What do you say if they say....?

[jbeegoode]

Yes, John P. Somewhat cautious is enough. This bod works very well. DF is better adapted than me. Red heads and those that turn pink have to be extra cautious. People who "don't burn" can burn here. This is somewhat extreme in the warm...er, hot months.
Jbee

[Safebare]

Okay, I live in the south, I am Caucasian (blond/blue), I love the outdoors and I'm usually nude. Oh yeah, I am a melanoma survivor.  I respect sunscreens, and understand why they exist.  I truly believe that my melanoma is a result of my early over-exposure to the sun.  Exposure that occurred sporadically and inconsistently enough to cause damage deep in my dermis.  Deep sunburns today could add to that risk.  I do believe in a 'healthy tan', but you can't get it at the 'tanning salon' (artificially).
Modern sunscreens may help prevent sunburns, but there is a cost.  Avoid Oxybenzone, one of the most common ingredients in sunscreen.  It is a known toxic substance to humans.  Don't do it!  You have been warned.  I can send you the Safety Data Sheet if you need it.
Zinc and other related compounds, sit on the surface of the skin and provide shade, similar to a hat or shirt.  Reading this forum has led to me wearing hats more frequently, and yes, a shirt now and again, even if it only covers my shoulders.  I blame Jbee and Karla.
I am now 6 years since my last melanoma diagnosis and my oncologist relaxed my semiannual appointments to annual.  We have had many conversations about sun exposure.  I think he enjoys my appointments as much as I.
So, what do I say if they say that I will get cancer?  I say that is why I am out in nature, naturally.  Clothes create illness, they do not prevent it.

Stay safe and stay bare,
Safebare

[John P]

As it happens, my wife's sister died of melanoma about 7 years ago. When I asked my wife about their early life, she said "Sunburn? Oh sure, maybe she sunbathed more than me, but none of us took much care about it." But you'd better believe my wife is careful about sun exposure now! And unfortunately, that doesn't push her in the direction of naturism. Medical science seems to say that most of the damage is done when you're a child or adolescent, but we can't change the past, only what we're doing now. And yes Safebare, my wife would also agree with you about zinc sunscreen being best. If they made a triple-digit SPF formula, she'd be using it.

They lived in New York State, but you can get too much sun just about anywhere.

[Greenbare Woods]

As it happens, my wife's sister died of melanoma about 7 years ago. When I asked my wife about their early life, she said "Sunburn? Oh sure, maybe she sunbathed more than me, but none of us took much care about it." But you'd better believe my wife is careful about sun exposure now! And unfortunately, that doesn't push her in the direction of naturism. Medical science seems to say that most of the damage is done when you're a child or adolescent, but we can't change the past, only what we're doing now. And yes Safebare, my wife would also agree with you about zinc sunscreen being best. If they made a triple-digit SPF formula, she'd be using it.
They lived in New York State, but you can get too much sun just about anywhere.

When I was a child, my family tended to take 2 week vacations each year, and occasionally spend a Saturday at a lake or somewhere.  The rest of the year we were pretty much covered in cloth from neck down.  We would spend a day at the lake swimming, and get sunburned because we were pale white.  Or we would go on vacation to some beach or lake and get sunburned. 

A better plan would have been to start getting some sun in spring when it warms up and go mostly naked except for compulsory minimums part of every day all summer.  Even better if we lived in a free culture where there weren't any compulsory minimum body covers.  Clothing kills people by causing sunburn from infrequent exposure or from toxic chemical "sun blocker." 

Bob
 

[MartinM]

I also believe in the benefit of a healthy tan by being out regularly whenever the weather allows, but avoiding over-exposure when the sun is very strong. I am however mindful of the warnings that ‘all tanning represents damage’ and don’t totally dismiss them.  However, I am aware there are a lot of benefits to getting sun and air on the skin which may more than compensate for a slightly increased risk of melanoma and there is research to show that, despite increased risks of melanoma, those who spend more time out in the sun have overall better health outcomes. I am also aware of risks associated with sun creams, so only use them where a real risk of burning. I prefer to find some shade during the most dangerous periods.

I say a slightly increased risk, because I don’t think much is really known about the risks associated wirh different patterns of behaviour in the sun, in different parts of the world and by different ethnicities (in particular different skin pigmentations).The point about damage in childhood is an important one. Also, many Brits and other northern Europeans go to mediterranean and other hot, sunny countries having built up little if any tan beforehand. Lying in the sun for long periods is an unnatural thing to do - and perhaps a particular problem for naturists ready to strip off on foreign beaches but not to walk around. Lying down gives a much higher degress of exposure to parts of the body when the sun is at its highest. It may well eventually be proven that our protection is best geared to behaviour typical of our hunter gatherer ancestors, not modern beachgoers ie being active for much of the day and only lying down when ‘basking’ is most needed to gain the sun’s warmth ie early in the day or early in the year.

I have also seen reports of research suggesting wearing sun-glasses may be an added risk factor by fooling the body into lowering its defences, because the eyes have a greater role in perception of light/radiation than just being for sight.

[ric]

got to agree about sun glasses being bad.

i keep a pair in the car for the very rare occasions i need them for safe driving.   though a baseball cap to shade the eyes is the first line of defense..... more effective than the shades at the top of the windscreen.

years ago i had a van with a top tint screen.... about a 4 inch strip accross the top was tinted deep blue... that was also effective in getting rid of sky glare.

mostly its glare from bright sky that is the problem , which can be blocked by the brim of a hat.
only on rare occasions does glitter from cars, water or snow necessitate sun glasses.

[Peter S]

I am routinely suspicious of all “studies” and “surveys” because what we actually read has been misinterpreted and reduced to (the wrong) essentials by journalists looking for buy-me headlines. Worse, the original press release has been composed to get publicity to attract more funding, or the whole thing has been cobbled together by the marketing department to sell something.

[BlueTrain]

Oh, I think we all do that, not just the pros.

[Greenbare Woods]

years ago i had a van with a top tint screen.... about a 4 inch strip accross the top was tinted deep blue... that was also effective in getting rid of sky glare.

Now that you mention it, the tinted windscreen seems to have vanished from automobiles.   Some decades ago almost all decent cars had the top of their windscreen tinted to reduce glare and save our eyes.   I don't recall seeing anything like that in a long while.  Its hard to notice things that aren't there.

mostly its glare from bright sky that is the problem , which can be blocked by the brim of a hat.
only on rare occasions does glitter from cars, water or snow necessitate sun glasses.

I almost always wear a hat while outside.  I usually wear a real hat, not one of those silly sport caps. 

Bob

[Greenbare Woods]

I am routinely suspicious of all “studies” and “surveys” because what we actually read has been misinterpreted and reduced to (the wrong) essentials by journalists looking for buy-me headlines. Worse, the original press release has been composed to get publicity to attract more funding, or the whole thing has been cobbled together by the marketing department to sell something.

Political poling data is the worst.  Its almost all lies promoting some political agenda or candidate.

[BlueTrain]

It has a purpose. Some people wait to see how other people are voting before going out to vote themselves.

[eyesup]

Safebare: I respect sunscreens, and understand why they exist.  I truly believe that my melanoma is a result of my early over-exposure to the sun.  Exposure that occurred sporadically and inconsistently enough to cause damage deep in my dermis.  . . .  I do believe in a 'healthy tan', but you can't get it at the 'tanning salon' (artificially).

JohnP: Medical science seems to say that most of the damage is done when you're a child or adolescent, but we can't change the past, only what we're doing now.

Bob Knows: We would spend a day at the lake swimming, and get sunburned because we were pale white.  Or we would go on vacation to some beach or lake and get sunburned.

I grew up just east of Dallas, TX. When we were kids and summer vacation was in full swing, we seldom wore shirts. Usually I was in just shorts and a pair of sandals. I was a dark brown tan everywhere except between my waist and upper thighs. The anecdotal evidence in my family is that there is American Indian ancestors in there somewhere. I don’t know if that is true, but I must have some genes from somewhere with dark skin. I will burn at the beginning of summer, then it all just keeps getting darker and darker.

No skin issues yet, but I don’t spend the same amount of time outdoors as when I was young.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

Clothing creates cancer in other ways. For example a swimsuit shifts on the body as position changes. A very white pristine area that has been covered by cloth will be exposed when the clothing shift occurs. This newly exposed skin burns easily. I saw a poster that showed the most frequent locations for cancers. It was like the outline for a bikini and the face.

Wear a hat when in the sun longer, be careful when getting a base coat and do it all nude. Watch out for the intensity of 11am  to 1pm when visiting the beach, or southwest US. Best way to get vitamin D naked a half of an hour a day...but not the first day, and you need some of the good cholesterol in your diet to naturally produce it effectively.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

New One: "My kid will turn queer looking at you nake men. He shouldn't see that.He needs to look at females to stay healthy"
"What if he reaches out ad touches it?" " I don't want him to get interested."

I don't make these up. I actually heard this a few times.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

 Another, "I don't want to embarrass my family. We're better than that."

Jbee