The sun in Spain?

[appleblossombeck]

Hi, I have heard that in Australia there are actually signs on the beach warning people of the dangers of skin cancer because the sun is so strong there. Is there a similar situation in Spain? I want to go, but I burn fairly easily. This isn't really enough to keep me away, mind, it's just something to know for when I'm packing. Thanks,
Rebecca

[Marina]

We were in Australia last year for Christmas and the sun there is amazingly strong, you really have to take care there. In Spain it can be almost as intense - you have to take a lot of care if you are fair-skinned - Ben for example always uses factor 30 cream and generally stays under a parasol on the beach (he does exagerate a bit!), but I would recommend anyone to do the same, epecially if you are only used to UK or Northern USA sun. Don't worry though, you don't have to be paranoid about skin cancer, just be sensible!

My sister had an exchange from Boston here a couple of years ago and she didn't take our advice when we went to the beach in Gandia for the weekend. She put no cream on and after 2 hours was severely burnt and had to stay out of the sun for several days! So, factor 30 cream is the answer!

[appleblossombeck]

Thanks Marina, that sounds like what I dealt with in the Florida Keys. Since you two seem to like to travel a lot, if you ever get a chance I recommend going to the Keys. They are amazing--there these Key deer who only live there, and full grown they get as high as your knee. It's a wonderful place.

[lumpsuckerpig]

I had the misfortune to witness a young girl, probably around 19 or 20, being attended to by the ambulance crew after falling asleep on the beach and becoming severly burned by the sun. This was in Torremolinos in July 2002. She was just like a lobster and her skin was starting to blister, also, she was unconcious as a result of all this. The crew put her in an ambulance and sped off at some speed. I never found out what had happened to her. This is probably a severe case, I know, but it just shows the dangers of the sun.
For the record, I use plenty of factor 25 after around about 10-11 a.m. in the morning until around 5-6 in the afternoon when holidaying in Spain. I also like to go under a parasol like Ben as I dont go brown, just go red and then burn. Better safe than sorry. Anyway, the parasol keeps my San Miguel, Dorarda, Mahou, Cruzcampo, Sol etc, etc, cool !

[Alan]

I met a lass from Dublin who used Johnson's baby lotion and lay in the sun all day (in Mallorca). She was very burnt - red and peeling. It was stupid. But she didn't learn her lesson and did the very same thing the next day.

Personally, I try to avoid the sun. It's not that I don't like it - I think it has a great effect on your mood, but I try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Scots and the sun don't mix. I have many reasons for loving Spain, but the ability to get a tan is not one of them.

[gary]

No problems with sun recently in Spain - looking at the weather charts for earlier in the week the weather seems to have been attrocious.....but as a rule I combine the advice above - high factor cream - stay under the brolly on the beach through the hottest part of the day from 11am through to 3pm - though I must confess to doing a little basking in the early evening. If you notice the early evening is the time that young Spanish families seem come on to the beach with their children and if its good enough for them that'll do for me. I havent been burnt since I was 15 when I swam across Lake Lugano in From Switzerland to Italy for a (stupid) bet. The resulting blisters on my shoulders the next morning looked like the shoulder protection worn by American footballers.

[Ben]

A friend of mine fell asleep on the beach in Mallorca one afternoon - he was completely covered up except for one foot that got so badly burned in the few hours he was there that he ended up in hospital!

[Ben]

I havent been burnt since I was 15 when I swam across Lake Lugano in From Switzerland to Italy for a (stupid) bet.

How far is that?!?

[gary]

How far is that?!?

2 maybe 3 miles each way - we set off from the lido at 11am and arrived back after the lido was shut - our teachers were to say the least mildly concerned. Blisters burst on the 36 hour train journey home and the Tshirt had to be soaked off.

Once bitten twice shy my 'suntan' usually comprises of the gap between shorts and socks, arms from the elbow down and a little on the face. All the rest stays under wraps - I tan so slowly that its not worth starting.

[Ben]

our teachers were to say the least mildly concerned. Blisters burst on the 36 hour train journey home and the Tshirt had to be soaked off.

Ouch:eek:

[Pepino]

My first foreign holiday was in Spain when I was 15. I was obsessed with getting a tan despite my reasonably fair skin. Anyway, the obvious happened, and by the end of the first day, I had hideous blisters across my shoulders. I still had another 13 days of the holiday to go and it was horrific. I'm obviously more careful nowadays (but still have that stupid streak occasionally). 17 years later I can still see that, where the blisters were, there is still a hint of discoloration. God knows what damage I've stored-up for the future.

Madre mía, it's like a medical confession box on the forum today! We'll be comparing scars next like they did in "Jaws". :eek: