Not to wear suncream at all with slightly olive skin tone

My consultant told me we should be wearing UV protection even when out during cloudy weather

Just means certain people have a higher starting point of melanin. Which in turn acts as natural sun protection in terms of length of time you can stay in direct sun without burning.

Doesn’t mean you can’t get skin cancer or burn.

I only put sunscreen on if I know I'm going to be out for a prolonged period in the sun.
During my working week, even with the weather as it is now, I walk to the station/stand on train platform (approx 15 min) do errands within the day (maybe 15-20 min over 2 or 3 errands) and then walk home from the station at the end of the day. I often go for a run about 7.30pm. So I wouldn't regularly wear sunscreen for that as I'm mostly indoors
I do have fair skin though and burn easily if it's very hot

I have olive skin that “doesn’t burn”, or that’s what I thought until last year where I had a mojito too many on the beach and burned my entire self - ouch! Everyone can burn, regardless their skin colour if you’re in the sun long enough.

That said, I don’t wear sunscreen day-to-day and I’m almost 50 with very few wrinkles.

A tan is skin damage

Does different skin tone really protect people differently from skin cancer?

I really hope this is not the logic behind this thinking

Suncream has its place (like if you’re forced to sit in direct sun without shade for any period of time) but we shouldn’t rely on it solely.

We need to use our natural shade-seeking behaviours like animals do. You use your instincts to know when you’ve had enough sun and seek shade.

Rates of skin cancer are up globally despite higher than ever use of sunscreen. Skin cancer is caused by a myriad of factors, not least by our crappy diets. Things like the ubiquitous use of seed oils and sugar in everything and the amount of UPFs we eat at an alarming rate.
It’s also caused by being immune suppressed or by having a weakened immune system. And so many factors can weaken a persons immune system.
Smoking and vaping are BIG contributors and genetic factors as well is inherited conditions can be a factor too.
Chemical exposure and environmental factors can be factors too.

The sun is only part of the picture. And ironically avoiding the sun obsessively causes lowered vitamin D levels which in turn can contribute to overall cancer risk.

So people who are obsessive and evangelical about sunscreen are missing SO much of the benefits of sunlight and potentially raising their skin cancer risk by ignoring the other factors that can cause cancer.

I would definitely start putting it on your face. Good luck x

Sorry. Absolutely ridiculous advice.

It's not surprising that people who tan easily/don't burn lack knowledge of the dangers of the sun. The only safe tan is No Tan.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sunscreen-for-black-people

I have olive skin and when younger would wear a really low factor and almost never reapplied. I never burned. I now regret it (though the knowledge just wasn’t there back then so it wasn’t my fault) as I have sun damage to my décolletage and neck and crepey skin ugh. The rest of my skin is fine. I’ve tried everything to fix it (bar surgery) and nothing works. Protect your skin now if only for ageing reasons!

Coconut oil has an SPF of between 1-3. You are mad if you think this is protecting you from anything

Plenty of coconut oil, it’s got a natural spf in it, beats the chemicals in sun cream

Where do you live???

Yes, you should. No burning does not mean no damage. Damage isn’t always visible until after it’s done. I speak as someone who has had several malignant melanomas removed due to complacency about sun cream.

My DH was like you. Rarely wire sunscreen, rarely burnt. Late 60s, had a basal cell carcinoma on his nose. The slowest growing and least dangerous of skin cancers. But because of the location he ended up having most of his nose cut off in a 9 hour op, it was rebuilt using a flap of skin from his forehead and cartledge from his ears. Took 2 years to fully heal, and he now has permanent scarring. As he is 70+ he doesn't give a shit but if he was younger he would be more bothered. Get the spf50 on.

Honestly … I don’t bother. I probably should but I’m just not a sun worshipper and like the OP I have never burned. I don’t think I look notably older than I am (45) but if I do it’s a bit late now!

Face and neck? I wear it every day even in the depths of winter. Arms and legs only in the summer if i'm going to be out in the sun for longer than 30 mins.

I don’t know what circumstances the OP is talking about. You could ask her. My point still stands: whatever your skin colour you can still get skin cancer.

sunscreen does block Vit D absorption.
I prefer a brimmed hat and clothing with some spf coverage.

I don't think it's that risky not to wear it in the UK. I can't use sunscreen. I've never burnt in this country and I'm as pale as milk.

I also don't look older than I am. I'm actually regularly mistaken for being a lot younger than I am.

I really worry about some people's vit D levels given that they're plastering themselves in sunscreen all winter.

Are you talking about wandering around in a t-shirt in the UK ? In May ? Unless you are out for hours and hours there is no need for sun cream. At this time of year your body needs the vitamin D....

I’m sorry to tell you this, but my dad took the same approach and did get skin cancer. Olive skin, and he never burnt, same as me. I always wear it

Yes i think it's a good idea. There a some really good ones for day to day now, that are really light on the skin. I'd have a look at Korean brands like thank you farmer