I can't believe I'm burnt

I have the skin type that tans very easy and I used to never ever get sun burned. Well I sat out in the sun mostly nine hours yesterday and today doing a garage sale. My shoulders are so burned. Last summer my Mom and I went to the beach and my chest and belly got burned. I don't understand why I never used to burn and now I do.

Whether you burn easily or not - sitting out in the sun that long with no sunscreen is NOT good for your skin!!!! That's how people get skin cancers! Maybe your body is finally telling you that it's getting seriously damaged and doesn't like it?!?!

Originally Posted by sarahp

Whether you burn easily or not - sitting out in the sun that long with no sunscreen is NOT good for your skin!!!! That's how people get skin cancers! Maybe your body is finally telling you that it's getting seriously damaged and doesn't like it?!?!

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I wouldn't be surprised at burning after nine hours either! That's a long time! My mother's dad passed away from skin cancer when she was 13. Believe it or not I have to rag on her like a little kid to cover up with sun block or she won't do it at all (because she "doesn't burn") - in the Arizona SUN?! Right, whatever Mom!

Nine hours one day and a couple more the next? And you can't believe you have burned your skin? I don't know how old you are, but skin cancer has no age limits --- it likes them young and old. Take a minute and google skin cancer. You won't sit out like that if you look at the results.

I know being out in the sun is a risk for skin cancer but I'm not one of those die hard tanning people. I rarely lay out just to get a tan and I don't fake and bake. Plus people with naturally dark skin are less likely to get skin cancer. I've never wore sunblock because I used to not burn. Now I guess I'll use it since I burn. When I was a kid I could be out in the sun, in the water for that matter, all day long and not even get a slight burn.

You don't need to be burnt for skin cancer, that just increases the risk.

Ouch! That sounds painful. I have the type of skin that burns very easily - I put sunscreen on every morning, I don't want to take the risk!
Hope your sunburn goes away quickly!