why do brits not wear sunscreen?

[ayrtonisgod]

just been to the garage and al least 10 people I passed were like lobsters!!!!!

[gness]

Basel Cell Carcinoma Tony. Started as spot above my lip LB. GP and consultant said it was nothing except my vanity and refused to remove it. Sometimes you just know so the battle continued. Finally got into hospital. Again cons. refused to remove it so I did a sit-in on the hospital bed. Was that a dull morning!
Finally got him to agree to a biopsy but was he grumpy!! Half way through he said he was now sure it was cancer did I want it removed now or have time to think about it. I ask you.
I now have a small swelling above my lip but this rare. It`s a fairly commom cancer and I have met people who have had theirs removed by a good surgeon and you can see hardly any scarring.
What about you LB?

[rockyracoon]

Can it not cause malignant melanoma sqad? I've always been lead to believe that sunburn can cause skin cancer, rickets are on the increase because parents are slavering their kids with sunscreen to protect them from 'killer' sunburn. What do we do for the best?

[tonyav]

Ok gness, you have know enlightened me. Glad it ended all well for you.

[ladybirder]

I first noticed a very white small patch on the end/side of my nose about two years ago, paler than the surrounding skin. I had a biopsy and they confirmed it was a bcc. Then I had a consultation with the surgeon and he couldn't find it and said probably the biopsy had removed it all but if I was worried in the future to come back again. So, two years later I am back again as I can see a few white patches in the same area plus the original place where the biopsy was done has now turned into what I can only describe as a small lesion. Thank goodness it is small and people don't notice it. Got a hospital appointment beginning of July for the Dermatology department so it looks as if I'm starting at square one again. Sigh.

[ladybirder]

rocky I was assured it can't.

[Frank97]

So sunburn and skin cancer are not related?

[Sqad]

Tony....in answer to your question re. BCC..........spot, flat. white edges ....wont heal.

rocky......big debate in medical world as to if the sun hasn't anything to do with the development of malignant melanoma.

[ladybirder]

BCC is a type of skin cancer according to my surgeon and wiki.

[gness]

LB Think Rocky meant sun not BCC which doesn`t change or spread.Always the worry they didn`t get it all but it`s slow LB so good luck with your appontment and let me know how you get on. A good surgeon is a blessing. Getting one on my leg looked at in June but I shaved it off by accident yesterday!

[daffy654]

I believe over exposure to the sun can cause those genetically predisposed to BCC to develop the lesions. There have been many cases of the condition where no sun exposure has occurred (such as on genitals etc.)

[gness]

Sqad. Mine wasn`t flat. It was very raised, pink and a perfect heart shape. Looked silly. Did they get it wrong?

[Sqad]

A quick summary of skin damage due to the sun.

Solar hyperkeratosis.......commonest cause by far....Google it
Bowen's disease....not malignant and very common.......Google it.
Basal Cell Carcinoma...........doesn't metastasize....cure rate 100%
Squamous Cell Carcinoma.......rarely metastasizes.....cure rate 90%
Malignant melanoma.....the most uncommon of the skin cancers.....not a nice one to have......big debate as to whether it has ANY connection with sun exposure.

sqad's potted version.

[Eve]

I don't like hot direct sun, it feels uncomfortable on my skin and I don't like bright light in my eyes or airlessness or humidity (similarly with saunas or steam rooms, can't breathe properly in them) so I tend to stick to the shade and wear a hat with a peak to shield my face and eyes.

Lots of lobster like looking people out, there is a big wide grassed space in the city centre and it's been packed the last few days with people barely dressed soaking up the sun in various shades of red.

[EcclesCake]

I rarely wear sunscreen in the UK and very,very rarely burn.

I also have psoriasis and as the sun is the only thing that helps it I balance the ill effects of sun exposure with the benefit of the relief it gives me.

[Eve]

I also think the sun can be deceptive, people flocking to places they can soak it up tend to be open like parks or the beach and so many outdoor places like bars with beer gardens or outside tables in the city.

I met a friend for coffee a couple of years ago and sat outside a coffee shop in a city side street (so quite built up) with my back to any sun and although it wasn't that directly hot people were asking me where I'd been on holiday after! Similarly doing some gardening in a sheltered side garden one summer, was only out a couple of hours and got burnt.

[gness]

Sqad . Thank you for that.

[Sqad]

gness........just let me warn you.....I was cr@p at skins and got worse as the years passed by.........;-)

[gness]

Ah Well.:-) More interesting things than skin I guess. Sqad, I`m not a worrier and can`t do with fuss. I just like the way you give the info asked for. No waffle.

[ladyalex]

I was interested to see the remark about the sun /malignant melanoma link being questionable.
A relative of mine had a very tiny malignant melanoma removed from behind his knee (no further treatment needed thank goodness). I know for a fact that he has not worn shorts since he was a child ( at least 6 decades ago) ,never sunbathes and has very rarely holidayed outside of Scotland. The melanoma was a bit of a shock to all of us but happily is a thing of the past now. The skin Drs were terribly keen on him always wearing sunscreen, long sleeves, long trousers and a hat for evermore now.

[pdust]

i put it on my face..only place i need to put it lol