Sun exposure - do you believe it is as bad as they say?

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  • Missouwechanged
    Missouwechanged Posts: 963 Member
    I definitely do not argue about protecting your skin but I don't beleive in avoiding sun exposure. We certainly cannot live under a dome. I am not the type of person who will lay down in the sun, I am more of the active type.
  • Missouwechanged
    Missouwechanged Posts: 963 Member
    Oups, double post. Sorry
  • srp2011
    srp2011 Posts: 1,829 Member
    I definitely do not argue about protecting your skin but I don't beleive in avoiding sun exposure. We certainly cannot live under a dome. I am not the type of person who will lay down in the sun, I am more of the active type.

    I love being outdoors too - I just wear sunscreen when I'm going to be out for any length of time, especially from noon - 6, spring, summer, fall (though for those who like to play in the snow, or ski, definitely wear sunscreen because snow and water reflect the sun and amplify its effects.
  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    some sun exposure is good for you..and we need it..it helps with vitamin d production.

    when it becomes harmful is when we are over exposed to it. those at higher altitudes have less 'atmosphere' for the light waves to filter through have higher chances of skin cancer than those at the sunny beach. given the same amount of sun exposure. not to mention flying in planes the amount of radiation period you're getting.
  • kayleeblue
    kayleeblue Posts: 273
    I'm guilty of turbo tanning 2 days per week and laid in the sun today..I'm sure at some point I will truly regret doing this..But right now it makes me feel good...And right now I need to feel good. Do I recommend this NO. But I do what I need to do to make it through the next day.
  • NanoReefDiver
    NanoReefDiver Posts: 153
    I have skin issues and my doctor recommended getting my daily dose of sun to cope with it. It felt so good when I started, I didn't realize how little sun I was getting (house to car, car to school, not much time outdoors at all in the winter!) Now my skin rebels if I miss a few days. Sun in moderation has been a great thing for me :happy:
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    yes. I have wrinkles starting on my stomach from tanning for 4 years, and i'm only 19. I'm sure I will die of skin cancer.
  • tlapdx72
    tlapdx72 Posts: 311 Member
    I would say be very careful in the sun. there are other ways to get vitamin d. I have a 4 inch scar on my back from skin cancer, and I have to get checked every 6 months. I use to feel that a little sun wouldn't hurt, and now I know different.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I can't recommend deliberately lying out in the sun to tan. I don't know how much sun it takes to cause a melanoma but I do know that it can make you die a painful and lingering death. My mum is currently in pallistive care with only a few days or weeks to live, thanks to melanoma. Please don't do this yo yourself and your family.

    (Regarding prevalence of skin cancer, I don't have time to look up the stats right now as I have to go to the hospital, but it is very high here in Australia. Most people here will get plenty of vitamin D through incidental exposure to the sun even if you aren't trying).
  • nursekj
    nursekj Posts: 100 Member
    YES YES and YES!!
    Down here in NZ you get fried really quickly but when I was in Europe I got sunburnt quite badly even with sunscreen so the northern hemisphere is getting higher UV exposure. I use Neutrogena factor 70 on body and factor 100 on my face as Im on a drug that makes you burn easily.

    NZ has a high rate of melanoma and I see the bad effects of it frequently and know of more than 5 people who have died of it in their 40's and 50's. I used to scrub with Australias leading Melanoma surgeon and trust me I could paint you a horrific picture. Secondary melanoma can metastacise in your body and lymph nodes quickly, requiring bowel resections, neck dissections, liver lobectomies or the just open you up heave a sad sigh and close you up as you are terminal...

    Everyone who has had sun exposure they should be having yearly mole checkup - yes stripping to underwear with doctor. Or undergo a professional mole mapping service that may just save your life. Note you can even have melanomas on the sole of your feet so dont forget sunscreen down there. Cover up and keep out of midday sun.

    Please, please people your health is more important than a tan, and get off those damn tanning beds too!
  • IrishChick71
    IrishChick71 Posts: 311 Member
    There is debate whether sunscreen actually CAUSES skin cancer or prevents it.
    No there isn't.

    With all due respect, that's dangerous nonsense.

    Actually there are some questions with a couple of the ingredients in sunscreen. The big thing about being out in the sun is don't get burnt, that is where you start running into issues with increased likelihood of skin cancer. People have been outdoors for millions of years, although I'm sure back in the day we used to think "hey it is hot out, I should from somewhere shaded and cooler..."



    Sorry, but frankly that's Wrong!

    Anytime your skin darkens from the sun it is your body's defense against the sun rays. (ie. you are cooking yourself...just like a turkey browns in the oven) That's a fact. People with fair skin have less melanin (defense) so they tend to burn almost immediately. Just because you don't burn doesn't mean you're less at risk. Even dark skinned individuals get skin cancer! In fact they're at greater risk of having a skin cancer go untreated due to this misconception. It's very sad.

    I do agree that people have been in the sun for millions of years but people also use to live to the ripe old age of 45 or less for millions of years as well. The average age a person starts to develop skin cancer with excess exposure. Unfortunately the average age for skin cancer is getting younger every year since the development of tanning beds.
  • pyro13g
    pyro13g Posts: 1,127 Member
    Yes but here is some perspective for you. I have something like up to 27 TIMES the risk of an average person for Melanoma. But, my dermatologist even says it's OK for me to get a little color. I use sunscreen, 30SPF usually and color up nicely.

    The boat I'm in : http://www.skincancer.org/dysplastic-nevi-atypical-moles.html
  • tladame
    tladame Posts: 465 Member
    As someone who has had a basal cell carcinoma removed, I have also done a lot of research on this. Here goes:

    If you want to avoid getting sunburned, use an SPF 30+ sunscreen containing either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Avoid sunscreens containing the chemicals octinoxate, oxybenzone, benzophenone, or PABA. Most common sunscreen brands (Coppertone, Banana Boat, etc.) contain at least one of these. I use a natural sunblock, usually either Badger or Kiss My face.

    I love Mystic Tan, where you go into the booth and it sprays you with tanner. It's the most natural-looking sunless tanner I've found.

    You can get your vitamin D from the sun if you don't expose yourself for too long. However, if you want a tan, I would either go sunless or do what you suggested, a small amount of time in the sun WITH some sunsreen. It's such a bummer once you get skin cancer. I was never a big tanner, but the few times in my life I did have a tan, I loved it. Much safer now!
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