics and studies.

I've pretty much accepted that I will get skin cancer at some point, it's just a matter of when. I have celtic genes (although not especially pale skin), my mother, uncle and grandfather have all had skin cancer/malignent melanomas, I lived in 2 different hot countries as a child, spent a lot of time in the sun, and until I knew better, wore factor 2 suntan oil, and of course had many bad sunburns. I'm fairly pragmatic about it - I can't change the past, all I can do is be aware for any changes and get them checked ASAP. And to be honest, I'd rather have the family history of skin cancer than the family history of pancreatic cancer that DH has - his mother and about half a dozen of her siblings have died of it.

And I do sit in the sun now, I just tend to use factor 50 when I do!

Sun protection was more expensive in the 80s too. I can only remember it being available in Boots, none of this cheap supermarket stuff.

The highlight of my teenage holidays was my sister and I peeling the skin off each other. Bizarre looking back on it now though.

I have just realised I still call it “sun tan lotion”. Old habits die hard. And I’m fanatically about the kids wearing it however I still love the sun and like having a tan.

@Monestera

Sun protection was more expensive in the 80s too. I can only remember it being available in Boots, none of this cheap supermarket stuff.

I was very into cosmetics and beauty products in the 80s as a teen.

IIRC, the 'expensive'/posh ones were £3 - 4.99. About the same cost as the Christmas selection boxes of perfume miniatures.

Last time I looked (when I bought some a month ago), most seemed to be a minimum of a tenner and the posh ones were well over twenty quid.

Even though the relative costs have come down through economies of scale, increased demand and the expiry of patents, etc, even working on a till after school at £1.32 an hour was more than enough to buy a bottle of Nivea after a single Friday evening shift.

God, I burnt many times as a child/teenager, and also as an adult. We used to use carrot oil and spend all day in the sun, in the uk and abroad. I also used sunbeds for years in my late teens/early 20's (and in my 30's so I had a tan for my wedding). So I do worry, in fact I may book to have a mole check sooner rather than later.

Last time I looked (when I bought some a month ago), most seemed to be a minimum of a tenner and the posh ones were well over twenty quid.

Your are looking in the wrong places. I think this year's supplies were £4 or £5 a bottle and on 3 for 2 from Sainsbury's. SPF50 & 5*. So 3 bottles for either £10 or £8. One kids one with extra water resistance, one to go with LO to nursery, and a clear one for the bauld spot.

My local chemist also has them for £5 a bottle.

I think the price has dropped significantly. My kids were faffing with a bottle, my mum commented that it's was "expensive", really it's not, but I do remember you used to pay more for the higher factors.

I think the price has dropped significantly. My kids were faffing with a bottle, my mum commented that it's was "expensive", really it's not, but I do remember you used to pay more for the higher factors.

Yes, and it was factors 2,7 and 15. Burning was just part of summer 🤷‍♀️

Something else that has changed. I remember seeing men tops off and scarlet. Having worked on building sites with no protection whatsoever.

That has changed with the advent of hi-vis and the requirements for them to be worn at all times. And employers are expected to raise awareness of sunscreen for people working outdoors.

For those of you who always avoid the sun please make sure to get vitamin d levels checked. You can always take a supplement if they are low... But avoiding the sun + plus living in northern climate is perfect recipe for low vitamin d... Which can increase your risk of heart disease and some cancers by really high amounts. So please go get it checked.

I agree with this, mine was in single figures.

Another thing to state is if you have dark or black skin you CAN burn, even if you don't burn you can still get skin damage and you are also at rusk for low vitamin D.

I’ve just checked my email and the mole clinic is actually £170 and that’s with £75 off. Too expensive for most. I do think we need better provision for checking all moles, getting them photographed and monitoring them. They have better provision in Australia.

I do think we need better provision for checking all moles, getting them photographed and monitoring them

The nhs will often do mole checks. I went for one itchy one and derm checked the lot. I don’t know if they bother photographing, some trusts used to but now I think they just remove anything vaguely dodgy. I have a lot, as in a lot of moles and would take hours to photograph them all.

With everyone having digital cameras now it’s relatively easy to document yourself- this is what I did over lockdown and just sent the pics straight to dermatology.

I grew up in the north east & can't remember ever being sunburned or putting on suncream. Perks of living somewhere with gloomy weather I suppose