Better health

By JJ

June 1, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

After suffering numerous sunburns in my youth, I don’t dare go into the sun without some kind of protection. I received the worse burn ever up at Lake Lanier Water Park. I was burnt so bad, I couldn’t pick up my 2 year old child. Getting her in and out of a car seat was the most painful thing ever. My feet were so swollen I couldn’t get a pair of shoes on. That was the last time I ever got a burn. I love Coppertone Sport, 15 to 30 spf. I use 30SPF the first time out, and drop down to 15. I don’t get a bit of sun with the 30spf, but get enough with the 15spf. Tanning isn’t as important as beautiful skin at this point in my life.
Also, I highly recommend sunglasses any time you are in the sun. Prevents crows feet……at least for me.

By CC

June 1, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

The truth in this matter is everybody needs some sun exposure a few times a week, the sun gives us important vitamins for health, but like everything in life if you get to much it will be bad. I use sun screen only if I am in the sun for several hours otherwise we need the sun so why bother.

By CC

June 1, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

The truth in this matter is everybody needs some sun exposure a few times a week, the sun gives us important vitamins for health, but like everything in life if you get to much it will be bad. I use sun screen only if I am in the sun for several hours otherwise we need the sun so why bother.

By CC

June 1, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

The truth in this matter is everybody needs some sun exposure a few times a week, the sun gives us important vitamins for health, but like everything in life if you get to much it will be bad. I use sun screen only if I am in the sun for several hours otherwise we need the sun so why bother.

By GB

June 1, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

I prefer my lily-white skin over resembling a leather purse, thank you very much! My fair-skinned uncle was a surveyor and died of skin cancer. He looked like ET at the end of his life, having lost his ears and nose to the disease. Growing up on the coast without a tan made me different, but now at reunions I look much younger than my peers!

By Lex Luthor

June 1, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

10 minutes of sun exposure a day probably does more to prevent skin cancer than people realize. Your body’s primary source for Vitamin D is sun light. According to the Wikipedia (not always right but generally close) “Vitamin D regulates the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood by promoting their absorption from food in the intestines, and by promoting re-absorption of calcium in the kidneys. It promotes bone formation and mineralization and is essential in the development of an intact and strong skeleton. It inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion from the parathyroid gland. Vitamin D affects the immune system by promoting immunosuppression, phagocytosis, and anti-tumor activity.”

10 Minutes a day will result in an good tan after a while. Tans themselves also help prevent skin cancer by protecting the skin from sun burn.

By very careful with my one and only skin

June 1, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this

I do try to keep up with the latest information so that I can protect myself as I see fit. It’s true now they’re saying we ought to get some sun exposure (but just a few minutes, nothing excessive) for the reasons others have stated above. I am very careful with my lovely skin and have gotten to almost 60 looking much younger than my age. I’ve been called an “old lady” and asked “aren’t you hot” when I wear a sunblock shirt and wide brimmed hat to go walking even after peak hours and in all seasons. Well, we all must take care of ourselves as we see fit after doing our homework. I even protect myself in the car. I see people who wear only a visor thinking it will protect their entire face; I see unprotected babies and youngsters. The good news is that probably by the time they grow up we will have better dermatologic treatments that can treat sun damage.

By Elizabeth

June 1, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

Actually CC, most research shows you only need a “small” ammount to get enough Vitamin D from the sun…probably no more than 30 minutes without sun protection.

By Joan

June 1, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

I have friends who are sun-worshipers, and they all look like, as one poster put it, a leather purse. They are my age, or younger, and look 10 years older than me. I look 10 years younger than I am, because I take the time to apply sunscreen or stay in the shade. Lots of sunscreen, hats and sunglasses.

By Katie

June 1, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this

I had several painful sunburns as a teenager and now I’m terrified of getting skin cancer. I have blonde hair and blue eyes and I thought having a tan made me look great! Now self-tanners are my best friend. When you buy a brand that is a little more expensive than the others and apply it properly, no one can tell its a fake tan! There is still a chance of getting skin cancer later on in life, but why rush it?

By Tan Away

June 1, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

People forget that you can still wear sun block and tan. I slather on SPF 45 when I’m out in the sun and after a day in it, I still end up a little darker.

Go ahead and tan, just do it safely.

By Tina

June 1, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this

I think that if people understood that metastacized skin cancer (melanoma in particular) involves much more than the skin itself, they might take fewer risks. I think most people think you scrape off the offending cancer and you’re done; pass the tanning butter. When melanoma metastacizes, it usually creates tumors (in no particular order) in the brain, lungs and liver. My late father in law, a career pathologist who spent his teenaged years lifeguarding in 1950’s Houston, died from melanoma four years ago. He died with malignancies in his liver and his lungs. Yes, you need some sunlight for the vitamin D, but we all need some level of sun protection.

By many are still burning

June 1, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

Speak of the devil - look at this article from a link on the ajc.com website: THURSDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) — The percentage of American adults who got sunburned increased from 31.8 percent to 33.7 percent from 1999 and 2004, a sign that many people aren’t using proper sun protection, a new study found.

By an ounce of prevention..

June 1, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this

It astounds me how some people, especially middle aged, mature adults who should know better, still show up at the office on Monday morning groaning about getting sunburned due to lack of protection, and don’t seem to even be that concerned that they’re exposing themselves to more than just a burn but possibly serious and life-threatening harm. I’m sure everyone knows someone who’s had skin cancer of some kind. I’ve always been a consequence avoidant person and will go the extra mile to be safe, it’s hard to understand how some others may not. I figure as long as I’m around I’d like to be as healthy (and attractive) as possible.

By Noelle

June 1, 2007 6:04 PM | Link to this

I have very fair skin, so fair that even self-tanners don’t work well, and I burn very easily. I wear moisturizer with SPF 15 on my face every day, and I use SPF 30 on other exposed skin if I’m going to be outside for more than the 15-minute round trip from my car to my office. (I don’t use sunblock during the walk so I can get some Vitamin D.)

To those who think it’s OK to wear sunblock and tan anyway, it’s not. Any suntan is damaging your skin. It’s not as bad as a sunburn, but if you’re wearing sunblock and tanning anyway, you’re not using the sunblock correctly. Apply it 30 minutes before sun exposure (don’t wait until you’re sitting on the beach), use plenty, and reapply at least every 2 hours. If you sweat a lot or get wet, reapply more often.

By JustMe

June 1, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this

As a teenager and into my 20s, I was a sun-worshipper. Being part Cherokee, I very rarely got burned, in spite of having marathon baby-oil slathered sunbathing sessions during peak hours.

That came to a halt when a good friend was diagnosed with advanced skin cancer from a biopsy of a mole she had removed from her back. Add to that the sun’s noticeably stronger rays than 20 years ago - I’m quite surprised how little sun it takes for me to get pink now if I forget to apply sunscreen.

I must say, I’m a bit aghast at some of the presumtions and conclusions that have been made on these few previous posts. Please be aware, tanning is just as damaging to your skin as a burn. You are doing the same thing when you tan - literally, cooking your skin - as when you burn….just at a much slower rate. There is no “safe” amount of tanning (unless it’s the fake kind ;-) )- don’t think that because you get brown instead of red that you won’t someday be diagnosed with skin cancer.

Yes, the sun is a wonderful thing - and we do need some exposure for vitamin D; but you should never risk your health by going out without sunscreen / sunblock. These products are made to filter / block UVA and UVB rays, NOT the absorption of vitamin D!

Also, don’t think that you are safe just because you’re not in the yard, at the beach or pool, etc. I know of at least two people personally who developed skin cancer on their left ears due to the exposure the received from simply driving their cars. I’ve also heard of others who have developed skin cancer on their left arms from driving down the road with the window down and arm hanging out.

By DYJ

June 4, 2007 8:35 AM | Link to this

Sunscreen! I wear 50 spf and a hat. I don’t want to look like a saddlebag!!

By Former conservative

June 4, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this

I was diagnosed with melanoma last year when I was 25 years old. I did tan as a teenager, however I did wear sunscreen and rarely went in a tanning bed, so my diagnosis was quite a shock.

Parents, please stress the importance of skin care to your children at a young age—it will save their life. Also, getting a full body skin check annually is recommended.

I am now cancer free and protect my skin DAILY!

By Lex Luthor

June 4, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

JustMe get your facts straight. You skin does not absorb Vitamin D from the sun. It makes Vitamin D by absorbing UVB.