Throughout most of my life i've done a poor job taking care of my skin. I've never had like a blistering sunburn but i've gotten plenty of sunburns since I don't always wear sunscreen. I've read that the more sunburns you get, the better your chance of getting skin cancer. My dad, who's in his late 60s, is extremely tan because of how much time he spent in the sun when he was younger and he said he used to get burned alot. He's never had skin cancer, at least not yet. Since he has been able to avoid it for so long, does that mean I have a good chance of living most of my life before I get it, or do genes mean nothing?

Genes count for a lot.  And it's the blistering type of sunburns that increase your chances of skin cancer.  Go see a dermatologist and have him/her give you the once-over.  (I despise sunscreen and am in the same boat as you.  Here's hopin'!)

chances are you will get skin cancer my friend!i was a sun worshipper from when i was young untill 6 years ago,i had a mole and it was melanoma skin cancer(the worst)ive had operations you would not want to know about,i can never sit in the sun again im 45 and i love the great weather,when we get it(uk)so ive now got to cover up ALL THE TIME small price to pay for being alive though!

I was a sun worshiper as a kid and adult. There was no such thing as sun screen. If there was I probably would not have gotten Matastatic Melanoma on my lower leg. At 76 years old I had my first surgery and now 4 years later it has returned and spread to the upper leg. It is inoperable and chemo will not help so I am starting  injection treatments tomorrow. It`s possible I may lose my leg. It`s never too late to use sun screen and cover up if you are out in the sun in the middle of the day. Take care.

Genes dont matter; but your ethnicity does. Since your the same race as your dad; i'd say your all good.