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AIBU?

Judgy re UV vests / getting a suntan?

54 replies

PoppyPopcorn · 21/07/2017 16:29

We're currently on holiday in America. It's very hot and the sun is very strong. We're all very pale skinned, freckles and fair hair. We're all wearing long sleeved UV tops in the pool, beach and at the water parks. Have heard a variety of "look at those crazy people in their tops" comments and had more than a few odd looks.

Even before we left my mum was raising eyebrows at us buying UV tops for adults, she is very much of the opinion that if you're somewhere hot it's practically compulsory to get a tan, or how would neighbours, friends or the woman in Tesco know you'd been away?

Getting a tan isn't even on my radar on holiday - dare say I'll go home with more freckles than I came with but I'm not actively trying.... no desire to end up like some of the battered old bits of leather I've seen lying by the pool.

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Wolfiefan · 21/07/2017 18:53

I wear a high factor sun cream.
Kids wear UV tops and shorts. They can be wriggly little swines when it comes to sun cream and I am worried about missing a bit or swimsuit straps moving and leaving uncreamed skin exposed.

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PuckeredAhole · 21/07/2017 18:58

Seeing as two of my close family members have suffered melanoma I couldn't give a flying fuck what anyone thinks.

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ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 21/07/2017 19:04

I'm surprised you've heard "a variety of Look at those crazy people in their tops comments".

How many people have you heard ridiculing your rash vests, loudly enough for you to hear? They're really popular, especially for children these days. There must be others wearing them? I'm really surprised you've had so many comments.

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Pawpainting · 21/07/2017 19:09

You sound like the judgy one tbh and more than a bit smug. In fairness, an entire family wearing long sleeved tops probably does stand out a bit, especially in the US where they aren't as popular in my experience.

Don't worry about the comments, or about the condition of other peoples skin, Why let it bother you?

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VestalVirgin · 21/07/2017 19:10

Can you really burn through UV tops?

I think that only happens in Australia.

Never happened to me in Germany, not even when staying outside all day with completely untanned skin under the clothes.

Could be that the skin-ageing effect of UV rays happens through clothes, but burns, definitely not in an ordinary climate without hole in the ozone layer.

I prefer clothes to sun cream. For one, there's some health concerns with regard to sun cream, and then you always miss some bits and burn anyway.
If you tan easily, getting tanned might be preferable to clothes in the summer heat, but if you don't tan easily, why risk sunburn if you don't have to?

Wouldn't give any fucks about other people criticising me for my choice of sun protection.

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Flixybelle · 21/07/2017 20:03

I have one its a zip up jacket thing with long sleeves I only wear it when I am very exposed so in the pool, sea or at a water park. No on has ever commented on it except one lady who asked where I had bought it from as she had been burnt and wanted some more protection. I actually wear sun lotion as well as I am always taking it on and off. I LOVE IT!

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Caterina99 · 21/07/2017 20:19

some people react more worse to sunburn than others. For me the pain is not worth it. I don't tan and I just come out in a huge rash and it's really uncomfortable for days.

My mum does that "get some sun on your legs" thing etc. but if she burns it's a bit red and then tans. I'd rather be pale and not covered in a rash to be honest.

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Mari50 · 21/07/2017 20:23

The best judgeyness I've ever had in this respect was when I let DD (6 at the time) run around topless in a zoo in Australia. She was far too hot so we did the European thing, jeez, the looks she got. . . . (Despite the factor 50 and hat. We broke the slip slip slap rule and we were judged!! Immensely. DD wasn't burnt- or even tanned incidentally)

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PoppyPopcorn · 21/07/2017 20:32

It's definitely not an American "thing". Have seen very few UV suits or tops and those I have seen were on Northern European families. Lots of Latin American families seem to wear practically nothing but have darker skin so won't burn like we do. The vests are surprisingly comfortable though and once in the water you don't notice them at all.

Anyway. Funny looks aren't bothering me nearly so much as the troops of Latin American teenage girls with their matching shirts, incredibly LOUD voices and inability to move anywhere in groups of less than 75.

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CaptainAmericasShield · 21/07/2017 20:40

In the mid-80s before rash vests etc., my mum made my brother (red hair and very pale) wear in the pool on holiday: cut off leggings, a t shirt and a hat with neck flap as well as cream on his exposed bits!

Do what's right for your family and ignore everyone else!

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PoppyPopcorn · 21/07/2017 20:48

See I've read that ordinary tshirts don't work - can't remember why. They do stretch quite a bit though and get heavy in the water. The kids' tops fit very snugly and they seem to find them comfortable.

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BeALert · 21/07/2017 20:49

UV suits give about SPF 25

All the UV suits I've bought are SPF 50+

I live in a hot country and my kids have never been burnt through a UV suit even at things like all-day sailing camp.

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PoppyPopcorn · 21/07/2017 20:52

My top was from decathlon and it states UV 50. We're not at the pool all day anyway - couple of hours tops. None of us could cope with 8 hours at a pool or water park in the blazing Florida sun.

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emmyrose2000 · 21/07/2017 23:35

UV shirts/shorts/hats/bathing suits are extremely common where I am. Some schools won't let students swim without them.

It wouldn't occur to me not to wear the shirt (over my bathing suit). I also apply sunscreen.

I also wear them overseas. If anyone had/has a problem with it, then it's their problem and not mine. I'm not risking skin cancer for anyone.

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Nanny0gg · 22/07/2017 00:02

Bit late now, but why go somewhere so hot with your colouring, in the height of summer?

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ManyManyShoes · 22/07/2017 04:36

I get you OP. I think its sad that some people get tan to show people they've been on holiday. How sad. And I'd rather see kids in UV suits than burned upset ones.

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buttfacedmiscreant · 22/07/2017 04:54

Can't imagine it being Americans saying that, they are so ubiquitous here that they sell them in Costco.

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CloserIAmToFine · 22/07/2017 05:10

Interesting. I'm American and at every beach/pool I've been to, people absolutely wear rashguards (UV vest) and lots of sunscreen, especially children. TBH I find it difficult to believe you are actually getting looked at for that. Are you behaving unusually in any way? Or is it possible you just feel self-conscious for some reason? Is this one of your first trips abroad?

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CloserIAmToFine · 22/07/2017 05:17

Just reread your posts. So you know what is or isn't "an American thing," huh? Wow. I've lived in the UK for three years and I am well aware that the behavior of our friends/neighbors/colleagues is not representative of the whole UK. America is at least three times larger than the UK, so I would think you must have done lots of research into poolside sun protection behavior to know what "Americans" do or don't do!

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Italiangreyhound · 22/07/2017 05:34

Popp8 enjoy your holiday and look after your skin. It is no one else's business what you wear in the pool and they are pretty silly to expose their skin to lots of sunshine, IMHO*.

Witsender "You all sound equally judgy." And Pretenditsaplan
"Your complaining that people are judging you for wearing a UV top but then judging other people for how they they look? Wow."

There's no wow about it! The OP is judging what to do with her own skin. That's allowed. Plus I am not sure she is making comments in the presence of others about their sun bathing habits. She's making them here, on this anonymous forum. They are making comments loud enough to be heard by the OP, about her!

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OrangeButton · 22/07/2017 05:50

At least you're not in France. They seem to prefer the local pools to be full of sunscreen rather than let people wear rashies..because the fibers clog up the pool filters (and yes, talking about proper rashies made from swimsuit material, not t-shirts).

I am the only adult I know who wears one, apart from DH who wears one when swimming in the sea (red, because I worry when he swims far out, as he usually does). I don't find them common for adults.

Sounds like a fun holiday you're on though!

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peonyinparadise · 22/07/2017 05:57

Love UV tops. I live in a v hot country & we always wear them for swimming. No phaffing about trying to get sunscreen on sweaty, slippery children. Throw them on and everyone can stay all day by the pool without a sunburn worry. Plus, covers up my drooping bod. Win win.

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JungleInTheRumble · 22/07/2017 06:30

When swimming I wear a long top and long leggings (both spf 50) with a bikini underneath. Lounging around I'll strip off the top and leggings, sit in the shade and put on a light jacket again spf 50. I'm very pale and sunburn really badly if I don't do the above. Can't be dealing with applying sun cream all the time.

I'm not surprised that in Australia you can burn through a UV top. I was applying spf 30 cream to my shoulders literally every ten minutes when we were stood out in the full sun there and I still burnt.

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Chestervase1 · 22/07/2017 06:42

P30 is good but you have to follow the instructions and not get dressed immediately. Also make sure you are covered and don't miss a bit. Apparently we are all Vitamin D deficient and I think children should be allowed some exposure just don't let them burn. It's not rocket science just everything in moderation.

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Chestervase1 · 22/07/2017 06:43

P20

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