Now They Tell Me
Who ever heard of sunscreen years ago? Back when I was a kid, there was no such thing as sunscreen. Or, at least, I'd never heard of it – and neither had my family and friends. Personally, I cannot begin to recount the number of times I've endured heavy duty sunburns after spending endless hours in the sun. Actually, that's precisely what kids of my generation did – we regularly spent all day outside. Of course, having a fair complexion (or 'peaches and cream' as I like to call it) didn't help matters either. Even now, sun exposure for more than a few minutes will literally turn my skin bright red. Not a good look.
And If That Wasn't Enough ...
... we had to accelerate the process. Back when I was in high school, my girlfriends and I would start by lining both sides of a double-album, LP record cover with aluminum foil. Then, after ensuring we were sufficiently slathered in baby oil, we would head outside – album covers in hand – to leisurely lounge in the sunshine. In retrospect, I wish somebody would have told me that what I was doing could be harmful – especially in the long run. Not that I would have listened. I was just a teenager, after all.
So I Guess Most Of The Damage Has Already Been Done?
Apparently. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and its striking poster I encountered recently, 80% of all sun damage occurs before the age of 18. Wait! That means I still have a chance to protect the remaining 20% from damage – plus protect the original 80% from further damage. Well, here's hoping I've inherited good genes that will safeguard me in the future. But, in the meantime ... please pass the SPF 1000!
Featured- Topic: ActiveRain Community
Comments
51
New Comment
Subscribe to Comments
Back to Top
You must sign in or register to leave a comment
Login
Register
Show All Comments
Ambassador
2,083,743
2,083,743
Maxus Realty Group - Broker 301-246-0001 - Gaithersburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA
That baby is just freaky. .
There are so many things we did wrong long time ago. . .cooking yourself in a slow burner was not a good thing. .
Ambassador
2,698,480
2,698,480
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally
Carrie, we must have sat in the same sun. My color is so entrenched that I get asked in January where I was on vacation, and I haven't left the state
Rainmaker
708,811
708,811
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations
Good point Carie... here in Arizona like my other colleague that replied, we literally live with sunshine 365 days a year. Why we are always so happy and full of .... vitamin D. But on the other hand, we are greatly exposed to sun. Thus, protection is paramount. And for us a tad older gentlemen, lets not forget to also think of the part convertible on top of our heads....
Rainmaker
699,077
699,077
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty
Cari, you forgot about the drop of iodine in the baby oil bottle. Please read below. Sina is a friend of mine and has been a pioneer in saving sunburned skin
Just saw a horrible sunburn on my personal page...please...call me when those you love suffer from a horrible sunburn! Remember, the sunburn permantly changes the skin's DNA leaving it susceptible to premature aging and skin cancer years down the road!!! The research proves...Emerald Aloe stops that damage on contact...is a natural pain reliever and stimulates the skin's natural process of renewing and healing itself....we're here to help!!! Remember...once the skin is burned that damage continues on for days...getting worse...look us up at www.sinarelief.com
Both Sina and I grew up basically in your backyard in Racine, Wisc.
Rainmaker
1,138,742
1,138,742
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker
SOme people react differently. I've had a few buddies get skin cancer. I spent a lot of time outdoors as a kid, geowing up on the beach. So far, so good. I do see a lot of people applying sunblock these days however, which isn't a bad thing. I do remember my sister and the baby oil days.
Ambassador
2,166,874
2,166,874
ViewHomes of Clark County - Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
REALTORS® in Clark County, WA
Baby oil and iodine - plus a shiny space blanket to reflect those rays. Thank God I grew up in Juneau, Alaska, ( think lots of clouds and rain) otherwise, I'd look like Maxine. Lol. You remind me of the "old stupid" sunning days I had as a young women. Yikes.
Rainer
240,355
240,355
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL
Janis: We were just thinking what everyone else was thinking! Oh, if we only knew then what we know now .... but, it's always fun to reminisce :)
Debbie: I'm done with tanning too ... pale skin and all!
Rebecca: A scare like that can certainly create a lifelong impact. I try not to be out in the sun for extended periods of time either.
Lisa: And, it doesn't seem that long ago ....
Laura: "Be You!" ... I like that a lot!
Praful: Photoshop and I are BFFs :)
Debbi: Agreed! Education has helped to change the way we view a lot of dangerous habits that we didn't know were dangerous!
Sharon: Who knew is right! Makeup with sunscreen is always the order of the day for me too!
Nancy: Yes! The Coppertone Girl with the little dog tugging at her bathing suit ... I remember! And, thanks for the compliment on my Rainmaker photo ... I just changed it recently :)
Ralph: I wish I hadn't ... but I did! I'm hanging on to the glimmer of hope, though :)
Rainer
240,355
240,355
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL
David: I'm not quite sure how to respond to your comment. I will say that it certainly was a different world back when we were kids.
Christine: I protect myself now too!
Debbie: Sun In!! I forgot about that ... thanks :) And, I agree ... it is a scary picture!
Marco: An Emerson, Lake & Palmer TRIPLE slbum cover?! Wow ... you were serious :)
Roger: Apparently, we didn't know about the iodine. But if we did ... I'm sure we would have used it too. Yikes!
Eve: Okay ... I need to know about the beer in the hair curlers! Care to share?
Gary: So true ... if only we had known!
Lise: Yes, life does take its toll ... sun or no sun. However, your mom was right ... what we girls have done in the name of beauty :)
Dick & Dixie: Thanks for the reminder ... just checked it and I'm good to go!
Fred: Ha! It is a wonder we have skin at all ... you're right!
Rainer
240,355
240,355
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL
Richard: Ha! Just our bottle of baby oil and our small, transistor radio tuned to our favorite, local music station. And, we survived to talk about it ... go figure :)
Nina: I hope you're right when you say it's never too late to start doing something good! I've been much more concientious over the years as well. But, in my early days ... oy vey :)
Cindy: You remembered the lemons too! Yes, times have certainly changed ....
Amanda & Jared: It creeps me out too ... the face on the poster, I mean :) It certainly stopped me in my tracks when I first saw it. And, thanks for the compliment on my new photo!
Fernando: Freaky but effective, no? And I agree ... cooking ourselves in a slow burner is not a good idea at all!
Ed: I get just the opposite. People always comment on how fair I am ... and that's okay.
Michael: Many years ago, "they" used to say smoking was good for you too! Yikes!
Richard: You're right! All that natural Vitamin D ... good. Overexposure to the sun ... bad. And, thanks for the reminder that our heads need protection too ... follically challenged or not :)
Chris & Dick: Thanks ... I will check out Sina's link! And yes, Racine ... we were practically neighbors :)
Richie: A good friend of mine has the same 'natural oil' which apparently allows him to take liberties with the sun too. Not me!
Gary: Yes, some people seem to react differently to sun exposure. I guess that's where good genetics comes into play. I'm not taking any more chances, though :)
Debb: Ha! And, nobody wants to look like Maxine!
Thana: Ouch is right!
Bill: Yes, unfortunately a great (and painful) reminder. Sunscreen is part of my reality, for sure!
Ambassador
5,073,710
5,073,710
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, Keller Williams Fox Cities - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671
When I was young the procedure while working out in the sun was to just burn and peel, burn and peel and then by mid summer a good tan was achieved and hopefully no more burning until next spring.
Rainmaker
444,898
444,898
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc - Silver Spring, MD
Silver Spring and Takoma Park Maryland Real Estate
I remember using baby oil in a pinch or more likely Coppertone oil (SPF 4) or Coppertone Creamy Lotion (SPF 8) back in the day. "Coppertone" smelled fabulous - like summer and so did "Sea and Ski". I can remember my mother saying she and her girlfriends used CRISCO, when they were teenagers!
Show All Comments
