We can’t use normal sun cream?! Feel like everything is ‘bad’ for you now!

[whenimetyouinthesummer]

It feels like in the last few years we’ve gone from realising the (obvious) dangers of things like smoking to now, every tiny little thing is ‘bad for you’. We used to have a wood burning stove and had it removed because I saw (on here) about the links to cancer, particularly in children. Stopped using normal deodorant and switched to natural stuff because I read it wasn’t good for you, which really you can’t imagine spraying an aerosol on your skin daily is going to be that great for you. Found it doesn’t really work though and if I’m going to the gym I will end up going back to my old one.

Last week I read an article claiming sun cream is causing skin cancer and not the sun. Dismissed it really but tonight I’ve read an article that’s popped up about mineral sun creams, creating a physical natural barrier to UV rays rather than using chemicals in sun cream to block the rays. It says you should be using these instead of chemical sun creams (all the normal popular ones). Again, makes sense but there doesn’t seem to be all that much research into them yet. What if they don’t actually block the harmful rays? It feels like every single thing is going to end up being labelled as harmful, when all you’re trying to do is protect you/your kids as best you can 🤦🏻‍♀️ Do you go along with these things or think they’re nonsense?

I agree I think the whole woodburner fad is bonkers. Yes, humans have used woid fire forever, but we also had to create smokeless zones becuase of health problems it caused. Then, once we'd cleaned everything up, we did it again.

You can't see that it might not be a good thing to put something on your skin that can damage your car like that?

@Confortableorwhat I know it's silly to try and compare human skin to metal

Reminded me of this

https://www.google.com/search?q=Russel+Howard+daily+mail+cancer+song&oq=Russel+Howard+daily+mail+cancer+song&aqs=chrome..69i57.18639j0j4&client=ms-android-xiaomi-rev1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#sbfbu=1&pi=Russell%20Howard%20daily%20mail%20cancer%20song

Sorry I don't know how to do links so I've probably got it wrong

Two families?

Did they know each other and it was a bet of some sort?

I just feel like I need to know more about this, as I cannot work this one out in my head 😂

I just ignore all of this stuff, if it was that bad for you it will get banned eventually.

Even when stuff is bad for you we survive all manner of crap, even though we know smoking kills, people weren't all instantly dropping dead in the 80s when everyone smoked indoors everywhere.

We have lived through all manner of harmful things, I'm not going to worry about fringe claims on the internet.

Things that can also damage car paintwork

• Shaving cream
• Coffee
• Eggs
• Soft drink/pop
• Salt

Not sure it’s actually the benchmark you’re going for.

This is a classic bit of Guardian "science" reporting:

"There is clearly an urgent need for better data, and for actions to reduce exposure to wood and coal pollution in rural communities across Europe."

So they don't really have the data to support the dramatic headlines but they want policy to be driven by the dramatic headlines. Its a classic chip paper bit of take two, add it to two and make fifty five.

Most of the work they have cherry picked is looking at open fires/burners and stoves. They have previously cited developing world open stoves in non ventilated homes as "evidence" that any form of fuel burning equates to mass murder. They then bundle all the most eye catching headlines from a mish mash of research and build a "shock horror" story about it.
Modern eco burners are as different as modern cars from steam engines. Perhaps we should ban electric cars because 1950s trucks kicked out black smoke?

The reality for most of Europe is that outside cities and towns wood and coal burning is a key source of heating because its effective and mains gas is not available. But an article on the difference in quality of burners to assess which filter most effectively would be too mundane for the Guardian - which was once a serious newspaper.

Some of the posts on this thread are batshit - I'm particularly interested in seeing the data and methodology proving suncream (no specification) crosses the blood brain barrier. SM has completely exceeded the DM on badly researched scare stories.

As PP say - if you believed a fraction of the claims on SM or these days in formerly respectable press you would wrap up in cotton wool and wither away indoors.

I am significantly low in Vitamin D levels at the moment . I think the risks of being low in this outweigh the risks of getting skin cancer for me. It doesn’t help that I have lost weight and always wrap up due to feeling cold . I have made decision to only wear sunscreen on my face .Its healthy to expose your skin to the sunshine in moderation. Building up exposure gradually.
When I worked at a nursery 20 +years ago first sign of the sun the children were slathered with sunscreen. I wonder if it’s still the same now.
I feel sad also that I don’t drink don’t smoke but have always eaten a lot of chocolate . Well of course now I realise sugar is even more evil!

@kerstina wouldn't taking supplements be healthier than exposing your skin?

Yes I am taking vitamin D too as prescribed by the dr.

As someone who burns easily and also regularly suffers from low Vitamin D, I appreciate your point. However, I think sunscreen on your face, neck and chest daily is important. I only put it on my arms when I'm actually out in the sun. I also actively try to get some sunshine during non peak time as that helps with getting vitamin D and is notably less dangerous. In fact, because I burn so easily and am so careful, I especially enjoy a little late afternoon or early morning sun as it's the one time I can go outside without sunscreen slathered on and not get burnt and maybe even pick up a tiny bit of colour.

Applying sunscreen to your face every day is basic, essential care. That doesn't mean you need to be lathered up with factor 50 24/7 all over your body. And I'm not sure that anyone, including skin experts, are insisting on that.

Ideally yes. But we don't live in ideal situations.