AIBU to be mildly annoyed with the lady from Boots who told DD and her friends that if you ahve more than 6 freckles it is a sign of skin damage?

[Hulababy]

A lady from boots visiting DD's school recently to do a talk on staying safe int he sun. Good idea I thought.

However one thing bugged me, and I know it bugged DD's teacher too. This woman told the girls that if you have more than 6 freckles then it means your skin has been damaged by the sun.

My DD's face is covered in freckles. LOL @ more than 6. She has more than 60! Possibly more than that on her nose alone!

TBF she did comment that you should look for signs of them changing, such as size. But the idea of more than 6 freckles always being sun damage is just not true.

Grrr.

[wahwahwah]

Absolute balls. That means that most people in scotland and ireland have skin cancer.

Besides, I think she must have meant moles.

[Hulababy]

You'd have thought if they were sending someone out to schools they would at least present accurate information wouldn't you?

[abraid]

I must be dead then as I have always had loads of freckles.

[Hulababy]

lol abraid; me too.

[StealthPolarBear]

me too - have been damaged since childhood

[Weegle]

I am one big freckle - what a joke! Also - explain to me how DS has a freckle (start of a mole?) on the inside of his thigh which has NEVER seen the sun?!

[ramonaquimby]

I would be cross too - I"m very freckly and dd1 has a fair few on her face too.
was with friend the other day and we were slathering up the kids and she commented that ' oh you don't want them to have any freckles do you like you do, do you?'

[ramonaquimby]

ooops too many do you do yous there

[squeaver]

You are SO NOT being unreasonable. That's a terrible message.

Reminds of when I went to a spa with my Mum and they had a "machine" which was supposed to show how damaged your skin was. You looked in and it was a bit like looking at a negative of a photograph.

I am covered in freckles but - I must admit, and have always been told - I do have good skin. The bloody woman was acting all shocked and appalled. I could have slapped her.

[StealthPolarBear]

well you're OK then weegle - with just one
I suppose I can see what this woman was saying (freckles = piece of skin affected by the sun), but saying it to chidren is scare mongering.

[Hulababy]

Some freckles are genetic though apparently, not all caused by sun exposure.

[abraid]

My SIL always comments on my freckles. I don't actually see what there isn't to like about them--mine aren't huge and I think they add a bit of out-doorsy charm to my otherwise wan face. And I love them on my daughter: they look sweet.

[Hulababy]

Fortunately we have only ever had postive comments about DD's freckles. They are sweet and we love them.

[bottersnike]

I have loads of freckles, and the bits that aren't covered in freckles are super-pale. Sun damage, my foot!

[Gingeme]

Did your DD comment on the comment? Did you comment to the woman on the comment? All my kids and DH and I have freckles. I used to hate them as a teen because people said they were 'cute' .
Totaly wrong message to those poor kids they must have been petrified I've never liked Boots !

[squeaver]

Of course they're bloody genetic. How do you think all of us Scots have got them?? Not from exposure to the sun, that's for damn sure

[Hulababy]

It was DD who told me it was said. I obviously put DD right. I also spoke to her teacher the next day and she said they' not been happy with the comment and something was said tot he woman from what I can gather.

[MmeLindt]

LOL Squeaver

And YANBU, OP.

[Smithagain]

LOL Squeaver - I was wondering how I'd missed all that terrible sunshine when I was growing up in Edinburgh! How DID it managed to do so much damage through the hail, mist and thick, thick cloud?

I would have been annoyed, too. If DD1 had heard that, she'd have been very worried for me, on account of my 6 million or so freckles, and she's a sensitive wee soul at the best of times.

[dragonseye]

hmm, i think freckles ARE caused by exposure to the sun though. Predisposition to getting freckles is genetic though.

ps i have two ginger, freckly kids but they werent BORN with freckles they had freckles thrust upon them by being out in the sun...

[Hulababy]

Def more than 6 freckles lol

[Hulababy]

But it is not skin damage from sun. Freckles are not always a result of the skin being damaged. Many people have freckles from an early age despite sunscreen being used. Some people have freckles in places not exposed to the sun too.

[southeastastra]

my mum had a really freckley back, she'd got really badly sunburnt and developed the freckles.

maybe they're different sort of freckle?

[MaggieBee]

I used to have millions of freckles when I was younger but I don't anymore. Perhaps I've found the cure for skin cancer????

[fishie]

i agree that often freckles are just marks, like moles. my freckles are definitely sun damage though, they are a reminder to me to wear protection.