Please help with info about sun exposure: ILs are laissez-faire and I'm worried

[RenterNomad]

I'm looking for information to make sure the children are safe on the Adriatic coast this summer. My ILs seem to think staying inside between 10 and 4 is enough, and because DS (dark-eyed) hasn't burned so far, that will be fine. (DD is blue eye, so may be accorded more protection)

However, I'm still worried about the effects of exposure.

Also, MIL has recently had some cancerous moles, and I was shocked that she didn't seem very inyerested in UV umbrellas or hats, just thought the 10-4 rule would see her right. I don't want to lecture her, but if I find some medical advice about sunscreen/ other protection outside those hours, hopefully she'll respond to the information and the concern.

Thanks in advancw for your help. BTW, I've already been to www.sunsmart.org.uk/, but there was nothing on this specific wuestion

[RenterNomad]

Apols for typos. am feeding a wriggler/ kicker

[RenterNomad]

Bump?

[umberellaonesie]

High factor sun screen, hats and long sleeves. My fair children were kept in between 11-3. But more because they don't cope with the heat rather than to prevent sun exposure. and were sitting in the shade unless swimming or playing. The sun is good for us too. ;-)

[DieWilde13]

Why don't you choose a different holiday location?
We usually don't spend lunchtime outside, but I find 10-4 inside a bit too much and boring!

Are uv protective hats, long sleeves and appropriate sun screen lotion not sufficient?

[fengirl1]

If you're concerned, insist on SPF 50+ and they should be absolutely fine.

[narmada]

Not sure how old your children are, but if they are still wee, you could get them some long-sleeved and long-legged swimming things (sorry, don't know what they're called). Often they come with hats too, with flaps to cover ears and neck.

Is your MIL proposing that outside the hours of 10-4 they should be allowed to go outside unprotected? If so, no go. If they are going to have some suncream on, then I think that's OK.

I take it she is taking them on holiday an dyou won#t be there for some reason? If you are going and you are just worried about her making a fuss over your suncream application... well, I would just laugh it off, say something like "oh I know, I'm such a worry wort, but I wouldn't want them getting melanoma" and employ a pointed look at that juncture.

[RenterNomad]

Thanks for answering. DH and I do know what to do (and we've been stocking up on sunscreen and sunsafe stuff); it's just convincing my PIL, for when DS goes out with them (DD is still bf, so won't be separated), and for themselves (esp. MIL, after she had a cancerous mole).

A different location is unfortunately a no-go, as this is where they're from (also possibly explaining the lack of concern about the sun, as it's just too familiar! )

Can skin be damaged even if it tans slowly (with no sun cream) and doesn't burn?

[mercibucket]

it is good to get a bit of sun though! 10-4 sounds like a lot of the day to be inside. do they mean they wont put cream on after 4 but will before 4?

[RenterNomad]

Sorry, cross-posted with you, narmada. I will be there, but DS does sometimes go off in the mornings with his GPs.

outside the hours of 10-4 they should be allowed to go outside unprotected? If so, no go.

Do you know why that is? I'd just like to be able to say we insist on this because X.

BTW, this isn't meant to be an IL-bashing thread!

[mercibucket]

i'm not really seeing the big problem here, but all day suncream could prove handy, put on in the morning before they take him out, stick him in long sleeves and a hat, bobs your uncle.

[mercibucket]

its just that 10-4 is generally when suns rays are strongest. my fairest still needs cream til about 5.30 on the sunniest of days though.
remember they need some sun!!

[Francagoestohollywood]

Will you be there too? Can you put suncream on them before they go out?I am Italian too, I know we tend to be a bit careless about sun exposure.

[sannaville]

My kids have been all over world on hols and we pop them in the shade after we've had lunch for a long sleep. We don't go back inside. But they both have factor 50, hats, youngest has a sunsuit. They are 9 and 3. Oldest has quote darkish tan easily skin but still put factor 50 on her

[digerd]

As far as adults are concerned, it will all depend on whether they are genetically vulnerable and in my family's case has nothing to do with skin or eye colour.
My dad and sister are fair skinned - no cancerous moles - they had freckles and no moles.
Mum and I had middle skin colour. I had lots of moles and was the only one in the family who did get a black Melanoma aged 40.
Mum and dad had many more hols abroad than I did.

[RenterNomad]

I had a good talk today with MIL about the sun and all the family cancers (not so many on her side, but enough on her husband's side to worry, even scare her, it seems (as it's scared me! My DC have that plus some skin cancer history on my side - not me or my DM, but aunt and GM - to worry about) so i think it won't be such an issue this year.

Thanks for all the advice, though.

[sashh]

In Australia you cannot buy high factor sunscreen, the max is factor 15. My bodyshop factor 20 sun stick was labelled factor 15 in Australia.

The reason for this is that it is more important to keep applying sunscreen, factor 50 gives a false sense of security.

You can buy (or get on prescription) total sun block, my mum gets this on prescription and it looks like water, you have to apply it 10 mins before going out.

Sorry I can't remember the name.

I have the palest skin, I burn through car windows, through T Shirts, even through the long sleeves of a silk shirt.

I have only burned in this country. With the exception of 'catching' sun on my back, through a T shirt on the great barrier reef.

When I'm on holiday (or we are actually having a summer) I have a shower on a morning and then coat myself in sun screen, my face, arms, back - everywhere I can reach.

If you are doing this with a small child be warned it needs time to dry.

I reapply to any areas that are exposed every 20-30 mins. I wear a hat and long sleeves.

I basically follow what the Australian public health system says, I figure they know what they are talking about.

Watch out for freckles. No child is born with them, they are sun damage.

[digerd]

My sis had freckles but did not burn or even tan and never got skin cancer. It was me with my many moles who did tan that got the melanoma.

[digerd]

Ps
SIS did have oily skin and I had dry skin.

[RenterNomad]

Moles seem to be the very devil...