Are you careful about heeding doctors’ advice on using sunscreen, or do you let it slide?

by L.A. Times Posted 2012/11/01 16:39:52

Related Topics: Sunscreen, Sun, Doctors, Health, Lifestyle

332 votes
Read all 153 opinions
Lightning Report + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Careful	193 votes	58%
	Slide	139 votes	42%

It's a conundrum. You want to have fun in the sun, but you don't want skin cancer or — heaven forbid! — wrinkles. Maybe you think you have it made in the shade with sunscreen. But while most sun and skin experts would advise you to slather the stuff on like crazy, many also would warn you not to rely on it too, too much.

+12

Question Closed

Torchy 2012/11/03 03:48:05

Careful

+7
I'm so pale I glow in the dark. And I'm not about to trade that awesomeness for anything.
>> See Replies

More polls by L.A. Times

edifyguy 2012/11/04 23:58:25

Slide

Guess what science is finally realizing combats skin cancer? Sunshine! Guess what science is finally realizing causes skin cancer? Sunscreen! Sunscreen, like margarine, soy, breakfast cereal, and so many other things, were promoted as "healthy options," but are now being shown to have been horribly unhealthy, and promoted with lies to reap huge profits.

reply
Mindy 2012/11/04 23:54:04

Careful

i say that I'm so pale that I look like raw chicken meat! I do love golden colored skin, but skin cancer isn't fun.

reply
Carolyn 2012/11/04 19:28:15
american patriot 2012/11/04 17:48:34

Careful

Since getting basal cell carcinoma on my leg I spend no extended time in the sun. But when out I use plenty of 100+ SPF Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Sunblock!

reply
nightcrawler2005 2012/11/04 17:36:57

Slide

I'll put on sunscreen once in a blue moon but normally no.

reply
laydeelapis 2012/11/04 17:33:34 (edited)

Careful

+1
But my doctor's never needed to lecture me about it. I'm a freak about sunscreen. I have between 15 and 45 SPF on my face year round and in summer, I wear at least 60 everywhere that's exposed.

reply
christopher.puksta 2012/11/04 17:30:51

Slide

+1
When I am at the beech or fishing on my boat on a sunny day are the only times I wear sun screen. I don't really get bothered by it any other time....

reply
america... to christo... 2012/11/04 17:57:16

Better something than nothing. Look out for spots like these. Getting basal cell carcinoma made me appreciate sunblock on a whole new level.

reply
raelene 2012/11/04 17:16:30

Careful

Trying to get rid of scars in order to do that you have to take sunscreen seriously

reply
Bronar 2012/11/04 16:46:42

Careful

+1
I spend a lot of time in the sun. I do my best to cover up.

reply
Anonymous Loner 2012/11/04 16:21:21

Careful

+1
I burn like bacon if I'm out in the sun too long.

reply
america... to Anonymo... 2012/11/04 17:59:58

+1
You need to use 100+ SPF Broad Spectrum Sunblock! It will make all the difference in having young healthy skin.

reply
Anonymo... to america... 2012/11/04 18:01:40

+1
Thanks for the tip.

reply
america... to Anonymo... 2012/11/04 18:09:43

+1
My pleasure young blood.

reply
Papilio 2012/11/04 16:13:06

Careful

I hate sun-bathing.It sucks <_<
I DON'T LIKE THE SUN
SUUUUUN ,GOOOO AAAWAAAYYY. D:<

reply
Eric C. 2012/11/04 15:38:25

Careful

Ugh, freckles all over the body.

reply
Michaela★ 2012/11/04 14:41:25

Slide

Although I am naturally pretty pale (my Dad ios irish) during the summer I tan well (my Mom is completely native american and french-canadian). The only place I put sunscreen is my back and shoulders.

reply
tredzwater 2012/11/04 13:19:29

Careful

+1
I'm a redhead and I always burned. I've had 6 malignant melanomas removed and two of them nearly killed me. Now, I use strong sunscreen or wear coverup clothing.

I have a pleat on my back, a huge "ice cream scoop" dent in one arm, lost 112 lbs. in 9 months from chemo, gave birth to a fine crop of bouncing baby wrinkles and spent most of that time tossing my cookies.

No tan is worth that.

reply
EmoMcParland 2012/11/04 08:57:37

Careful

I'm Irish fair skin freckles; my dermatologist removes, lots of pre-cancerous lesions annually ; )

reply
Crispy 2012/11/04 06:10:16

Slide

I live on a farm and never put on sunscreen. I know what could happen but i have a lot of stuff to do each day and cant stop just to reapply every few hours. If i get cancer or wrinkles its my own fault.

reply
Melody 2012/11/04 04:31:14

Careful

+1
Tanning is like cooking yourself... just saying

reply
america... to Melody 2012/11/04 18:03:39

You've got it! And sunblock helps your skin last well into old age.

reply
CaliGurl 2012/11/04 04:29:36

Slide

+1
I am so completely NOT careful that I expect to have skin cancer and see the signs very soon. Sad but true. I live in So Cal and love a deep, dark tan... looks so damn good on me, too.

reply
tredzwater to CaliGurl 2012/11/04 18:34:06

A honking great hole in your back or arm or face won't look nearly as good. Mine is deep enough to hold half a baseball...right down to the bone. Not to mention the scars from lymph gland removal.

Just sayin'...

reply
Q 2012/11/04 04:11:46

Slide

+1
Only when I'm going to be out in the direct sunlight for an extended period of time like on a boat or at the beach, other than that nah...

reply
Duke----The Non Racist, Fun... 2012/11/04 04:04:58

Slide

+1
Have never used sunscreen

reply
Kiki,Pixie,Worm 2012/11/04 03:15:22

Careful

I don't have to be careful though, it's barely sunny D:!

reply
justagirl 2012/11/04 03:05:16

Careful

Pale skin, red hair and freckles..... not about to take a risk with my skin. I avoid going out in the sun for long periods of time :) Call me a vampire lol

reply
Willow 2012/11/04 02:58:21

Careful

I'm pale. That's about it.

reply
Deliciously Melicious 2012/11/04 02:29:15

Careful

My children and I use sunscreen every day, it is mixed in with our skin cream, and moisturizers. Step out of the shower and put it on.

My eldest has vitiligo and his chances of burning and skin cancer are quite high. We are very careful about using it.

reply
laydeel... to Delicio... 2012/11/04 17:36:12

+1
I have a touch of vitiligo on my face, too. I'm always careful about using my medicine and then sunscreen.

reply
Delicio... to laydeel... 2012/11/04 18:21:45

How long have you had it? My son's is pretty pervasive, though not much on his face.

reply
Delicio... to laydeel... 2012/11/04 18:22:23

What kind of medicine?

reply
laydeel... to Delicio... 2012/11/04 18:40:50

It first showed up 2 years ago and we didn't think anything of it, then it spread over this past summer so I went on hydrocortisone, hydroval and one other thing (I don't remember the name). They're just topical creams but it looks like they're working. It really only shows in the summer since the rest of my face gets a bit darker. I'm pretty pale so right now, the two shades are virtually indistinguishable. If it starts to spread more, they're going to try laser treatment.
How long has your son had it? Does he have it everywhere or just in one area?

reply
Delicio... to laydeel... 2012/11/04 19:10:06

+1
About 8 years, he was close to two when it started to appear. He has large areas on his chest, abdomen, groin, back, legs and arms, and his eye lids.

We were told, repeatedly that there was nothing to be done. Might be time to bring him back.

reply
laydeel... to Delicio... 2012/11/04 22:51:19

+1
They told you there's nothing to be done? That's weird, is it because of a reason specific to your son? Because my friend has it quite bad and she's gotten laser treatments which have helped reduce it significantly.

reply
Delicio... to laydeel... 2012/11/04 23:23:08

Perhaps because of his young age?? :/ He was around 2 when it first showed, he's now 10.

reply
laydeel... to Delicio... 2012/12/14 00:54:12

+1
Oh, I see. I can imagine why they wouldn't want to use such extreme treatments on someone so young.

reply
Michelle 2012/11/04 02:11:27

Slide

+3
Never mind the reports that may now link the chemicals in most sunscreens to the very cancers they are trying to prevent.....

reply
Freedom 2012/11/04 01:58:01

Careful

In sunny situations such as vacation or at the beach, I always use sunblock, a hat, and drink plenty of water. Heatstroke and sunburn are no fun and can ruin a vacation.

reply