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.

Mumsy, yep agreed all round. I guess I'm just frustrated with the "I never burn so I'll be fine" arguments, which is a very dangerous misconception. Skin cancer vs other diseases really is the issue, but people must find the facts before making that decision

Yes, I totally agree with you too Spanish, for every person covering their child with sunscreen before they even leave the house/using hats/UV t-shirts, where there is not enough sun exposure, there are people doing nothing at all, or letting their children burn.

I burnt a lot as a child as I have red hair and sun protection was not around, and even though I wore long t-shirts on the beach/hats, I would burn on ears, on knees, in hairline on cloudy days, on toes! Keeping me protected was just impossible. So, if you have children with a mid skin tone who you can let run around for a while (30 min or so) without sun protection (like I do now, married a foreigner!) you won't have to make so many hard decisions as someone with a very pale child as a lot of us are in the UK.

"I guess I'm just frustrated with the "I never burn so I'll be fine" arguments"

The problem is (in my case anyway and probably a lot of others) - I don't actually know when and what sunscreen I should be using. I have the whitest of white skin, very blonde hair and blue eyes so most would have me covered constantly but I don't burn and don't want to be constantly covered in chemicals every time there's some sun out.

I have no idea what should be right for me.

Schro, at least you're smart enough to question it, though. But never burning doesn't mean you're safe. And actually you don't need to be covered in suncream if you're wearing a hat and cover your shoulders. Suncream is then only needed on arms and legs (and face if it's exposed)

I always wear foundation/BB cream/tinted moisturiser and they always have an SPF (the ones I get anyway).

I'm less vigilant with the rest of my body though and admit I have probably been pretty idiotic because I don't burn.

I don't wear hats though, ever. I hate the feel of them.

I tend not to use sun screen at all unless I am somewhere very hot (used it in Florida but had some days where I used a very low SPF) but most of the time I don't bother here.

I've been a bit stupid but I don't know what I should be using and when I am generally safe.

I would use a sunscreen (p10) if the UV was 5 or higher.

DS is a different story altogether though, I use baby stuff on him and he's always pretty covered.

chunderella happened to my Grandad - normal sun exposure, not particularly fair skinned in fact he was dark haired and looked the picture of health with a tan. He hit his 70's and suddenly developed cancers on his head, top of ears and face - all due to spending too long gardening according to his consultant. People don't realise that it can take years before these things start developing.

I am one of those that don't burn - I'm not British, but I am white, how likely is it that vitamin D is going to be a problem that might cause me other health problems vs skin cancer?

Nobody seems to have a straight answer for that. It's worth bearing in mind that Britain is a very mixed country and Icing all the advice at white Anglo Saxons who's main risk is skin cancer isn't necessarily the best thing to do.

I think that's why a lot of parents feel it's best to hedge their bets and try and keep vitamin d in mind whilst protecting from sunburn.

Now maybe we're wrong, but we can't know that yet.

Chunderella When I commented about not wanting to be covered in chemicals all the time, it's because I have really sensitive skin and can break out in rashes easily if I put stuff on my skin. The only one that really agrees with me is the P10 stuff and that's expensive.

TeWi I'm half German, may be where my problem lies with the not burning even with pale skin?

Maybe Schro, I do really wonder what difference different genetic mixes will make. There is not one type of white and we are all the same. There's many different types who have evolved in different climates.

That's very true. There are countries where the people are much paler than in some hot countries but seem to have better resistance to the sun.

I know it is but it doesn't break me out in spots and rashes! It's just too expensive to buy all the time, which is a shame.

Statistics here about deaths from skin cancer in the uk. www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/skin/mortality/

It says skin cancer accounts for 1% of deaths due to cancer

So out of 100 people who die from cancer, one will have had skin cancer. I may have interpreted this wrongly, but if not, it does not sound a very common cause of death to me.

Also for every 100,000 deaths in the UK, 3-4 are caused by skin cancer. So that means 999,996 deaths are caused by something other than skin cancer.

I really think people do worry too much about this.

And I would add, several people have died from different cancers in my family, including my dad, from bowel cancer, so I'm not trivialising cancer.

chunderella youre being deliberately obtuse regarding chemicals. Some are obviously ok, some are not and some turn out not to be.
I try and avoid as much as I can known carconogens while being aware I breathe shit in all the time. I dont dyre my hair knowing the link between hair dye and the cancer from known carcinogens in hair dye. And with sun screen I try and avoid the ones that are absorbed and prefer the barrier ones plus covering up, staying out the sun between 11 and 3. Same with my gingery kids. None have been sunburned. However, 3 were found to be very deficient in vit D and so now take supplements. That was a bit alarming.

We look after children and baby's our local NHS Now give free Multivits
for baby's over 6 weeks. , via our community health worker together with a record card,

Chunderella, I don't think there's anything wrong in pointing out the facts about skin cancer deaths, on a thread about skin cancers.

I know people with skin cancer, my FIL has had 2 growths removed from his ears. He's a farmer so has spent his whole working life outside. Slathering sun cream on his ears several times a day, for the last 50 years may have prevented it, but would be highly impractical.

He should have worn a hat on sunny days. That would have prevented his cancer just as well as sun cream and would have been much more convenient.

I still cant find any info about skin cancer rates elsewhere where sun screen isnt routinely used, only that its rising in the west/Australia. But then googling on a phone isnt easy cos the screen is small and I've lost my reading glasses.
But when I travelled in various other countries people just didnt use it.