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Original poster

I'm not convinced about sunscreen

78 replies

DownatHeel · 04/06/2023 09:22

Or more specifically the need to reapply frequently/every 2 hours.

I am very careful with my skin, it's very fair and can burn within minutes in strong sun.

However, I find a decent high factor sunscreen, applied thoroughly in the morning protects me all day. For example, I'm just back from a sunny outdoor activity holiday. Out in the sunshine from 9am-6pm for 6 days.

I did my water resistant factor 30 suncream before breakfast every day, whilst getting dressed. Then nothing else all day. The activities involved getting hot and sweaty but not going in water. (I would reapply after swimming).

Anyway, I had a great time and my skin is exactly the same colour as it was before. I don't even have the faintest mark where my watch was.

Suncream is essential, I wouldn't dream of being outside without it in summer, but the need to reappply so frequently is driven by scientific research funded by the industry itself and more in their interests than ours?

OP posts:
TinyBarista · 04/06/2023 09:26

Sun damage doesn't necessarily manifest itself through burning / tanning though. And protection definitely wears off throughout the day.
As with anything, you do what works for you. I'll keep reapplying.

WaitingfortheTardis · 04/06/2023 09:26

I'm fair and if I don't reapply I would burn. I do find the apply once suncreams really good for dd, though they are quite a bit more expensive. I think the thing to remember is that you don't have to actually burn in order to damage your skin.

Pteryl · 04/06/2023 09:27

I definitely need to reapply at least once a day. I sometimes get the one that lasts all day, but top up if I’ve been swimming. I reapply every 3-4hrs with the children as their skin is so sensitive.

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Beauty
Cherryblossoms85 · 04/06/2023 09:28

This is what I do too in this country. In the med I apply more frequently and obviously after swimming.

mynameiscalypso · 04/06/2023 09:28

If I'm out in the proper sun, I definitely need to reapply, sometimes every hour. Otherwise I burn. I can feel when it starts wearing off.

MermaidMummy06 · 04/06/2023 09:36

Sunscreen wears off, through you sweating, rubbing against clothes swimming. This is primarily why you need to reapply, more so than the sunscreen itself losing effectiveness.

You wouldn't dare go out in our Australian summer sun and not reapply. People test the one application theory frequently because they cba reapplying. If they escape being burnt might they will pay down the track with aged skin, skin cancers or Melanoma.

Original poster
DownatHeel · 04/06/2023 09:38

My issue with all of this is that the research is funded by the industry and always seems to conclude what's best for them.

Just like the "healthy" low fat, high carb diets that was peddled for decades came from research funded by the food/sugar industry and even now the NHS food swaps literature that recommends e.g swapping sugary drinks for diet drinks is funded by the drinks manufacturers. Best advice would be to swap for water but the NHS Change 4 Life literature doesn't say that.

It might be true that your skin is still damaged even if it doesn't change colour, but the risk must be significantly reduced and it's rather convenient for them if that's what we all believe.

OP posts:
PickAChew · 04/06/2023 09:40

I've been caught out by it rubbing off the backs of my arms, before. That was painful.

00100001 · 04/06/2023 09:45

DownatHeel · 04/06/2023 09:38

My issue with all of this is that the research is funded by the industry and always seems to conclude what's best for them.

Just like the "healthy" low fat, high carb diets that was peddled for decades came from research funded by the food/sugar industry and even now the NHS food swaps literature that recommends e.g swapping sugary drinks for diet drinks is funded by the drinks manufacturers. Best advice would be to swap for water but the NHS Change 4 Life literature doesn't say that.

It might be true that your skin is still damaged even if it doesn't change colour, but the risk must be significantly reduced and it's rather convenient for them if that's what we all believe.

Ok. Fine.
Don't reapply.

Don't complain if you get skin cancer though.

00100001 · 04/06/2023 09:46

Weird that you are an advocate for sunscreen and believe it's a good thing, but don't believe that the same people when they say to reapply it...

Carryonkeepinggoing · 04/06/2023 09:46

There are two kinds of sun creams. Physical blockers and chemical blockers. The chemical type get ´used up’ by the reaction to UV light, so will need reapplying. The physical type block UV light by using something like titanium dioxide. That type will keep protecting you as long as the blocker is still on your skin and hasn’t come off from sweat, water or friction.

defi · 04/06/2023 09:49

Skin is the most common tissue sample in my cell path lab

IWanderedLonely · 04/06/2023 09:52

I hardly ever use sunscreen (60s/70s child). Too late to care now.

powershowerforanhour · 04/06/2023 09:53

I usually slap a bit more on my face, neck and backs of my hands at lunchtime and let that do, but I have a broad brimmed hat on all day and long sleeves after my skin has had about 15 minutes' worth of vitamin D

LittleRebelGirl · 04/06/2023 09:56

The UV hasn't been particulalry high the last week or so. Perhaps that is why?

mikado1 · 04/06/2023 09:59

While I reapply if out in it, I do think that really good first base layer is really important. Trouble is most people aren't putting enough on so reapplying is even more important.

Teabab · 04/06/2023 10:00

Best advice would be to swap for water but the NHS Change 4 Life literature doesn't say that.

Well of course, but it's more realistic to give an alternative that might lure people away from what they currently have. It's like co sleeping, the best thing for baby is in a cot with nothing else in it, but as many for a variety of reasons Co sleep, the NHS now has guidance on how to do this as safely as possible as they recognise people will want to do it and so saying don't do it is pointless.

Not all damage the sun does is visible or noticeable as such. In direct sunlight I always reapply, and I wear an SPF on my face year round. If you choose not to as you're suspicious then up to you, but you can get some lotions with a decent rating for not too much now.

tailinthejam · 04/06/2023 10:00

DownatHeel · 04/06/2023 09:38

My issue with all of this is that the research is funded by the industry and always seems to conclude what's best for them.

Just like the "healthy" low fat, high carb diets that was peddled for decades came from research funded by the food/sugar industry and even now the NHS food swaps literature that recommends e.g swapping sugary drinks for diet drinks is funded by the drinks manufacturers. Best advice would be to swap for water but the NHS Change 4 Life literature doesn't say that.

It might be true that your skin is still damaged even if it doesn't change colour, but the risk must be significantly reduced and it's rather convenient for them if that's what we all believe.

Cancer research is not funded by the suncream industry. Confused

Tillyteacup · 04/06/2023 10:01

I never bother with it as they make me feel greasy and sticky.

Bearpawk · 04/06/2023 10:01

Op, I've got stage 3 skin cancer. It's no fun. If I could go back in time I really wouldn't risk anything.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 04/06/2023 10:02

Have you ever used fake tan?

For an experiment, try applying an extra dark one in 30 seconds flat just before you walk out the door - in the quantity you would use for sunblock and with all the clothes you would have on when applying sunblock.

If you have an absolutely even, perfect, streak, smudge and bare patch-less fake tan on every scrap of your body including in your hairline and partings, then yeah, just stick to the one application to show Big Sunblock exactly what you think of them.

And if you wouldn't dream of doing this because you'd look rather like you'd been splattered by a slurry truck - catch onto yourself and reapply the sunblock.

DamnAndDashIt · 04/06/2023 10:06

Your OP doesn't mention unseen sun damage which makes me suspect you're not quite the critical thinker you believe yourself to be.

Nice for you that you had one pleasant day in the sun without needing to reapply sun lotion, but having known someone who lost more than half her nose and several chunks of arm to skin cancer, I'll keep reapplying mine for now.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 04/06/2023 10:06

LittleRebelGirl · 04/06/2023 09:56

The UV hasn't been particulalry high the last week or so. Perhaps that is why?

It has where I live, it's reached high or even very high during the middle part of the day.