Al,doctors here advise us to get into the sun during the spring or we will have no resistance in Summer & be liable to melanoma. <BR>This is official advice & is often given on TV. <BR>I understand these people are qualified doctors. <BR>If I went to my doctor in December & told him I wanted advice about what sunblock I should be wearing he would refer me to a psychiatrist not a dermatologist! <BR>By March we are all the colour of alabaster & pining for the sun.Sunblock in winter would really be a joke here.Nobody wears it except skiers,or will ever until the ozone layer finally blows. <BR>Some days you almost need a luminous watch to tell the time here.Yes its nothing to do with heat, get the books out & work out the reduction in luminosity due to the angle of the sun. <BR>In winter it sneaks above the horizon for a few hours then collapses. <BR> Our doctors here tell us that one of the biggest causes of melanoma in Scotland is sudden exposure after the winter. <BR> The correct strategy here is different from other places, its not safe to rely on sunblock as you then have zero resistance.I think the sun in some places is strong enough to sensitise some skins,so that even weak sun is bad for them after that.That doesn't seem to happen here, less people seem to get these probs. <BR>After all, rubbing godknowswhat into sensitive skin every day shouldn't be done unless you need it. <BR>Horses for courses!

I feel a new twist to an old joke coming on . . . <BR> <BR>What do Scotsmen wear under their kilts? <BR>Sunscreen! <BR>

Very good 007, but you delivered the punch line before we had time to guess. <BR> <BR>This is all very interesting about the sun and luminosity and perhaps while the Fire Festivals may have originated in those parts of the world. One option for facial protection, or full body protection if need be, is to continue using the body paints after Beltane. I found Blue for my husband and I dredged up some white mime paint from a past Halloween. I'll have to send in pictures of this one. <BR>Regards, <BR>Dr. Betty

I don't know about the weather in Scotland but I can recommend good sunscreens for sensitive skin. Try any sunscreen product by Clinique. It's all fragrance free and allergy tested. They have a large collection of products and were one of the first cosmetic companies to get into the sunscreen business. They have specific products for the face too. Sunscreen is a good idea any time of year regardless of temperature or climate. Even if it's cloudy those nasty rays come right on through. Good luck! <BR>Trish

Sylvia, trust me when I say that what is hot and humid to someone from the UK simply isn't for Americans. And I'm sure what's hot and humid for us is cold weather for someone from Pakistan. <BR> <BR>I lived in England for 3 years, and my wife grew up in Ireland. I'm still surprised when we've back visiting and someone says it's "awfully close" today. People in the UK have some unnatural ability to discern between 50% humidity and 55% humidity! May you never experience those wonderful Washington, D.C., summer days of 95 degrees coupled with 95% humidity!

When I was working in England last year, I was eating lunch with some co-workers, who were talking about using tanning beds before going on their holidays. I mentioned that tanning beds were just as dangerous as the sun, and no one would believe me! They all thought that tanning beds are perfectly safe. Scary, but true.

You just never know with British weather. Don't bother packing any sunscreeen though - just buy it there if needed.

Don’t leave a tip. Just leave a note in a seat pocket (*not your own*) saying you’ve left a surprise concealed somewhere on the plane. The airline people LOVE a good scavenger hunt.

Oops. Wrong thread.

Dear Lookee Here/Lookee There <BR> <BR>Getting "hotter" or "colder" somehow the thought of "sunscreen" led you here. Reflect for a moment... perhaps this "is" the right the thread for you at this time in your life. Think deeply and intuitively and you will surely know where you're supposed to be. <BR> <BR>Well, gotta go catch a plane. <BR>Dr. Betty

I spent ten days in Scotland last summer...it didn't rain at all. *One* day was cloudy. Believe me or not.

If anyone is still reading this thread, you don't need to use a super high SPF, especially if you're going somewhere like Scotland. SPF15 is fine, even if it is in your normal make-up or moisturizer. Even if you do get a day of full out glorious rays, you simply need to put in on more often than you would if you were using spf30 or 45 or 90 or whatever. That's from a dermatologist who helps his patients SAVE money!