to not know what counts as sunburn?

[rosesinmarch]

Obviously, if it's sore, blisters, or peels quickly in strips, it's probably not great.

But pink, not sore, goes away again (or turns brown) in a couple of days - surely that's OK?

Pink is sunburn. I have very pale skin, went on holiday abroad a few weeks ago, used enough sun cream and didn't go pink. A tan is sun damage by the way. Sorry if that is patronising but some people still don't realise.

Hospital treatment is required

Partial-thickness burns larger then 1% of the body surface (an area the size of the palm of the casualty's hand)

All superficial burns larger than 5% of the casualty's body surface (equivalent to 5 palm areas)

If there is extensive blistering or other skin damage.

Pink is sun burn.

Pink is sun burn. Just put some aftersun on and stay hydrated.

I just can't believe that a bit pink can really do that much harm. All the studies linking to cancer seem to be about painful burns. Surely we're evolved to withstand a bit pink?

It's sunburn if your skin changes colour from your normal shade, to pink, through red to blisters. It can be painful, but doesn't have to be.

You don't define sunburn by whether it needs hospitalisation, FFS.

Anything that changes colour in less than three days can be called sunburn (so definitely pink counts). I'm sure it's meant to take 3 days for a 'tan' to come up although arguably any change in colour is skin damage.

And thank you all for your posts.

Nope. Even what we think of as "tan" is really sun damage.

No, pink is sun burn and of you are regularly burning you are putting yourself at risk.

You can also get skin cancer from repeated sunburns. The damage to your skin (not just cancer) is cumulative. ALWAYS use sun protection.

My dad was a PE teacher and was out in all weathers. He didn't burn but built up a tan slowly. He's had 2 basal cell carcinomas and 1 squamous cell carcinoma. He's also had treatment for actinosing keratitis which is a precancerous condition.

Which studies have you read that say you have to burn to get cancer?

Yes, sorry, that wasn't very precise. I meant melanoma. I don't pretend to have read all the source papers, but the evidence does seem to relate mainly to painful burns.

Thank you again for your responses. I'm not trying to provoke (I realise thiscan be a sensitive subject) - this is just something that confuses me a little, especially since the sun is also so good for you in other ways (and some of us can't enjoy that without getting a little pink from time to time).

You can enjoy it without getting pink. Of you are getting pink you are out in it too long. Use a higher spf.

Blistering sunburn is a major risk factor for melanomas, as are sunbeds see here for example.

Gradual tanning is also a risk factor for skin cancer but IMO outweighed by the many other health benefits of sun exposure - it's like cycling to work- you might be run over by a lorry, but on balance you're more likely to live longer.

Yes, LadyIsabella, I suppose this is what I'm trying to figure out. Thank you.

You can safely supplement Vitamin D (they do in Australia, for example).

It's my understanding that you can't "stock up" Vitamin D, which means that in places like the UK even if you're exposed every now and then chances are you still might be deficient in Vit D.

Considering that, best to take a pill every day and avoid sun damage.

I think what people don't realise is that the skin cancers don't appear immediately, it can be when you are in your 60s and 70s that the suddenly crop up.

My grandfather was always tanned, gardened, never went abroad or sun bathed and looked the picture of health. In his 70s he got cancers over the tops of his ears, head and needed most of his cheek removed at 80.

Not nice.

They run ads on the tv here in Oz though telling people to make sure they get a bit of Vitamin D by going out for a short walk on a summer evening, for example. Everyone here is so careful not to burn, slapping on the factor 30 and covering up that they started to become deficient in Vit D. have to say I was surprised by the ads though, but I haven't seen a sunburnt person since i moved here ( with the exception of the occasional newly arrived Pom.

if you are pink, you are burned. Only slightly, no treatment needed, but you have just upped your risk of skin cancer and wrinkles.

how can anyone not know this?

I'm surprised, glastocat.

I lived in Sydney for close to 10 years up until recently and you couldn't move for sun-safety advice not to mention poor school kids' weird uniform hats

When I left, most people I knew were very aware of Vit D deficiency and taking supplements

I was surprised too! It was one of the first ads I saw here, they did mention supplements too but they also had a bit about going for a walk, they used an Aussie celeb who was diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency, but I haven't a clue who she was. But they are shit hot on hats, sun cream etc too.

Right well interestingly, there have been studies which show that the risk of non metastasising cancers (basal, squamous - in most cases) is increased in manual, outdoor workers.

Their risk of melanoma is LOWER though.

Melanoms is pretty much the only sort that will kill you, and the people at highest risk of that seem to be those who live in less hot climates then go abroad for a few weeks to somewhere extremely hot, from time to time. No time to build up a natural defence, but sudden exposure to very hot sun.

So I'd take a few basal cells at 70 over melanoma at 35 any day.

I'm a freckly redhead, and I can state categorically that it IS possible to avoid pinkness - I am diligent in applying factor 50 before going anywhere in the sun. This year, I am freckled, but have not gone pink once. Different story in my youth (some 40 years ago) when people weren't so aware of the damage done by the sun - back then I burned frequently, and am now extra careful because I know the effects are cumulative, and gawd knows what's stored up in my skin!

Yeah, after all who needs a cheek at 70?