To think we're far too scared of the sun!

[BedHanger]

A leading lecturer in dermatology at Edinburgh university has said that the benefits of sun exposure "may far outweigh the risks" after a new study has shown an hour's exposure significantly reduces blood pressure:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-22433359

This is on top of our growing understanding of the vital role played by vitamin d in health.

AIBU to worry more about whether my DC are getting sufficient sun than about the potential risks? I don't let them burn btw, but I do make sure they have plenty of sun cream-free time whenever possible.

JazzDalek - a couple of links on mushrooms and vitamin d -

Exposing mushrooms to sunlight after picking increases their vitamin d content

Mushrooms can be as effective as a supplement in increasing blood levels of vitamin d

of course it's about being sensible, but that also means avoiding pretty much every sunscreen on the market. i would never put chemical sunscreens on myself or my children (just google the list of toxic chemicals on the back of any chemical sunscreen), but i make sure that they get some sunlight when it's available and cover up with clothes when we're outside all day long on sunny days. If it's really hot and we're on the beach, I will put non-nano zinc oxide sunblock on them where skin is exposed, but that's it!! Also, I make sure we all eat a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids which protect the skin from the inside!

Haven't read the whole thread but ...

The dc's cousin had rickets due to lack of sun/Vitamin D deficiency.

My dc's school is far too zealous with the sun-hats and sun cream in my view, and I have told them that I will decide if dc need sun cream or not. DS is away on a school trip and sun cream was on the kit list, it is early May in UK - I did not pack it and explained why to the teacher.

If the weather is sunny and bright and they are not going to be outside for an extended amount of time then I would really like them to get some sun exposure.

If we are spending the whole day on a beach in July, then of course the sun cream gets slathered on liberally. Can only remember one child ever getting sunburned once.

My friend lives in Perth, Australia. She says that vit D deficiency is a problem there because everyone slathers on sun cream constantly!

And yet skin cancers are high enough to warrant people checking moles etc on the beach in Austrailia.

Should also add that I had a mole removed about 4 years ago. It turned out to be benign but I think I overdid the sunbathing when I was younger and was also stupid enough (vain enough) to use sunbeds for a while. So now I never, ever lie in the sun. Always in the shade. Usually covered up too.

But I still think we need a little bit of sensible sun exposure to stay healthy.

I'm 35, I don't burn all that easily. I have recently been treated for stage 2 malignant melanoma and have had 20+ biopsies. I am seen every 3 months by a consultant dermatologist and they are watching a further 12-15 lesions carefully. I'll take my chance with Vit D deficiency I think.

A cavalier attitude to the sun is stupid at best, deadly at worst. The damage with me seems to have been done as a child in the long, hot sunny summers we used to get.

It's like everything though, you weigh up the pros and cons of a situation for yourself/family personally.

Obviously, I understand that skin cancer is a real risk.

However, I think it's really unhelpful to spend so much time stressing about our children to something that is a part of our natural world. Take sensible precautions. Don't panic that every time their skin tans a tiny bit they are going to die. I prefer covering up the at risk areas (shoulders, back of neck, face) to using suncream, and generally only put cream on once it gets closer to the hottest part of the day/if we're going to be in exposed sunlight for a long time - because I am a little wary of the long term effects of the chemicals.

None of my kids has ever been so much as a tiny bit pink, or more than very, very lightly tanned, let alone burnt so badly their skin peeled and the other kids I see locally are the same.

I can see the problems of lack of vitamin D becoming a bigger statistical issue in the future.

Isn't it more likely that we have defieciency form generally poor diets these days rather than lack of sun?

I'm not even remotely an expert so I'm not going to debate that. Either way it is an issue, and lack of sunlight exposure is a problem that contributes.

valium - No. Something like 90% of our Vitamin D comes from the sunshine. Diet makes surprisingly little difference.

People have become over-zealous about covering up their kids in the sun, mostly because of the years of propaganda from people like Cancer Research. Now all the scientific evidence is pointing to Vitamin D playing a hugely preventative role in a number of diseases.

Vitamin D does indeed play a hugely preventative role in preventing a number of diseases.

Skin cancer kills.

The two facts aren't mutually exclusive and I wouldn't say either fact was 'propaganda'.

There's no such thing as over zeal when it comes to sun protection.

In Australia, people take Vitamin D and are still very diligent when it comes to wearing sunscreen, hats, staying out of the sun and getting regular skin checks.

Vitamin D is very cheap and I believe you can even get it free for children through the NHS, so that's a moot point.

I'll say it again: It doesn't matter if you have olive skin or don't burn easily - you are still at risk.

I live in Scotland at the moment and whenever there's a sliver of sun I'm horrified by the number of sunburnt people I see on the streets. They seem to think that the sun is harmless in nordic countries

There is also the issue re the nasty chemicals in sunscreens.

I really worry,some of my family members slather it on all year round when there is the lightest hint of rays.

All those chemicals on young skin just can't be good.

I think common sense and balance has gone out of the window.

I cover the dc up with UV suits,floppy hats,avoid the mid day sun and use natural creams when needed sparingly in the summer.Beach days obviously I'm more proactive.Dc 9,9 and 8 have never burnt.

I feel like I'm the only one who actively takes DD sun hat off for 15 mins so she can soak in a bit of sun!
Slathering these babies in an inch of cream for a quick walk in the pram. I think it's totally ridiculous. Children need the sun to help their bones and to grow and be healthy.

O do worry about the chemicals in those creams so choose ones with zinc oxide in to try and avoid absorption. Whatever goes on your skin goes into your bloodstream.

Oh and if I lived in Australia I'd be far more proactive but I don't.

The fact is our wether is grey all year round and if you don't go abroad you can go a long time without sun.

My DS had a dreadful winter this year I'm convinced because of the lack of sun we had last year.

some truly shocking lack of basic science here.

the sun is strongest in the northern hemisphere on June 21st. Therefore one poster's logic that they don't need suncream in May, but do in July, is hopelessly flawed - the UV strength will be the same.

it is also to do with latitude. Australia is closer the equator than the UK. There is also a thinner ozone layer over Australia.

and for the nth time to all those who talk about heat - TEMPERATURE IS IRRELEVANT!! Ever seen someone after a skiing holiday?

the 'factors' refer to the amount of time you will not get burnt with the cream, as opposed to the time it would take unprotected. The idea is that if you can stay in the sun for 10 minutes without getting burnt, factor 50 will make that 500 minutes. Of course cream gets sweated off, rubbed off and washed off so it isn't quite that simple.

We use Lavera sun cream which I think is not full of nasties.

Zinc oxide is a chemical. Everything is a chemical. We are made of chemicals.

We're the same re snow,the minute a flake falls out come the sledges,the days off work,ski clothe etc.

The minute the sun starts to shine in April you see these people with their vat of 24 hour sunscreen squirting every other minute!

People in other countries must laugh at us.

I bought 1 tube of organic cream last year between 5 of us,we didn't go abroad and it lasted the whole summer.

Some sunscreen ingredients are carcinogenic and alter DNA.

we dont use suncream,there is lots of research out there if you look for it,that suncreams cause cancer by blocking vit d-which prevents cancer-and also the ingredients in them.

its burning which is harmful not just being in the sn,we usecoconut oil or raspberry seed oil.

I am pale to the point of being transparent, have loads of freckles and moles, burn as soon as I think about going outside. I would rather take my chances with cancer caused by 'chemicals' than with the almost certain skin cancer I would get if I went out regularly without suncream and a hat. Not to mention wrinkles, premature aging and sun spots. DS is practically a moomin, with red hair. He gets slathered in suncream too.

Francesdrake, can I ask please if you felt better once you vit D levels were improved. Mine were at 26 recently and have to admit I have been taking advantage of the recent sunshine to boost my levels.
This is after years of telling people to wear 30+SPF every day as my job as an aesthetic nurse.