Sunblock

jenna8984 · August 2014

I'm good about sunblock now but I really wish I had worn a lot more in my teens and early 20's... http://www.upworthy.com/what-happens-to-your-face-when-you-wear-sunscreen-might-shock-you-it-did-for-these-people?c=ufb1

mysticl · August 2014

I'm old enough that most people used tanning oil, not sunscreen, when I was a kid. There were limited options with an actual SPF in them. But my mom (who bursts into flames in the sun) would always find the one factor 15 (highest it went back then) on the shelf and buy it. I wasn't perfect about wearing it but I wore it more than anyone else I knew. I credit that and my tea habit for the fact that I'm routinely mistaken for at least 10 years younger than my real age…….provided I die my hair, being over 50% gray is a bit of a giveaway.

mysticl · August 2014

Oh and I coat my kid in baby sunblock when he goes out. He will literally have a white coating of the stuff on his skin.

SBmini · August 2014

I'm so unlucky when it comes to skin type. I'm very fair skinned with lots of freckles. And I LOVE being outside. Absolutely love it. If I'm not hiking or camping or swimming or doing something like that I feel like I'm wasting my life.

I put 50 sunscreen on every morning and I reapply all the time when I'm outside, but still... I burn way more than I should be. Just because of the high level of exposure and the fact that I live in Phoenix where the UV level routinely is 11 or 12 out of 12. I have freckles everywhere and they are getting more pronounced, not less, as I get older. And I'm starting to get "hyper pigmentation" on my cheekbones from sun exposure. Dermatologist won't give me anything for it until after I have kids since the treatment can be harmful.

So I just have to deal with it and continue to try and do better. Leaving AZ will help from the UV standpoint, but not from the outdoors standpoint, I imagine I'll be spending even more time outside in Colorado than I am here.

Cookie Pusher · August 2014

Even thinking about the sun gives me sunburn. My parents weren't really up on sun damage, so I got a lot of sunburns as a kid. Going to tanning salons was huge when I was in high school, but in a way, it was a good thing I was too poor to afford it. Since my teens, I've always slathered myself in sunscreen but I know I have a few spots I should have looked at. My boss has actually had some cancerous spots removed from around his face, and that scares me.

mysticl · August 2014

Cookie Pusher said:

Even thinking about the sun gives me sunburn. My parents weren't really up on sun damage, so I got a lot of sunburns as a kid. Going to tanning salons was huge when I was in high school, but in a way, it was a good thing I was too poor to afford it. Since my teens, I've always slathered myself in sunscreen but I know I have a few spots I should have looked at. My boss has actually had some cancerous spots removed from around his face, and that scares me.

Make sure you see a Dermatologist. I discovered a spot on my back when I saw my wedding pictures. I went to my PCP and she took one look and said it definitely needed to be biopsied but it was too big for her to do so she sent me to the Dermatologist. So of course I'm imagining the worst and DH had just deployed which didn't help. I go for my appointment and the Derm said that it was absolutely nothing and that's why you need to see the specialist because PCPs see stuff like that and think it's something else. I forget what the official diagnosis was, I just focused on "not cancer". She froze it off right there and I was good to go.

larrygaga · August 2014

SBmini said:

I'm so unlucky when it comes to skin type. I'm very fair skinned with lots of freckles. And I LOVE being outside. Absolutely love it. If I'm not hiking or camping or swimming or doing something like that I feel like I'm wasting my life.

I put 50 sunscreen on every morning and I reapply all the time when I'm outside, but still... I burn way more than I should be. Just because of the high level of exposure and the fact that I live in Phoenix where the UV level routinely is 11 or 12 out of 12. I have freckles everywhere and they are getting more pronounced, not less, as I get older. And I'm starting to get "hyper pigmentation" on my cheekbones from sun exposure. Dermatologist won't give me anything for it until after I have kids since the treatment can be harmful.

So I just have to deal with it and continue to try and do better. Leaving AZ will help from the UV standpoint, but not from the outdoors standpoint, I imagine I'll be spending even more time outside in Colorado than I am here.

What the hell is wrong with having pale skin and freckles??? All skin types are beautiful and you better remember that or I will reach across the internet and force you to dye your skin hot pink with purple stripes AND THEN WE WILL SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH PALE SKIN AND FRECKLES

SBmini · August 2014

larrygaga said:

SBmini said:

I'm so unlucky when it comes to skin type. I'm very fair skinned with lots of freckles. And I LOVE being outside. Absolutely love it. If I'm not hiking or camping or swimming or doing something like that I feel like I'm wasting my life.

I put 50 sunscreen on every morning and I reapply all the time when I'm outside, but still... I burn way more than I should be. Just because of the high level of exposure and the fact that I live in Phoenix where the UV level routinely is 11 or 12 out of 12. I have freckles everywhere and they are getting more pronounced, not less, as I get older. And I'm starting to get "hyper pigmentation" on my cheekbones from sun exposure. Dermatologist won't give me anything for it until after I have kids since the treatment can be harmful.

So I just have to deal with it and continue to try and do better. Leaving AZ will help from the UV standpoint, but not from the outdoors standpoint, I imagine I'll be spending even more time outside in Colorado than I am here.

What the hell is wrong with having pale skin and freckles??? All skin types are beautiful and you better remember that or I will reach across the internet and force you to dye your skin hot pink with purple stripes AND THEN WE WILL SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH PALE SKIN AND FRECKLES

You aren't understanding what I'm trying to say. My skin type is wrong for the activities I like and the places I live. If I were still in Denmark or Wales like my ancestors, this wouldn't be a problem. But no, I decided to live in the desert and have hobbies like hiking. My skin isn't built for that. This year is my first year of annual dermatologist visits. I'm cancer free... so far. But I have completely accepted the fact that my skin type mixed with my lifestyle and geography will give me skin cancer. It's just a matter of time.

wandajune6 · August 2014

I spend my life coated in SPF 50+. With red hair and freckles, I'm doomed. Fortunately, I grew up knowing this and my parents were careful to avoid putting us at the risk they had when growing up.

We all get checked by dermatologists annually and I'm one of the few in the family not to have things removed. Pure luck.

My biggest issue is remembering to reapply sunscreen. I'm good about it when spending time in the sun but terrible on your average workday. I'll apply it beneath my makeup but I'm completely under protected on my way home from work.

WinstonsGirl · August 2014

I grew up with sunscreen, but mostly when we were at the beach or pool. Not necessarily for running around in summer, but we also didn't use bike helmets or seat belts back then either.

I have sunscreen in my daily moisturizer and reapply if I'm out for a long time. I'm a pasty ginger with freckles already, so I'm fucked regardless.

I've also have a cancerous spot removed from my back. It was a basal cell carcinoma, so cancer, but the type that pretty much never spreads and is rarely fatal. One quick bit of surgery took care of it. Scary thing though was that I sam a Derm. for treatment. He sprayed it two different times with liquid nitrogen and then told me I was being vain for wanting it removed. I was told to not come back. When it got rough again (which is why I went back originally, cos he told me to), I got a new consultation with a different Derm. Nurse walked in, took one look and said "Yup, that's cancer. That's going to have to come off" Derm. said the same thing as soon as he saw it too.

Get your weird spots and moles looked at and taken care of ladies. Skin cancer can be easy to miss

missdelilah · August 2014

When I was a child one of the magazines a (now) friend edited ran a similar story to the UpWorthy one. They tested a bunch of women in their twenties and thirties, and said editor's eight year old daughter. My sister and I were always slathered in sunscreen (being very fair and coming from a family with a history of skin cancer) but this child was olive skinned, never burned, and always ran around without sunscreen on. Needless to say, her skin showed a lot more damage even at that age than the older ladies who wore sunscreen regularly.

I try to avoid going out in the sun for more than the 10 - 15 minutes a day that doctors recommend for vitamin D. If I do, I cover up, and have a slightly ridiculous lacy parasol that really doesn't go with my general jeans and t-shirt look.

CMGragain · August 2014

You can't win. I had beautiful, if zit prone skin until age 58. Many people commented on how young I looked. My first bout of chemo ended that. My husband said it looked like I aged 15 years in two weeks! But I'm still here, and I earned these wrinkles! Yay!

jenna8984 · August 2014

@cmgragain definitely! I don't care about wrinkles or looks, I'm concerned with health and possible cancer. Glad you've got your health back after treatment!

climbingsingle · August 2014

I also spend my life coated in sunscreen. I have very pale skin and I burn super easily.

I also use a daily hand moisturizer that has an SPF. I'm hoping it will help in keeping my hands looking young.

penguin44 · August 2014

I wear a face moisturizer with sunscreen every day. I need to start applying it to my neck and hands too.

When we go on vacation, or are going to be outside all day, DH and I are diligent about sunscreen. He is covered in freckles and has fair skin. My family has a history of skin cancer.

People always say, "it doesn't even look like you went to the beach." Good! That's what I was aiming for!

emmaaa · August 2014

I'm a freckle-faced redhead and have spent a lot of time in sunscreen. I do remember my mom slapping on baby oil on the beach to tan (she has very dark skin) and then covering us in sunscreen.

I don't burn very easily even though I have freckles and fair skin. I come from a long line of fair-skinned farmers and I think our skin has just gotten used to it. I still wear sunscreen when I'm at the lake or pool or beach but not daily (except what is in my moisturizer and foundation).

kla728 · August 2014

I love seeing these types of awareness videos. Women in their late 20s/early 30s are the fastest growing population of skin cancer diagnoses. Sunscreen is your friend!

My dad has had two bouts of melanoma in the last two years, so while I've always known I was pale (kind of hard not to know) and needed to be mindful about using sunscreen, now I'm also a walking encyclopedia of skin cancer stats. Luckily I've only had one mole removed, and it was nothing, but I'm covered in them and have a few that I take pictures of every now and then to track if they are changing.

mrsmorales2be · August 2014

Another freckle faced, pale skinned redhead here...sunblock is definitely my friend! If I'm outside for any length of time without it, I burn, and it's not pretty! I look like a cooked lobster!

mysticl · August 2014

WinstonsGirl said:

I grew up with sunscreen, but mostly when we were at the beach or pool. Not necessarily for running around in summer, but we also didn't use bike helmets or seat belts back then either. I have sunscreen in my daily moisturizer and reapply if I'm out for a long time. I'm a pasty ginger with freckles already, so I'm fucked regardless.

I've also have a cancerous spot removed from my back. It was a basal cell carcinoma, so cancer, but the type that pretty much never spreads and is rarely fatal. One quick bit of surgery took care of it. Scary thing though was that I sam a Derm. for treatment. He sprayed it two different times with liquid nitrogen and then told me I was being vain for wanting it removed. I was told to not come back. When it got rough again (which is why I went back originally, cos he told me to), I got a new consultation with a different Derm. Nurse walked in, took one look and said "Yup, that's cancer. That's going to have to come off" Derm. said the same thing as soon as he saw it too.

Get your weird spots and moles looked at and taken care of ladies. Skin cancer can be easy to miss

Um, that "vanity" pays his mortgage.

mysticl · August 2014

penguin44 said:

I wear a face moisturizer with sunscreen every day. I need to start applying it to my neck and hands too.

When we go on vacation, or are going to be outside all day, DH and I are diligent about sunscreen. He is covered in freckles and has fair skin. My family has a history of skin cancer.

People always say, "it doesn't even look like you went to the beach." Good! That's what I was aiming for!

In college I was at the beach shortly before classes started. One of my sorority sisters looked at me and said "if you were at the beach why aren't you tan?". Because I wore sunscreen. Not having a tan is one of my "faults" in my MIL's eyes.

Belthil · August 2014

I don't wear sunscreen as often as I should, I just don't like the oily feeling it leaves behind and I break out if I wear it on my face. For those of you that do wear sunscreen everyday which brands do you like?

daria24 · August 2014

H has had melanoma-the first dermatologist he went to said it was just a liver spot. About six months later he went to a different dermatologist, who immediately tested and yep...cancer. At 34. Thankfully it only required surgery but it was on his face so now he has an enormous scar. It looks like he was in a knife fight.

So we both avoid the sun as much as possible-if we are going to go to the beach, we sit under an umbrella, we usually both wear rash guards to swim, he wears a hat every day that isn't raining. We both are diligent about wearing sunscreen on our faces, and everywhere if we are outside and exposed.

The sad thing is that most of the damage is done before you turn 20-in H's case he was a life guard as a teenager and got burned a lot. We're pretty sure his cancer was caused back then. So all you parents/future parents-please lather up your kids!

levioosa · August 2014

My Mom has aggressive skin cancer. My Great-Grandmother had to have her top lip removed because of skin cancer. Ain't nobody got time for that. I wear sunscreen, buy makeup products with sunscreen in them, and the windows on my new car have solarshield (unexpected awesome bonus). I also go every year to the Dermatologist because the sun where I live is so harsh I want to make sure I catch anything suspicious early on.

Inkdancer · August 2014

mysticl said:

penguin44 said:

I wear a face moisturizer with sunscreen every day. I need to start applying it to my neck and hands too.

When we go on vacation, or are going to be outside all day, DH and I are diligent about sunscreen. He is covered in freckles and has fair skin. My family has a history of skin cancer.

People always say, "it doesn't even look like you went to the beach." Good! That's what I was aiming for!

In college I was at the beach shortly before classes started. One of my sorority sisters looked at me and said "if you were at the beach why aren't you tan?". Because I wore sunscreen. Not having a tan is one of my "faults" in my MIL's eyes.

FMIL asked if I was going to tan before the wedding. I looked at her like she'd grown another head. If I work so hard to keep my pale skin from getting damaged, why on earth would I go tan on purpose? And spray tans are a no--on my blue-undertoned skin, the fake color looks super orange.

mysticl · August 2014

Inkdancer said:

mysticl said:

penguin44 said:

I wear a face moisturizer with sunscreen every day. I need to start applying it to my neck and hands too.

When we go on vacation, or are going to be outside all day, DH and I are diligent about sunscreen. He is covered in freckles and has fair skin. My family has a history of skin cancer.

People always say, "it doesn't even look like you went to the beach." Good! That's what I was aiming for!

In college I was at the beach shortly before classes started. One of my sorority sisters looked at me and said "if you were at the beach why aren't you tan?". Because I wore sunscreen. Not having a tan is one of my "faults" in my MIL's eyes.

FMIL asked if I was going to tan before the wedding. I looked at her like she'd grown another head. If I work so hard to keep my pale skin from getting damaged, why on earth would I go tan on purpose? And spray tans are a no--on my blue-undertoned skin, the fake color looks super orange.

I've had luck with the Jergen's Natural Glow only I didn't really like the smell. I think they came out with an oder free one but I haven't tried that.

jenna8984 · August 2014

Totally agree with you ladies! My bachelorette is supposed to be a surprise tomorrow but I suspect we're going to the ocean. I told my bridesmaid "You better tell me before I leave the house because I'll be pissed if I'm unprepared to be in the sun all day".

penguin44 · August 2014

Belthil said:

I don't wear sunscreen as often as I should, I just don't like the oily feeling it leaves behind and I break out if I wear it on my face. For those of you that do wear sunscreen everyday which brands do you like?

I use Simple moisturizer with spf. I have sensitive skin, and I haven't had any problems with it.

buttercup1958 · August 2014

My makeup has spf 15 in it. I should put sunscreen on everyday but sometimes I forget. I do remember to put it on if I'm going tubing or to a water park. I'm pale and I burn really easily. V burns even worst. He has red hair and freckles naturally ha. He hates sunscreen though but I make him put it on.

VulgarGirl · August 2014

I'm Irish. I live in the desert. Sunblock and I are total BFFs. When myspace was a thing, sunblock was in my top 8 always. My make up has an SPF in it, and so does my daily moisturizer and I usually just put sunscreen on before I leave the house anyways. Like if I'm going to the mall. Just because.

I actually, shockingly, don't burn very easily. I can get a nice little tan, slight but it is there. But it doesn't take much for me to burn and when I do I resemble something along the lines of a lobster. That has been set on fire.

FI does not have this problem. Her damn Italian/Mexican sides cover her Irish side so she doesn't crisp up. But I still make her wear sunscreen, just in case.

emmaaa · August 2014

MagicInk said:

I'm Irish. I live in the desert. Sunblock and I are total BFFs. When myspace was a thing, sunblock was in my top 8 always. My make up has an SPF in it, and so does my daily moisturizer and I usually just put sunscreen on before I leave the house anyways. Like if I'm going to the mall. Just because.

I actually, shockingly, don't burn very easily. I can get a nice little tan, slight but it is there. But it doesn't take much for me to burn and when I do I resemble something along the lines of a lobster. That has been set on fire.

FI does not have this problem. Her damn Italian/Mexican sides cover her Irish side so she doesn't crisp up. But I still make her wear sunscreen, just in case.

It's good that you make her wear sunscreen! You can develop skin cancer and especially premature skin aging when you are tan. FI is Native American and tans super easy. His skin always kind of looks red anyways. I have to force him to wear sunscreen because he doesn't ever burn and he has this weird thing with not liking lotion.

VulgarGirl · August 2014

emmaaa said:

MagicInk said:

I'm Irish. I live in the desert. Sunblock and I are total BFFs. When myspace was a thing, sunblock was in my top 8 always. My make up has an SPF in it, and so does my daily moisturizer and I usually just put sunscreen on before I leave the house anyways. Like if I'm going to the mall. Just because.

I actually, shockingly, don't burn very easily. I can get a nice little tan, slight but it is there. But it doesn't take much for me to burn and when I do I resemble something along the lines of a lobster. That has been set on fire.

FI does not have this problem. Her damn Italian/Mexican sides cover her Irish side so she doesn't crisp up. But I still make her wear sunscreen, just in case.

It's good that you make her wear sunscreen! You can develop skin cancer and especially premature skin aging when you are tan. FI is Native American and tans super easy. His skin always kind of looks red anyways. I have to force him to wear sunscreen because he doesn't ever burn and he has this weird thing with not liking lotion.

It used to be a total fight, which I didn't understand because she wears lotion anyways so...whats the big deal? But then a friend of ours got skin cancer on his back. He's fine now, but his skin tone is pretty close to her own and since he never burned he never worried about sunscreen. He'd spend all day outside for work, and eventually it caught up with him. She works in an office building so doesn't have the amount of exposure that he does, but it scared her into using sunscreen.

I still make her do it everyday like I do. I figure, good habit to have. I've yet to hear that someone got sick because they were always wearing sunscreen.

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