I'm not convinced about sunscreen

[DownatHeel]

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?

With the activities you describe OP this is exactly why I’d rather protect my skin with clothes (ones designed to be worn in the sun with a high UV rating) and a hat, than having to carry and reapply sun screen.
The thought having to reapply sun screen on sweaty skin gives me the absolute willies.
Reapplying it on my face is bad enough <shudder> but arms and legs and chest and back urgh.
God Ive come over all peculiar just thinking about it.

It seems like common sense to reapply a product that can wear off without you noticing, and is there to protect you from serious illness. If I use a bit too much, oh well, I guess Ambre Solaire makes an extra few quid out of me. Better than the alternative if I use too little.

I work outdoors and reapply suncream at least 2/3 times a day.

UVA damage is imperceptible OP - UVB damage causes your skin to burn but UVA doesn’t.

Everyone needs sunscreen but if you are fair it is especially important. If you are fair with moles even more so.

I am not fair, don't burn, was a very tanned child when spf was for the beach only, but I've gained many, small moles because of it and have a considerably higher risk now. It's not just about pale people either. Someone at a bbq said yesterday that they didn't use spf, they're not a 'cancer family'..... I stayed silent.

Your choice OP, but I would reapply as directed or completely cover up and move out of the sun. It's just not worth the risk and I wish we had the knowledge we have now when I was kid.

I hate that feeling but there’s loads of non greasy ones now that are great.

It's no higher whether it's sunny and 15C on the 1st of June or sunny and 25C on the first of June.

You’ll find me covered up with long sleeves and a sunhat and sitting in the shade. Even a little sun brings me out in PLE.

I hate sunscreen. The skin is a permeable barrier and I really don’t want to absorb some of the chemicals so I avoid the sun in preference.

I do use it reluctantly if Im unavoidably out in the sun around late morning to mid afternoon but that’s rare. I’d rather stay inside

It’s almost like people don’t believe in skin cancer. As part of my job I have to look at skin cancer referrals. I’m sure none of you want a chunk of your face missing or worse incurable cancer.

I dunno- just because you don’t burn doesn’t mean there’s no damage. UVA can’t burn you through glass but this pic of a truck driver and the difference between one side of his face and the other is quite startling. He didn’t burn because it was through his truck window but the damage has been done:

I'm very fair and I have to apply it frequently or I burn. In extreme heat even high factor cream doesn't seem to work on me. I went to a hot country in Asia recently and despite wearing factor 50 I burnt within the hour.

I reapply to my face but don’t often do my body as I prefer to keep more covered.
I’m dark skinned and try to take care of myself, if my body is out it’s got suncream on and I will be reapplying and the same goes for my kids (2 of them are grown up now 😂, they are fairer than me but still, skin cancer is no joke).

Yes it has been, it's been high/very high here for several weeks now.

It doesn't need to be hot for you to do damage - that's why people come back from skiing holidays with goggle marks!

It sounds as if you don't understand the difference in UVA and UVB rays.

One sort burns, (UVB) the other destroys the deeper layers of your skin, the collagen.

In time this will lead to loss of firmness and wrinkles, as well as age spots.

This is why we are supposed to use facial SPF 30+ all year. Not because of burning but to stop premature ageing and skin cancer.

“I don’t believe in science, everything’s a conspiracy of big companies, hurdehur” 🙄🙄🙄

Meh, I used to work in a lab that did sunscreen research and the msds for all the ingredients was very mild, what's the harm in being careful. I never buy it though lol

Exactly. The idea that you are only at risk of skin cancer if you burn is very naive/ignorant. Of course burning increases the risk but I know plenty of people who ended up with skin cancer who never ever burnt. The common denominator was simply prolonged time spent in the sun- using an spf that was either too low or not wearing it enough.

Lucky you 🙄

A lot of posters are talking about the chemicals in sunscreen.

You can get types that are almost all titanium dioxide which is a barrier sunscreen.

The sort of sunscreen to avoid are those with avobenzone and similar chemicals.

Brands like Ultrasun are very good (pricy) but are one of the best and safest brands. I use their facial spf 50 all year round and have used facial spf for over 30 years every single day.

I'd rather a few chemicals on my skin and a bit of extra profit to pharmaceutical companies than get cancer thanks. What's the harm in frequently reapplying suncream versus not?.

I grew up in New Zealand in the 70's/80's - the sun is so dangerous there and you can get sun damage even on a cool, cloudy day. I'm very very fair so have always been careful. By the time I was a teenager we'd got the skin cancer message (slip, slop, slap!) but I know a number of people especially older ones, who got melanoma and not all of them are still alive.

A British friend of mine had a cancerous mole removed from her leg, it looks like she's bitten by a shark. Her doctor said it's common for dodgy moles in less visible places to get found late and also because for suncream we tend to miss the places we can't see (or get to) as easily.

I have a liquid spray bottle now for my back and use a barrier suncream for me the rest of me. And I top it up frequently when outside, even in the UK

I'm not great at using sunscreen to be honest. But actually I manage my dislike of it more by staying out of the sun nowadays. Similarly to the previous poster I grew up in 70s/80s Sydney and we were well aware of the need for it.

I did my medical training and worked a year out there. Then moved to the UK and worked here. I was quite stunned by how good the skin of elderly people was (some exceptions, mainly men who'd been in the war - my last job with adults was more than 20 years ago). It struck me that that is less likely to be the case going forwards thanks to the popularity and affordability of so-called "sun holidays". That truck driver photo absolutely illustrates it!

I used to think like the OP, 10 malignant melanomas, lymphs out , skin grafts, skin flaps, numerous treatments for BCC I know I was an idiot.

Learned in the dermatologists waiting room this week- 60% of uva can reach you in the shade! I thought I was safe and sound under my umbrella!