Should we go swimming with a hat? :)

I'm white enough that 5 mins of near midday sun gives me sunburns. In summer spf >30 is a must. Even day to day some sunscreen on my face and neck is a must.

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stephen_g 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

Probably says a lot about where people live. The OP’s advice is a recipe for still getting skin cancer here (we get a max UV index at or over 11 every day for months where I live) - sunscreen is unavoidable to stay safe for a lot of the country because even little bits of incidental exposure add up. Whereas if you’re in the northern parts of US/Europe it’s probably OK.

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globular-toast 4 days ago | parent [-]

I thought it was only sunburn that was dangerous rather than incidental exposure. This has been the advice for years now, has it changed?

	▲	stephen_g 3 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Skin damage from UV is cumulative. How careful you have to be depends on your skin type but the general advice is that sun protection should be worn when the UV index is over 3, or if you're spending any extended time in the sun.
	▲	rkomorn 4 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		"it's only sunburn that's dangerous" stopped being the advice years ago, probably because people (younger dumb me included) were like "I only get sunburn once a year and after that I don't need sunscreen!"

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stevage 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Yes. I do! If I'm mucking around in the water at the beach I'm in long sleeve top, hat and sunglasses.

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cortesoft 4 days ago | parent [-]

That's wading, not swimming

	▲	stevage a day ago \| parent [-]
		Honestly, that's what I wear when swimming.

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brewdad 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I opt for sunscreen on my head and legs. Coverage for the rest of my body. I also wear a hat when feasible.

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WalterBright 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> midday sun

In more equatorial regions I'd stay out of the sun from 9-3.

	▲	globular-toast 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun... It's still so true today. In England we savour the sun. In hot places they are wary of it.