sun protection for ex pats

[suehugh]

As we are planning to be Ex Pats in the next few years, we were just wondering about sun protection. As a factor 30 + wearer being a freckly sort of guy,would skin aclimatise. Or would I be forever doomed to walk the streets covered in greasy stuff.

[Eric]

Even though I am part of the grey and distinguished crowd now[)] I used to be a red head.  After living here for over 4 yrs certain parts of my anatomy have 'aclimatised' or 'weathered', namely legs and arms as they are exposed the most.  The rest, including face (not mentioning the white bits ) have to be protected with factor 15 if I am sunbathing (I wish ) or working in the garden for any length of time.  Even Fi has to use factor 6 and she darkens if you turn on a 100 watt bulb  So the answer is....yes you still need to use protection, not just from sunburn but the big C too.

[kizkucuk]

Mmmmmm like you Sue I'm freckly and a high factor user.  Personally I think in the 2 years I have lived here by skin has got more aclimatised. I used to burn walking from my office to the car in the UK if I had no cream on always had to wear a F30 in the UK even in the car as my arms would burn through the glass.   However I always wear a minimum of factor 15 on my face even in the winter. In the winter I don't bother with the rest of me but in the summer I always add a good coat of F30 on bits that are going to be sticking out whilst I walk around I tend not to reapply. It goes on once in the morning and that's it.   If I am going to the beach I use a F30 and take extra with me to add more after swimming etc.... if I'm going on a boat trip I use P20 because it lasts all day.  My advice is take it easy - I seem to have a base colour all year round now and have only been caught out and burned once since I've lived here.   Even my legs have a bit of colour now.............something that never happened in the 4 week annual holiday here.   Hope that helps  :-)

[Colwyn]

A few years ago I had sun-induced basal cell skin cancer removed. I asked my surgeon whether my liability to skin cancer would stand in the way of my hope of spending half the year in Turkey. Her advice was that it would be far less risky than the typical holiday maker's fortnight blitz in the summer to get a tan before they return home. Short, sharp shocks are dangerous! But, also following her advice, I always wear a wide-bimmed hat (see photograph) and ensure that I am in shade (usually in a drinking establishment) between 12 and 2.

[littlereddevil]

I also had a basal cell cancer removed 5 years ago and I'm now going to hospital this week with a melanoma. All this caused by 40 years of sunbathing, so please be very careful all of you. Melanoma is scary!

[desmartinson]

E,P,Ks have got it sussed, order english breakfast, read sun newspaper while waiting for breakfast,i:e ten minutes, then put newspaper on head, sit in the bar all day with plenty cool effes, result p****d but no sunburn.good or what? :

[NIGCOUSKAZ]

My boss, being of "strawberry blonde" was raised in South Africa and always burnt (back in the day when sun protection wasn't thought of that much).  Since, however, he has had to have many moles removed and has to have six monthly body scans to see if anything has changed.  This may seem extreme to non "strawberry blondes", but even I (a non strawberry blonde) is very conscious of being in the sun, not only for the "C" factor, but for ageing (vanity et all!)  Have friends in Turkey (especially female), that won't go out even in winter without a factor on.  As granny said, best be safe than sorry :-)

[Julesp]

I use a sunscreen if I know Im going to be in the sun for a while. But I do find that now I live here I dont go out of my way to get a tan or sunbathe, not been to a beach etc once yet this summer

[stoop]

DES is actually quite right in a way. I know a study in Spain a few years back had alcohol down as bigger killer than skin cancer in ex-pats.
It's not just the sun you have to watch.

[NIGCOUSKAZ]

but, better be safe than sorry - whatever :-)