To hate the start of summer purely because of daily sun cream dramas?

[santsandpocks]

They hate having it put on, I hate putting it on them. It's all such a faff

[Janefromdowntheroad]

Did he work outside his whole life?

I'm not debating that sunscreen has its uses. I think its gone way to far in the other direction and now we have lots of hand wringing and worry over short periods in the May sun! DOn't these kids have uniform on, so at least a polo shirt covering shoulders etc?

[Janefromdowntheroad]

My MIL in had a huge chunk of skin cancer cut out her arm.

She sunbathed in Ibiza for years covered in cooking oil

[DeltaSunrise]

Kids here have to wear sun cream & hats for kindy/school every day from Labour day until the end of term 1 (October - April).

It's not that difficult to get into a routine, every morning after breakfast and teeth brushing, slap it on before they leave the bathroom & get dressed.

They top themselves up after lunch. They get used to it and know why we need it.

I use whatever is on offer as long as it's factor 50.

I got seriously caught out one day when we first moved here. It was a dull,cloudy day but quite warm so we went to the beach after breakfast. There was no sun to be seen but after 2 hours I came home to find myself as red as a lobster.

We always put it on every morning during the summer now even if the weather doesn't look great and use rash vests at the beach for extra protection.

[specialsubject]

peak UK UV 21st June. Air temperature irrelevant. Wear sunscreen.

science 101.

[mouldycheesefan]

Yanbu it's a pain. Mine csn now do their own arms and faces for school but off in hols shortly so the sun tan dramas shall commence then.

[mouldycheesefan]

Both my parents have had skin cancer. Plus one friend. And another friend died of it.
People underestimate it.

[GreyBird84]

I agree that people underestimate it - I have had a malignant melanoma removed that was bad caught early. I am fortunate.

I basically just try to stay out of the sun as I don't even really trust suncream to protect me or DS - who now has double the risk as my child (born after treatment).

[longdiling]

I put it on mine before school as they very often spend extra time outside when the weather is good so it isn't just break times. My eldest is very pale and burns easily and the younger two tan easily but obviously that's still skin damage. By the time they come home and have a drink and a snack the once a day stuff will no longer be effective, the heat will have gone out of the day and they can get their vit c blast in the garden. There are surely far more cases of skin cancer than rickets anyway?

[Natsku]

Luckily DD likes putting it on and tends to remind me about it, but for myself I check the UV index for the day and only put it on if its 3 or above - its 4 right now so suncream on. Its 5 in the UK (6 in the very south) so it is needed.

[ClockworkNightingale]

Severe sunburn in childhood is the main modifiable risk factor for melanoma. We don't mess about with radiation at my house -- my children get suncream from the Easter break until about October halfterm, and a vitamin D supplement every night (year-round).

No rickets yet.

No tips for making the application easier, though -- my children don't mind it. My main problem is the stains on the school uniform . . . why do the shirts have to be white!

[AnMum]

Move to Scotland, that would solve your problem!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Move to Scotland, that would solve your problem!

It wouldn't. Sunscreen in Scotland March to October....

[Roonerspism]

Why not cover up instead of sunscreen?

I'm not convinced by the artificial sunscreens - there are theories that the ingredients themselves may be carcinogenic.

I cover the kids when there is the risk of burning. I actively encourage sun exposure later in the day. A light base tan is not the issue here. I never let the kids burn. I use titanium dioxide sunscreens.

I think the risks of low Vitamin D aren't fully known but probably wide ranging. We are human and need light!!!!!!!

[idontlikealdi]

Covering up in a cotton shirt is equivalent of spf 6 - you still need high factor unless you can keep them in the shade

Mine love the coloured spray but their clothes don't. I'm going to try the p20 stuff now.

[MeAndTheMajor]

My daughters would definitely burn in half an hour today. As a family we are extremely fair and I'm not prepared to take the risk. DH even managed to burn while sat outside for an hour on a cloudy day last year and I have bad memories of burning at school as a child.

I use the Soltan 8 hour factor 30 spray on my two, as it goes on much easier than any other sun cream that I've tried.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Vitamin D can be safely supplemented.

The risk of skin cancer is far higher than the risk of carcinogenic ingredients.

We are not plants, we do not need light

Yes sunshine is nice, but unless we protect ourselves it may well kill us.

[Excited101]

I use P20 factor 50 on my face every morning, and am trying to get into the habit year round, I'd be interested to know why it's not recommended by another poster's dermotologist. I also use it on the children. The best thing to do is apply it leaving time for it to soak in before clothes as it can give them a yellow tint at the edges. It rubs in really well though.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I'd be interested to know why it's not recommended by another poster's dermotologist

She believed the research wasn't there to prove its efficacy in real life use - as I previously mentioned, in Australia you can't advertise a sunscreen as all day.

[Akire]

In London today it's 20c but UV rating is 5 this means with my fair skin I will burn in 30-60m. Today I wore factor 30 and long sleeved shirt!

[Janefromdowntheroad]

But people who work indoors are more likely to get melanomas than outdoor workers. Because they get the wrong kind of sun (intense bursts on holiday etc). It's recognised by the World Health Organisation.

[ElspethFlashman]

I find the sprays are the easiest. I found a L'Oréal kids one this year called "anti sand". Basically it means non sticky and it's such a relief to use as their hair doesn't get too manky. (Mine won't wear hats at any cost so need to have sunscreen on their scalps)

I'm militant about my own sunscreen use - a mixture of vanity and flashbacks to 1970s lobster skin summers - so why wouldn't I be militant about soft little kiddy skin?

For those saying "just cover them up", are you putting masks on them as well? ?!!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

But people who work indoors are more likely to get melanomas than outdoor workers

And people who work outdoors are more likely to get squamous cell carcinomas...

Sunshine is not safe, no matter how you expose yourself to it unprotected.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Janefromdowntheroad no FIL didn't work outside his whole life. He sold insurance.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

I'm really aware of both sides of this - I had a fairly serious vit D deficiency last year as part of another illness. But my family are all very pale apart from my one more olive skinned dc.

[GoneClubbing]

I think Ambre Solaire Rapido is the best, both in terms of protection and ease of application. It is fairly non-greasy and pleasant. Cheapest in Asda.