So much of it is genetics & luck,and you don’t really know until it’s too late. Any Aussies on this thread? Skin cancer rates are going off the chart there, if I recall correctly.
Mrs RBM has had over 15 skin cancers removed from various parts of her body. All were basal cell carcinomas, fortunately. Every year she gets one or two more. The funny thing is, she began avoiding the sun about the time I met her (she was 19) because of concerns of sun damage. The damage was all done during childhood. Her parents moved to South Florida a few years before she was born and her mom took the kids to the beach at every opportunity. Her ethnic backround is Danish & German, 50/50, so she’s pretty pale. She’s 45.
Me, on the other hand, used to bake in the sun up until the time I met the future Mrs RBM. Even since then I haven’t been anywhere near as compliant with sunscreen use with outdoor activities as I should be. (I used to bike 200 or more miles/week, and have done a fair bit of sailing.) My ethnic backround is equal parts German, French, English & Scottish. I haven’t had a single suspicious lession. I’m 45 and usually pass for 8-10 years younger. My mother looks (& her mother looked) much younger than their chronological ages, too.
Despite my luck in this one area of my genes, I try to avoid the sun and could probably place pretty well in a “whitest legs in Florida, Male Division” contest. No need to temp fate. There may be a UV ray out there with my name on it.
Start 6/13/04: 6.0 BPEL x 5.125 EG (midshaft) Current 10/17/04: 6.938 BPEL x 5.625 EG (midshaft) Come on 7! Disclaimer: I'm not an advanced member, but my member is advancing. ;)