Skin cancer – not a problem for Swedes? Posted by Katja on Aug 2, 2010 in Culture
Something foreigners might notice while in Sweden, Swedes’ carefreeness of the amount of sun they get. It is as common that sunscreen is used as not. Are Swedes not afraid of getting skin cancer? Why don’t they cover themselves up like the rest of the world so responsibly does?
Well the truth is, either skin cancer isn’t a big enough problem in Sweden to hear about it, and the people who got it don’t talk about it, or people don’t get it here. Could that be because the sun is different? When people come from Australia for example they wear Rashies or other protective clothing making sure not to get burns from the sun. Here people walk around half naked most of the summer, never dreaming of losing the chance to advance their tan.
Smart? Maybe… maybe not.
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Comments:
James:
One of the big differences is the strength of the sun. As an Australian with fair skin I burn at the drop of a hat. But in my two visits to Sweden – one in July, one in March – I’ve actually returned with a slight tan. The sunlight in Sweden is far more gentle than in Australia. I guess the ozone hole makes a difference. That said, I have smiled at the Swedes love of the sun. I smiled in March when I watched Swedes staring (with their eyes closed) with their faces facing to absorb all of the sun they possible could. I also smiled on my trip there and back seeing Swedes at Bangkok airport with their “reverse panda bear eyes” when they took off their sunglasses with deeply tanned faces and pale eyes.
James:
Oh yeah, and as a postscript, when a Swedish friend visited Australia a few years ago, we warned him about the sun and the need for protection. He didn’t believe us, saying he tanned naturally. Hours later he was as red as a lobster!
Luke (Sydney):
I think ozone layer is thicker there. I get sun burn easily in Sydney but not as a problem when lived in Brisbane.
Par:
It is the sun angle at high latitudes. I’m genetically a Swede, but live in the California desert. Yet I’ve never been so tan as when bicycling i gamla landet.
Igor:
What does “genetically a Swede” mean?
Katja:
I suppose it means born a Swede or by Swedish parents?