Tenerife Forum members, do you think it is safe to sunbathe or not?

[mac]

I enjoy nothing more than lying in the sun and firmly belive that it is good for you. My mum came with us last year for a week and nearly had a fit when she saw me. Said I was heading for skin cancer and should always keep out od direct rays. I think the whole thing has been blown out of all proportion especially by the sun tan lotion making companies. What do you think??

[Mike]

I just spent 16 sun-filled days in Tenerife and only had one coating of sun-tan lotion, and that's because my wife insisted.
I have a lovely tan and I glow in the dark!

Get them them rays!!

[Daverock]

Good subject Mac. I'm inclined to agree with you. What did people do 20 30 or even 40 years ago? People worked outside more than they do now and were exposed to a lot of sun. Of course there is always the arguement that the ozone layer has got thinner in recent years.

Since I moved to Tenerife I keep a light tan year round. I don't feel the need to get myself mahogany coloured any more. I don't use sun tan lotion. I personally don't like it and think contsantly layering yourself with the stuff cannot be good for you as it must clog up your pores.

I'm careful about expressing these views to others as I think it boils down to personal choice at the end of the day. I'm prepared to take the risk but it is my life and my choice.

I'm interested to hear other views on this subject but I'm inclined to believe that the skin cancer scare is a huge suntan lotion marketing con.

[MaxineC]

I too was a major sun-worshipper before moving here - I obviously still love the sun, but don't tend to sunbathe much. I keep a nice healthy looking colour by just walking around in it. I tan very quickly, and grew up in the far east, so my skin is very used to the sun, and I rarely use protection, except to keep my skin moisturised.

I think a lot is hype, but I do issue warnings to all family/friends that visit us to keep a reasonable factor of sun lotion on, for no other reason than I don't want them to burn and ruin their stay.

The amount of times I could shake people who say after they've burnt, "I've holidayed in Spain lots and never burnt before!" They always look quite bemused when I tell them they're closer to Africa - and I thought my geography was bad

[Mike]

The really sad thing is that my wife and I are at the opposite ends of the sun-tan spectrum, I can take but she is fair-skinned and can't.
And I wanted to retire there!

[tc22]

talking about grown ups, but what about your kids? Do you put lotion on your kids every time they go out? (aimed at people that live on the reef)

I lived in the middle east as a child and my parents never put cream on me, but i am(statistically) at more risk of getting the big C. Thats one thing my hubby is worried about when we move out there, but i am more likely to teach our kids to apply cream as part of there daily routine(prob won't last though!)

[kaza]

I love the sun when i'm on my holidays I always use factor 15 sun cream and chill on the beach all day every day I do worry about the big c but at home I don't get the chance to lap up the ray's cause it's either raining or i'm working so a few weeks in the sun can't make that much difference so bring on the sun I say

[cinnamon]

well, we rather keep it the spanish way, when we go down to the beach, then always after 4pm when the sun is still intense, but not soooo intense anymore. usually 1-2 hrs will keep the tan quite healthy looking. still i put factor 8 on places which are normally not really exposed to the direct sunlight during the day

[IREALLYAMLINDA]

I am very blond and pale skinned so I burn very quickly, so I stay in the shade under a sunbrella or a tree and use a fairly high factor sun lotion and my grand daughter also uses high factor lotion for kids even though she has "good tanning skin". My husband on the other hand is very dark skinned and doesn't even bother to put any lotion on sometimes, he just seems to get darker and darker and he can lay in the sun for hours - I don't think I could do that even if I had dark skin, I'd be too hot, rather be in the pool or the sea!!!

[Cathy]

since moving here 4 years ago, I don't tend to sit out in the sun that much now. I always catch it more when I am walking around in it.