Have you put suncream on your kids this weekend?

[Beanybye]

I did yesterday but DS has just gone out now so I thought I’d let him get some vitamin D. I’ve had skin cancer (basal cell) so I tend to go ott with it the suncream. It’s ok at this time of day to be without though isn’t it? He’s got jogging bottoms, t shirt and cap on so only his forearms our really.

Yes. One complied. The other was a bit of a fight with the other.

Not DC as they are grown now and can decide for themselves but myself, knowing I've burned in April before and also suffer low vit d
No sunscreen for half an hour before lunch, in, sunscreen then eat, out again and alternate between sun and shade til cold to do shade

@Surfskatefamily Are you able to recommend a brand?

Yes as we were at the beach for around 5 hours. I used the boots once a day cream factor 30 on myself and the kids but my husband used the factor 50 (also once a day stuff) and is burnt on one side of his face and neck!! The kids and I are all fine though!

DC and I had it on both days. DH didn't bother as he is olive skinned and said he didn't need it. He then got burnt sitting in the garden.

Yes but not all day - mornings playing out were free but knowing we'd be out the afternoons she sun creamed herself!

Yes we did on Friday when outside for most of the day. It was 26 degreesC and clear sky so I'm glad we did. DD got sunburnt on the face 3 weeks ago when she was on a school sports trip so since then we've had the sunscreen at the ready.

Yes as they have pale skin

Yep yesterday and today. DD is blonde with pale skin and freckles. She stayed in the shade most of the weekend anyway.

I used factor 20, wasn't out of the shade for long and have still burnt!

Yes, as we were out in it for hours at a time and it has been hotter than it often is in summer. I don't put it on straight away though, so they get some vitamin d.

Yep, I looked up the UV index in our area and it was 'moderate' which means suncream is needed.

Yes, definitely. The UV index is such that 7 is the highest we see in the UK in the worst two weeks in high summer, today was 5, that's pretty serious for the pale skinned among us! This is a great link explaining the risks.

The person I know with the brownest skin, never burns, has just been treated for skin cancer. It's not just pale people who need to wear suncream ffs.

Yep. Horrible sticky factor 50 which gives me spots but I burn if I get too close to a light bulb so it's not an option. No idea if son burns. I've a feeling je won't bit he gets factored up whether he likes it or not.

I have scars from when I was younger and wasn't sun creamed up. I can't remember why I wasn't but I ended up covered in v v painful blisters which scared.

No but I wish I had. We weren’t planning on it but popped to the park on the way home from visiting family and then just as we were about to leave DD bumped into a friend so I let her stay a bit longer and both of us have pink arms and noses now

We’ve had sun cream on. Ds10, was being difficult about it, so got a lecture about skin cancer and me not wanting him to get it, so I was protecting him by making him wear sun cream. I might have gone too far by reminding him how awful it is to watch someone you love dying from cancer, but he put it on and then dh also put some on, so my lecture obviously worked (it was his dad who had the cancer) as he doesn’t normally bother, thinking it’s no issue to end up burnt as it then turns to a tan after a day or two. You can probably tell from reading this, that is not the attitude I want the dc to pick up.

@Floosey if it helps I can recommend these as tried and tested on a pale blue redhead!

Face - Biore watery essence or Frezyderm, neither breaks me out and I'm acne prone. The body shop one is decent too

Body - banana boat spray (I like the kids/baby one) and it's an aerosol so no rubbing in, or altruist off Amazon

Maryann1975

Fifteen years ago I lost a childhood friend to skin cancer which metastasized into several other cancers. It was horrible to watch. Since then I've been a sunscreen nazi and I'm very upfront with my boys about why I want them slathered in sunscreen.

You didn't go too far. You are protecting your DS's life.

Olive skin have low vit D levels and have been out in the sun a lot last few days and no sunscreen. Not even a hint of redness.

Not have my kids but they have been in and out for probably no more than 30mins at a time no hint of redness either.

Even red headed DH hasn't burnt.

Low vitamin D levels has an impact on general health, growth in kids as well as tiredness and joint pain in adults.

@grassisntgreener i use sunzapper. Theyve got colourful zinc sticks for your face to so its kinda like fun facepaint. I put it on my neices and nephews too this weekend and they looked like they were ready for a rave 😂

No, so long as they’re not out all day - ie at the beach - I tend to leave them this time of year. Think it’s good to get some vit D back before the UV starts getting too high.

@Floosey I bought a Lidl spray on factor 50 the other day. Its brand is Cien. Its lovely. Not sticky. I have Vitiligo so I have to be really careful.

I let DS(2) play in the garden without sun cream for a couple of hours on Saturday late afternoon (probably 3.30-5.30), but made sure he had factor 50 on all day yesterday. He is very fair but also doesn't burn and only has to look at the sun and he tans - after being outside all day yesterday with regular applications of sun cream, he has very prominent tan lines. But my DSS(9) I wont let out in the sun at all without any cream because he has a very different skin tone and will burn to a crisp within minutes without it.

Yes I did on Saturday and Sunday. They've been outside all day in the sun so I felt it was necessary. It's been hot here.