As a 55 year old Caucasian with fair hair who has lived all bar 4 years of his life in the southern hemisphere my skin bears the scars of a life under the sun.

Two and a half years ago a Perth doctor gave me some advice about how to deal with the issue and save some money into the bargain. Exactly a year ago I had stitches in my ear from yet another surgical removal and decided to take up the advice.

I have a 1.5l pump bottle of uv 30 next to the bed. Every day before I venture outdoors I give myself a liberal coating and repeat before going on the water. I have been doing this for five months now and sunspots that had stood in a queue for removal have vanished. I have one on the back of my hand which needs sorting and have been careful to ensure that these areas are now covered.

It does have it's draw backs like a greasy neck but that visit to the quack was the best money I have ever spent with the medical fraternity. And the anxiety is gone!

Kearnsy,

Only too happy to oblige.

I was brought up in Tanzania in the 50's an 60's and spent many years on the coast at Tanga. The coral reefs were only about 8ks out and we spent every day available floating around looking at the ocean floor, after sailing out. One of my hobbies was collecting shells so we were exposed in a big way, both from above and off the water.

Coconut oil based products were guaranteed to get a good tan which would eventually give you protection from the sun! For years I had a scabs on my nose from sunburn. Mum woke up, she was a rehead, that if you spent too long out there then you got frazzled. She made us goggle with tee shrts.

I have worked outdoors most of my life and thanks be to the deities I do not like getting hot because things could be a whole lot worse had I not worn a hat for a lot of the time.

Only my head, forehead and ears, and recently my hands have shown and major signs of damage.

I go kiting and fishing at every opportunity but am confident now that I have the situation under control. A hat and sunglasses is a must, but above all spf30. It is seriously miraculous how my skin has recovered through using the stuff. I am sure that there are all sorts of reasons why you should not but the proof is in the pudding. If there is any great danger in the cream it is a risk I am willing to take.

Funnily enough the rest of my body tans very well and I do not need to worry about it. With age I have realized that it matters not one iota. I wear a rashy to protect me from wind chill but it serves to keep the sun off.

I spent fourteen years in south Africa, from 11 to 27 years old. It was at that time a very narcissistic society. Finishing school in 1973 I was exposed to a black society intent on turning their skin color as white as they could get it and a white society working at the opposite. Kids at school use to show their tans off. I can remember my dad with bags of water in the popped blisters on his shoulders and a kid at school using lemon juce to darken his skin!! We lived in an ignorant age.

The areas of irritation on my head, particularly my ears forehead and eyebrows, have receded into history. You can reverse the damage, largely, and you can definitely stop it's progress, but it takes thought.

I hope this offers some hope!