How do you cope with the New Mexico Sun with fair skin? (Santa Fe: buy, live in)

[Fiddlehead]

Howdy all,

The Santa Fe climate threat got me thinking....A few years ago I wrote off New Mexico because I was afraid that the incessant sun would be bad for my wife and son's skin. They are of Irish stock and fair and lovely as their ancestors from the land of rain and mist. I am a fair bit darker and tan easily. In any case, I am wondering if any of you have had issues with this? I do know that the high numbers of Irish & English in Australia results in one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world.

How do you cope?

[chilegal]

Sunscreen, hats and long sleeves. Its not that bad, I am fair skinned also, and I deal with it easy.

[JDTH]

Originally Posted by chilegal

Sunscreen, hats and long sleeves. Its not that bad, I am fair skinned also, and I deal with it easy.

I'm with Chilegal. I am half Irish, 1/4 polish and 1/4 german otherwise known as Pasty White Boy. I have lived in the Phoenix area for 30+ years. Yes hats, long sleeves and lots of sunscreen.

[Sarahsez]

Long sleeves, hats, and sunscreen always.... I found I actually stayed cooler with the long sleeves because the sun wasn't directly beating down on my skin. I'd buy lightweight long sleeve t-shirts in the winter for the kids so I'd have them for the warmer weather.

Also, get out in the earlier part of the day or in the evening so you aren't out in the hottest part of the day. If you have to be out during the day, make sure you stay in the shade. I always made my kids stay under the covered patio when they went out to play in the middle of the day. They liked to dig in the dirt so the area around my the door was always dug up, but at least it protected their skin.

[jaxart]

I grew up in the city that prides itself on the number of continuous days of sunshine - El Paso, TX. I wish there had been more information "back then" on the dangers of too much sun. As a youngster, I ran around six months out of the year without a shirt and wearing shorts. Old cowhands knew inherently that wide brimmed hats, long sleeves and bandanas around the neck were "proper dress" for working out all day in the sun. I never heard about skin cancer dangers/causes until much later in life. Same goes for other things considered no-nos today, like too much loud noise causing deafness.

And yes - I've had several types of skin cancer, so far caught early enough to be removed fully. But I also get regular checkups now, in my old age, and worry about every new suspicious spot on my body.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Howdy all,

The Santa Fe climate threat got me thinking....A few years ago I wrote off New Mexico because I was afraid that the incessant sun would be bad for my wife and son's skin. They are of Irish stock and fair and lovely as their ancestors from the land of rain and mist. I am a fair bit darker and tan easily. In any case, I am wondering if any of you have had issues with this? I do know that the high numbers of Irish & English in Australia results in one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world.

How do you cope?

that is something to be concerned about, but the best way to cope is lots of sun screen, hats and trying to stay out of the sun as much as possible from about 10am until 3 or 4pm. This doesn't mean hide in the house, but try to keep the hours in the sun to a min.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by jaxart

I grew up in the city that prides itself on the number of continuous days of sunshine - El Paso, TX. I wish there had been more information "back then" on the dangers of too much sun. As a youngster, I ran around six months out of the year without a shirt and wearing shorts. Old cowhands knew inherently that wide brimmed hats, long sleeves and bandanas around the neck were "proper dress" for working out all day in the sun. I never heard about skin cancer dangers/causes until much later in life. Same goes for other things considered no-nos today, like too much loud noise causing deafness.

And yes - I've had several types of skin cancer, so far caught early enough to be removed fully. But I also get regular checkups now, in my old age, and worry about every new suspicious spot on my body.

you are right, it is the protection that is important. I think all of us past a certain age are having skin cancer problems because we thought the darker our skin the healthier we were and the better we looked.

Nita

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by nmnita

...we thought the darker our skin the healthier we were and the better we looked.

I never could understand the 'tanning bed' popularity. And many people still think nothing of 'sunning' at the beach. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of contradictory hoopla of late about the NEED for getting more Vitamin D by spending time in the sun. I take a supplement instead, even though I live in a very sunny clime.

[songinthewind7]

The best thing to do is to not go out the hottest part of the day. We all need a certain amount of sun for the amount of vitamins it gives to us but we don't need to bake in it.
A lot of the ingredients in sunscreen are not the best thing for your skin either, so common sense is the best way to go.

[Fickle]

I am very fair skinned... I just use tons of sunscreen and always find some shade.