Miscellaneous Forum

Hi Eva, you might not tan, but I bet you maintain a wonderful shade of pink all summer long. I now live in Italy, and it is impossible for a person to remain lily white here, even walking in the shadows. My nose is always Rudolph Red, even when I wear my VT hat. I can't use sun screen on my face because the perspiration mixes with the other ingredients and runs into my eyes, causing great distress. Besides, it is a famous belief of sun worshippers in Italy that there is no breach in the ozone layer over their boot shaped country, so they are safe. Pa

In the water you burn especially easily. I apply sun-tan lotion before I swim, especially on the shoulders. I usually swim for half an hour to an hour and don't burn. Even as a red head I don't stay entirely white - I get a much healthier skin tone, a few freckles and maybe a slight tan. But I will just never be deeply tan. I was shocked just to what degree people were tanning themselves, and some of them were absurdly tan.

mht_in_la, not the beer, I assure you. After two beers, I tend to nod off. Hard to drink while sleeping, but perhaps I've not put enough effort into it. One more item on my 'to do' list. Pa

I found living in Florida for years that how tan a person was was how you could tell the natives from the tourist. In my experience real Floridians run from their air conditioned house to their airconditioned car, to the air conditioned store or office and back. Workouts were done in the gym unless it was Winter or below 80F. Swimming makes you burn much faster. I never burn unless I am in the water the there isnt a waterproof sunscreen strong enough to protect me.

I found living in Florida for years that how tan a person was was how you could tell the natives from the tourist. In my experience real Floridians run from their air conditioned house to their airconditioned car, to the air conditioned store or office and back. Workouts were done in the gym unless it was Winter or below 80F. Therefore were always very white. Vacationers are tan. Swimming makes you burn much faster. I never burn unless I am in the water the there isnt a waterproof sunscreen strong enough to protect me.

Ah good, someone else who repeats themselves. Welcome, nice to meet you. In Italy, the fear of the suns rays doesn't seem to be as worrisome as it is in North America. I don't mean that people don't use sunscreen, but the concern does not seem as intense. Pa

I just got back from South France and did not sit in the sun til after 5pm and even then I only sat in it like one hour at a time about 3 times my entire 11 day holiday.I did do alot of sightseeeing and wore factor 15 most days and by end of holiday 8 on my arms and feet but always 15 on my face and neck.I stayed in the shade as much as possible and midday to about 3-4pm got indoors or in the shade and had lunch etc.Some afternoons I went back to my bed and breakfast and put loads lotion on and went swimming and then either sat in the shade or fell asleep in my room.The sun was too strong and hot to sunbathe for me.I also get bored too just laying there.When I came home I just had a very very slight tan on my face and arms and was proud and happy knowing I had not wrecked or damaged my skin.I do tan quite easily but do not want to get skin cancer and premature aging.Alittle sun is good in moderation I believe(4pm on wards) with a good sun cream.

Nice to meet you too. I know what you mean. Even in Germany (where I live) the people dont seem to be as afraid of the sun. Take my father in law. He was always in the sun never used sun screen and people would joke that he would die from skin cancer but that didnt happen. Of course many older Germans especially the women tend to look older and a bit leathery due to constant sun (UV) exposure. Id rather not have that look myself.

It will be interesting to see what other Assies have to say. Here in Oz protection from the sun is an essential part of everyday life. On any summer day, on the southern beaches anyway, you will see lots of people wearing tee shirts over their swimwear for the majority of the time. You can even buy special sunsuits for the kids that protect a large percentage of their bodies from harmful sun's rays. There is 30+ sunscreeen available and advice on the tv and radio weather about the UV levels for today. There are jingles and media campaigns funded by the government putting across the sun safe message to slip, slop, slap. Slip into something that protects, slop on a hat that will shade you, slap on plenty of sunscreen.

Um .... Aussies ..... sorry!

That sounds good. I wish more countries had Australia's attitude. The people I was mostly referring to were British package holidayers (but also a number of Germans, Scandinavians, Dutch etc.). Is there no skin cancer warning in GB, or is the package-holidaying kind simply oblivient? I also think that the beauty industry is making a huge mistake by pushing tan-mania so much. I mean just look at Hollywood celebrities? Even if they don't necessarily get their tan from sunbathing, but from fake-tanning, they still advertise the ideal of the bronzed body like crazy. Self-tan may be harmless, but it's also a great of work and hassle. And sunbeds are not exactly good for you, either. Apart from UV-warnings in Australia, has the beauty concept itself changed there as well?

When I got back off holiday and came out of the airport there were people sitting outside on the grass in the sun midday.I bet they did not have sun lotion on.I would never ever sit out in it with no lotion on and never midday.Most of my hols over the last few years I have done not much sunbathing and mostly late afternoon.5-6pm.How people can lay around a pool all day is beyond me.How boring.I even wear factor 15 here in Uk when gardening.

Having a tan is not a beauty ideal only to show that you have been on holliday to the sun. And we do have those warnings against the sun and such but not in campaigns from the government

Yes there are skin cancer warnings here in England.I take skin care and the sun very seriuosly.

Beauty concepts in Australia .... a delicate topic that needs more than my humble talents to provide explanations that could be understood. The sun, especially UV, is a very serious matter here because it causes lots of (proven) trouble. Workplaces, like city councils and other outdoor worker employers eg forestry, environment, builders, have to have a sun protection policy in place. Workers compensation legislation does come into force should an outside worker contract a melonoma, to determine if that person was provided with sufficient protection from UV rays in the form of sunglasses, cream, head protection, clothing etc. It is a very serious business here.

What gets me is when the English go to Spain and head for the nearest English pub i mean come on!!!! there is more to holidays then boozing and getting a tan! Ah well each to their own!

Totally agree Carl.I want Spanish things while in Spain.Paella, Spanish wine,Spanish bars and restaurants and culture.

I noticed the same thing than Eva, in the south of France, most of the 'burnt' people (i can't call them anything else) i saw, were either British, Germans, Scandinavians, Dutch etc... (all countries with not much bright sun most of the year. It makes me think that those people are trying to "stock up" sun. France begins to have national campaigns warning people about skin cancer and you can now get a free complete diagnosis prescribed by either the family or the firms' practitionner; it's not much but it looks like people care a bit more than some years ago (and the sales of self tan lotion have dramatically increased in the last 2 years)

I was shocked by how dark some people were on holiday.Their skin looked really leathery too.I am proud to have really pale skin.People on the flight home for instance looked like they spent the entire holiday on beach.

They probably did Rachel

I think this desire to be burnt is also evidenced by the number of sun-tanning centres around Italy --- literally roasting yourself in an oven is not my idea of a healthy way to spend an afternoon. I don't know why some cultures value tanned skin so much, everyone's always complimenting each other on how dark they've become after a trip to the beach! There is definitely no slip, slap, slop campaign here. In fact I know a couple of people who proudly tell me that they don't put anything on except spray themselves with water. Eeeek. On the other hand, in many Asian countries, being fair is very much a sought-after trait. I remember many skin-whitening products, which just sounded gross. My grandmother used to tell me off whenever I came back sunburnt from anywhere, saying that I'd never find a husband if I became so dark!!??? Two weekends ago, we took a couple of friends from Singapore to an Alpine resort here in Valle D'Aosta. It was a gorgeous day, but the girl insisted on having long-sleeves and shading her face all the time to avoid getting a tan.

I'm an English red head living in Oz (and have to put up with fair skin/red-head jokes) Darker skinned people don't believe us when we say, 'I'll burn in 15 mins outside today" but we do. But you CAN get a tan. It just takes ages and ages. I NEVER sunbathe or even sit in the sun at all except in the middle of winter.I always wear a rash vest and long bike shorts for swimming. But over a period of several years have developed a (pale)tan from sitting in our garden in the shade. My legs and arms are not lilly white any more. I don't feel I have to wear blusher all the time because my face looks pale. I find this helps to stop me from burning as with this light tan I can stay outside (with sunblock) long enough to go to the summer shows etc. Even so, I know it would be better to stay pale. I have had several moles taken off already. Stay pale, it's good for you. Lesley

Maybe Australia will be followed ... I was looking at the french government site some minutes ago (for something completely different) and stumbled on a funny tune and a picture called "Mets ton sombrero... quand le soleil est haut" (roughly translated : put your sombrero on when the sun is high). Since it was the first time i heard music on the prime minister's site, i clicked and came upon the notification of an information campain targeting the 5-12 years old. It will run this summer in beach resorts and summer camps and in nursery and elementary schools at fall (the tune was an extract from a CD to be ditributed to kids, featuring songs and games about the sun's dangers). Educating the youger generation is perhaps the answer... (and sometimes, the parents even listen to their kids....)

Neither i would be so tanned, i use kake tan when i have enough patience to apply it properly (but that's not often and i'm clumsy). And i agree with you, Kay, it's the only one i will get (except the - very pale - one that comes with a normal life (ie not laying in the sun more than 10 mn a day)

I agree haldene.I do not want to look 60 when I am only 40 or 50.I do go outside alot to garden etc so wear a factor 15 face cream and also rub it on my arms and hands and feet.

Ooops, this should be fake tan not Kake tan - (i was probably thinking about beach cake, the nickname for those sun exposed)

I must admit I swim without sun lotion on in my pool.I have only been in my pool late afternoon to evening so sun was not that strong then(5-6pm).Pool was also in shade by then too.

I work permanent night shift, have done so for years, so I am very careful about harmful sunburn ..... Moonburn too. I have moonglasses and mooncream for when I have to work outside when it is a full moon.

lol@Grumpy