Editorial: Sunburn a recipe for big 'C'

Linda Hall.

Soaring temperatures and holidays can be a recipe for disaster - especially if you add water.

I was disappointed in myself this past week for allowing myself to get sunburned. Not really a disaster but severe sunburn can lead to disaster later in life ... that disaster starts with C.

Cancer seems to be raging its way through humanity and too much sun is one of the many ways it can work its way into our system.

I've been on leave for a week and, along with my daughter and two young grandchildren, went to Taupo for a couple of nights.

We had a great time. It was hot but we all covered ourselves in sunscreen numerous times every day and stayed in the shade where possible.

We went on a river cruise to Huka Falls. It was spectacular. Beautiful scenery and calm waters until the captain took us very close to the falls.

The boat was rocking and rolling and the engine roaring as he got us so near I have to admit I was a little bit scared.

We swam in hot pools and the lake, played mini-golf, ate ice creams and packed as much as we could into three days without spending a fortune.

I even put my shorts on when we got back to our accommodation.

Mr Three-and-a-Half took one look at me and laughed, then said: "Why have you got ... (Mr Neat's name) pants on?"

Shows you how many times he's seen me in shorts.

Arrived home on Thursday weary but with no sunburn.

Friday I went to the Havelock pools. Covered myself in sunscreen but that evening I was burned. Not horribly burned but enough to tell myself off.

So I asked myself what I had done differently. Simple, really.

First mistake: it was more than 30C and I was in the water for more than an hour.

Second mistake: I had been using SPF50+ sunscreen in Taupo, but the one I had with me that day was only SPF30+.

Third mistake: It was the middle of the afternoon, the hottest part of the day, and I should have known better but the little person I had with me was having so much fun she didn't want to get out.

I find it rather hard to say no to the little people in my life. She didn't get burned, thank goodness, or I would have been in big trouble. She had the higher sunscreen put on her before she left home and she was wearing a rash shirt with long sleeves.

It doesn't take long to burn on a 30C day.

Someone told me a few weeks back that there was a lot of chatter on Facebook about children getting sunburned, even though their parents had been vigilant about putting sunscreen on.

I didn't see the posts so I can't comment but I would urge parents to check the use-by date, especially at the beginning of summer.

If it's expired, don't use it. I know it can be expensive but it's just not worth the risk.

Toward the end of summer if you find you need to buy more, again check the date or maybe just buy a small tube to get you through.

I also went swimming at Clifton during my break - so I've been in hot pools, cold pools, mineral pools, a lake and the sea, all within a week.

My favourite? Has to be Lake Taupo. It's so clean and refreshing.

Ah well, it's back to work for me tomorrow. Just as well, really, I need a rest - just joking, Mr Austin.

- Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.