7/14/08

A sensible first for me today.....

Let me ask a question - how many of you wear some kind of sun protection everytime you go outside? And that applies wherever you live in the world.

I'm guessing it'll be a pretty low number; in the distant past I have been guilty of the same, and tanning beds, and sunbathing until I was pink! Well let's just say since I hit my mid' 30's and then moved here where the sun is much more intense, I have changed my ways. I also have been scared into action by how much older some of my sun/tanning bed worshipping friends look as they approach their 40's!

So for the past few years I have rarely stepped outside my home without at the very least Neutrogena Ultra Sheer (the one with Helioplex) factor 45 on my face, neck, chest and hands. I just put it on religiously after my face cream everyday. I keep tubes on hand in the bathroom, both vehicles, the kitchen, work and the garage.

This year I have actually stepped it up a gear, in the same brand but to the new factor 85 sun block - and I still have a bit of a tan, but a safe one! Some of you have commented in the past few days on how young my mum looks, well she's also a slave to sun protection and nagged me for years, until I listened. So I guess if we have a secret to looking younger, right there you have a big part of it.

So today I am going to do the next most sensible thing I have ever done for my skin and spend approximately $90 on an all over skin check by a Dermatologist. I have always had a few moles and have fair skin with freckles, so I just decided to have a check-up and get a baseline for the future.

The Hubster see's him every 6 months for something else and he always has patients in his waiting room with either Acne or Skin Cancers. I have noticed how the people living here are extremely poor at using sun protection and sadly I see more and more all the time who have had moles removed. A few of them can also testify to me lecturing them and even in the odd case handing them sunscreen!

So this is one of my pet issues if you will....just remember skin cancer is one of most dangerous, fast and often terminal cancers.

So I ask you in all seriousness, would you rather have a tan or live? - it may just come down to that one day! Oh and you tanning bed users thinking you're safe, think again. A recent study has disproved the theory that tanning beds are safer, plus to put it very bluntly, in a few years you'll have skin that looks like the hide of a cow.

Personally I'd rather glow healthily like Nicole Kidman into my old age, than look like a female George Hamilton!

13 comments:

Kay said...

I agree with you completely, Sarah. The sun is especially intense here in Hawaii and you have to be really careful. Unfortunately, I did the same tanning at the beach thing when I was growing up here. I use Neutrogena also. I didn't see the 85 yet. I'll look for it. I've had two friends I know on the mainland who developed skin cancer. It's NOT pretty.

Sherri said...

Sarah, my makeup has sunscreen in it but I also put sunscreen on faithfully everyday. My grandmother was always working in her garden without a hat and she had skin cancer on her check and had to have it cut out. I remember how unattractive that little thing was and the huge bandage she always had to wear when it was operated on. I wasn't going through that! Good for you on always using the sun protection and even bigger kudos to your Mum because alot of older people (not that you Mum is old) refuse to put it on saying it doesn't do anything!

Sandi McBride said...

A great post Sarah...I'm recommending it for post of the day at David's place it's so important. We were never allowed to run out in the sun without hats or bonnets, long sleeved shirts, there was no sun bathing, it was simply not allowed...my dad is a Doctor and he was way ahead of his time...granted I'm lily white, lol, but look considerably younger than 60, I'm told.
Sandi

Amanda said...

Oh for the days when a pale, un-sun-tanned skin showed everyone that you were too rich to need to work in the sun! I've always used protection too, and the children at school when I was teaching used to laugh at my sun hats and even a parasol sometimes, but everyone tells me how young I look still and that has got to have something to do with it.

Cath said...

Very wise, although like others, I do not use sun screen on a daily basis. Only in the summer when the sun is out. Where I live, it is rarely very hot. But it's not about how hot it is I know...

Excellent advice.
Over here from authorblog where sandi nominated you for POTD. Quite deserving in light of the subject imho. Well written.

Daryl said...

Great advice ... I discovered a lovely sunblock from Oxygen ... I use it on my face when I dont wear make up but when I do wear make up I put on a sunscreen under my base .. even tho the base has a sunscreen in it .. cant do too much to keep skin healthy ...

:-Daryl

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

I never did worship the sun, but neither did I use sun block. Now? SPF 30 on my face and hands daily.

Hilary said...

Over here from Authorblog, where I read that Sandi recommended this post as a must-read. I hear your concerns and agree that sun screen is important, but I also have concerns about, one day, reading about how dangerous the chemicals are that we slather all over our bodies. I'm just not convinced that it should be a daily regimen, but absolutely appreciate the reminder through those summer days when the UV is moderate to high.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Being incredibly fair, I have worn a SPF 70 for years, day in, day out, rain or shine. Hats as well. I started years ago to protect my skin, never really thinking about skin cancer, but now I do think about it and am glad it's something I've always done. Very important.

Janet said...

I just saw a woman on the bus this morning (from Banbury to Oxford) whose skin looked like a lizard handbag that I saw in Singapore earlier this year. I had to wonder if she thought that looked good. It doesn't.

I'm very fair, too (Mother had auburn hair and freckles) and have always burned very easily. I gave up trying to tan when I was about 14. I just hope I didn't do too much damage up until then.

GOOD ADVICE here, folks - READ THIS POST!

Janet

Linda Jennings said...

Excellent advice, Sarah. Great post! My dad died of malignant melanoma and unfortunately I am a prime candidate for it. Blond, blue eyes, fair skin, sunburn easily, major sunburns as a child, etc. -- checking off the list. I promised my dad I would never, ever go to a tanning bed and I have kept that promise.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

I had a similar screening through work last year and was pleased I did, it was interesting to talk to the nurse.

I too have been lax with suncreams in the past... used sunbeds etc but thankfully now I'm not a fan of the sun and sit in the shade.. high factor creams and feel much safer for it!

Victoria xx

Mmm said...

I shoudl wear it more being high altitude here but I confess, I never ever do! I tan really well though so that helps!