New online trend to say it's better not to wear sunscreen

No, it's because the best protection against sunburn is staying inside during peak hours.

I feel like people have somehow forgotten that

You really need to educate yourself. You plainly know zero about skin cancers.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/skin-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20377605#:~:text=Most%20skin%20cancers%20happen%20on%20parts%20of%20the%20body%20that,%2C%20face%2C%20lips%20and%20ears.

I think there's evidence to support that traditional suncream is full of toxic substances, but there are many more natural products available now. They were more expensive at first, but are now much more affordable. They feel nicer on the skin, are better for the skin, aren't as greasy and don't have the artificial smell of most sunscreens. I can't imagine not using suncream on children's very delicious skin.

I don’t use sunscreen much, I just wear long-sleeved shirts. These also protect you from insect bites.

You know why, because they think it causes cancer.

Virtually no skin cancers are found on the face, why is that?

Are you kidding? The face, the scalp, the ears, are prime locations for skin cancers.

This isn't madness. There are natural alternatives. Virtually no skin cancers are found on the face, why is that? When all our faces are always exposed. I think there is some truth in it and will start looking into alternatives myself.

Yes, I agree about the eyesight. I was diagnosed with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) at the age of 58. I understand most people aren't diagnosed with it until they are in their 60s. I didn't often wear sunglasses when I was younger, and the ones I did wear were only cheap ones, so offered no protection from UVA or UVB. I have had a DNA health check which says I have a significantly low risk of developing AMD (not sure how accurate that is though), so can only assume it's been caused by the sun. I now have a decent pair of sunglasses which I wear as soon as I am in the sun, even during the autumn and winter.

There is no such thing as natural sunscreen that is safe and the fact people think there is very worrying

Yes, one of my old GPs used to say sun on the face and arms for 15 minutes a day. Good for Vitamin D and depression apparently.

I wouldn’t use it every day, or put on my kids every day. But we’re talking about a few
weeks of the year in the UK.. when it’s burning weather. I’d take precautions as well but sometimes sun cream is needed

Last year my GP told me to stop taking supplements unless they were advised by a healthcare professional. He did advise me to take Vitamin D though. Fast forward to this year when the Osteoporosis team told me to stop taking Vitamin D as my levels were way too high. Oh the irony!

It's been known for years that most sun screens are carcinogenic. You can buy natural ones or make one yourself. Otherwise just keep covered up with hats, long-sleeves etc and keep out of the sun in the hottest part of the day.

Who are these people? Scientists or some TikTok person?

Part of my family originates from a tropical island - think the Maldives, Indian Ocean archipelago, and skin cancer rates are zero. People simply do not hang out in the sunshine. The other side of the family (Northern Europeans where they get little to no sunshine in the winter months) absolutely love laying out in the sun. Needles to say they have a high rate on skin cancer in this country.

You should replace your sun cream every year if they contain oxybenzone (which in itself is thought to be an endocrine disruptor and is banned in some places apparently). When the oxybenzone breaks down over time it becomes benzophenone which is carcinogenic.

Just checked and our Boots kids roll on sun cream has it in but the nivea kids roll on doesn't so will get that one in future. I use Green people one on my face but the roll on ones are so easy especially with kids.

I usually sit in the sun for about 30 mins or getting slightly red before putting sunscreen on so I get my Vitamin D quota.

I agree there needs to be a balance.

I’m a pale redhead and get very easily burnt. Half my dad’s side of the family has had skin cancer, they grew up in Cornwall playing on the beach all summer before suncream was a thing. Both my kids are fair, particularly my youngest, and fortunately we’ve so far avoided sunburn as I’m insistent on them wearing suncream if they are spending prolonged periods of time outside. I know that my youngest has a normal vitamin d level (he had blood tests a couple of months ago).

But when I had a friend living with me she was OTT about suncream and shriek at me if the kids went outside for 5 minutes without putting suncream on. It was silly. And I don’t insist on my kids wearing suncream on all day every day from May - September unless we are spending a lot of time outside. They don’t spend enough time outside on a normal school day to warrant suncream before school AND lunchtime imo.

Personally my daughter has eczema and suncream is really triggering for her. And we’ve tried them all. So I only put it on her if I really need to - she wears sunblock clothing, we stay out of the sun when we can, etc.

You're mistaken, darker skins need it more.

Tell us about natural suncream -what is it, ingredients brands

Hotness has nothing to do with the ability of the sun to burn.
UV radiation can be very high on a day that is sunny but windy in summer

Because some idiot "influencer" on tik tok makes a post about how they believe sun cream is carcinogenic probably because they are being paid to promote some bullshit 'organic' sun cream, their followers believe this and suddenly multiple posts appear claiming the same thing. Then the daily fail cotton on to this and run a badly written article based on no official evidence and before you know it everyone starts getting worried. Happens all the time.

Where did you get all this “information” from?

retinol does not prevent cancer “from forming”.

UV absolutely is one of the contributory causes of melanoma, as per the links from pp.

the UK does have enough sun to maintain optimum levels of vit D, it’s our lifestyles that cause deficiencies. My ds got a vit D deficiency only when he learned to drive, as he went from walking everywhere to driving and not being outside.

Deadly melanoma, however, is NOT directly caused by the sun.

Well, that's bollocks.

Melanoma risk increases with exposure to UV radiation from the sun or other sources such as solariums, particularly with episodes of sunburn (especially during childhood).

Melanoma | Causes, Symptoms & Treatments | Cancer Council