To not smother my DCs in suncream?

[CantankerousCamel]

I know there is a lot of information suggesting ‘there’s is no such thing as a healthy tan’ but AIBU to think it’s gone too far the other way?

I am very lax about suncream personally (choice partly and research mostly) but everywhere I look, people seem to be smothering children in factor 50 every second of the day!

This cannot be healthy surely? Some sort of happy medium is necessary? Obviously some skin needs heavy sun cream and some needs none (I have Spanish skin and my husband is South African, neither of us or the kids have burned when being careful with staying in the shade in midday sun and popping a thin layer on/hat if needed

Why the factor 50 in May?

AIBU to think NICE should be adjusting guidelines to ward off such thick use of creams on young children? It is important for skin to experience sunlight, especially in the Northern Hemisphere and especially this time of year when moderate exposure is easier, safer and will prevent burning later on in the summer.

I think it is difficult for someone with naturally olive skin to understand just how strongly really fair skin reacts to the sun.

I am Irish (always burns, never tans), and although my mother was ahead of the curve with sunblock and I have been fairly dilligent myself, I still have a fair few moles and quite a bit of sun damage. You only have to look at Australia, where fair skinned people were exposed to harsh sun, to understand the advice on sun protection.

So, YANBU to go easy on the suncream if your children don't need it. But YABU to think the NHS advice should change. People are still dying of melanoma, unfortunately.

I agree op, I’d rather find shade/use layers/hat than lots of sun cream. Partly because dd has exema and the sun cream makes it worse!
She’s 2 and I’m in playgrounds with her a lot, have noticed that these areas usually have zero shade. Even with sun cream on have to limit her time there as she flings her hat off then gets too hot (not much hair yet).
I also boil in the sun on benches etc nearby, when I was pg it was tough in the sun in playgrounds.
Why no shade in playgrounds? I think it would be better!

Again, the people suggesting that I am being absurd/lassier-faire etc etc

I am suggesting NOTHING more than a few minutes a day (preferably building up to 30-45mins) of sunshine without heavy creams in the morning/evening

Not that people shouldn’t then slap on the factor 50 if that’s what they feel they need.

PENGUIN one of the things I found awesome about Australia was the enormous amounts of shade in play parks and car parks.

Saves a lot of hassle for sure

I'm low in vit d and have to take a supplement, but I don't use suncreen daily. I'm half Asian and I do tan very well but have to use a high factor if on holiday. I'm currently sporting a lovely rash from the sun yesterday I used some factor 50 on my arms as it was hot, and my little boy is only 18 months so he got as much on his arms and face as I could get on him as we were out at the playgroup in the afternoon. I never put any on him to go to nursery but they have their own and put it on them when they deem necessary I guess?

I think it's difficult to appreciate how easy it is to burn with fair skin if you don't have that sort of skin yourself- I've burnt in much less than an hour and I've burnt in the UK in April. My son has the same skin type as me. Bad sunburn hurts and makes you feel unwell, so I wont be risking that happening to him. You also don't often realise that you're burning, if it's a warm day you just feel warm, it's often later that you realise. If I'm actually out and about and I can feel I've got burnt then I know I'm in big trouble, it's far to late to do anything about it at that point. The reason schools ask for you to apply sunscreen before school is for practical reasons - imagine trying to apply sunscreen to 30 4 and 5 year olds before lunch. It's a lot easier if they've already been covered and just need a top up. Once primary school children have had their lunch, afternoon break and PE outside, they can be out in the hottest part of the day for a couple of hours.

*playground not playgroup!

I totally understand fair children needing suncream at school.

My children don’t need it though, quite obviously. But nowadays it doesn’t seem to matter what sort of skin you have (I still believe that 99% of skin types can gain benefit from spending some time in sunlight) you’re expected to slather your children in suncream regardless.

It's also not true for me that sun exposure earlier in the year prevents burning later in the summer. I cannot tan, it's not a lack of effort, it's just my skin. Lots of people don't get this.

I think individuals have different risks I personally think my risk of osteoporosis is higher than skin cancer so act accordingly. My ds was allergic to sun screen as a toddler and it was stressful as he’s quite pale but actually by covering him up and keeping him in the shade as much as we could he didn’t ever burn. I’m fairly relaxed about sunscreen but do make them cover up in high sun. It is confusing to know what to do for the best. I don’t think anyone is completely sure so all we can do is our best!

I’ve burnt in march before now. I have very fair skin and burn easily. If I went outside now for 30-45 minutes as you are suggesting my face would definitely burn.

WONDERSTUFF

I totally agree, I also see how people with skin cancer in the family would feel the opposite and act accordingly.

I do still stand by the statement though, that whatever your ‘position’ all kids could do with 30 mins a day without being covered in creams.

Even if it takes most of the summer to get to that point because their skin is pale

MIA

I’m not sure how many times I can repeat the same comment...

Also worth noting that partial cloud leads to higher UV exposure as the clouds reflect, don’t be fooled by thinking is not too sunny it’ll be fine, I’ve only burnt twice and one of those was a fairly cloudy day in the UK in late June.

It's right to say that short exposure to sunshine during the summer months does have benefits. It's just difficult to manage in a school situation. But even if you don't burn, longer exposure in the middle of the day is still not a good idea. Melanomas tend to be associated with fair skinned people who burn intermittently but there is good evidence that less dangerous, but still unpleasant and disfiguring, cancers are caused by chronic sun exposure. Lots of people who have hardly ever burned get these cancers and don't understand because "I always just get a healthy tan".

It's also still common to see burnt children whose parents thought they'd be better off without sunscreen. I saw a few in my surgeries last week actually.

TAYBERT

Thanks for the info...

I’m not really a ‘sit on the beach all day’ sort of person. I prefer seeking shade in the heat of the day or putting a long sleeved top and hat on.

Short, moderated exposure to sunlight is something I think we should all adapt to, regardless of our ways of dealing with the rest of the day

Also, it's worth understanding what "factor 50" means. The factor multiplies your burning time, so, if like me in the height of summer you can burn within a few minutes, factor 50 is a good idea. If you're olive skinned and don't burn then factor 15 could be sufficient.

True, but English people did used to wear hats, and sunbathing is a relatively modern thing.
It does feel nice to be out in the sun, but head to the shade if it's too much. They have a siesta in Spain don't they?

Wonderstuff and cantankerous

I agree. There will be some people with very fair skin or family history of skin cancer for whom suncream is a big priority.

On the flip side, we have autoimmune disease in our family and vitamin d is increasingly linked to this.

Therefore we give the kids plenty of sun exposure.

We still manage to avoid burning.

We used factor 50 when we holiday’d with my mother in Cairns Australia. Can’t think why they even sell it in the uk

I wear spf 50 facial sunscreen over my moisturiser every single day of the year

Wish I had started doing so when in my teens and 20s and hadn't been so laissez-faire about sunscreen except when on holiday, sun damage is probably the biggest contributor to ageing.

Obvs not the same as sunscreen on DC but really wish I hadn't relied on spf 15 in my moisturiser. To get the benefits of the spf factor on the bottle you have to apply it in vast quantities (a shot glass per limb). A light rub of spf 15 won't actually give anywhere near spf 15 protection.

I'm prob over cautious as at age 32 I have pre-cancerous skin changes on my back after living in Malaysia (granted much hotter & sunnier than the UK!). Skin cancer is almost a constant worry for me and I'd hate for my son (who has inherited my very fairy skin) to have to worry about it!
I TRY to let him have sun cream free time for 10-20 minutes when its hot, and then put some on. It's so hard when you're concerned for your childs health and it's something that you're experiencing yourself.

Interesting. I've been thinking about this the last few days as we've been on holiday. I have extremely fair skin and burn easily so am quite careful in the sun, although usually try to get 10-15 mins of sunlight before retreating to the shade. DD is almost 2, and I've been slathering on the factor 50 and assumed her skin is like mine. However, my DH and his family all tan. So, I'm not whether DD might actually be more like him. It's tricky as I don't want to risk her getting burned but I think if possible, it would be good for her to get a bit of a tan.

Of course some people burn at 10am! Just because it's never happened to you, doesn't mean it's not a "thing".

I know people who will burn amazingly quickly in the sun - if they wander to the shops and back they'll be pink. It's their genetics and skin colour.
This ^.
Some of us burn a lot more easily than others. I have often been told by people with a naturally much darker skin tone that I'm fussing too much by putting cream on myself, and on my (very fair) DCs, and that getting a tan is easy and harmless. I've also been quite burnt on a breezy spring day, when I was only out for a couple of hours for a walk.
A friend who was a nurse even told my DD to get out in the sun without sun screen, when she knew she was on medication which makes your skin extra photo sensitive. Because she is naturally a nice brown colour, and has never been burnt herself.
I can't speak for everyone else, but I know from experience, that some of us DO get burnt easily, and I completely get why schools and nurseries want to put sun cream on - can you imagine trying to look up who is having team and who isn't (or relying on being able to find a bottle of sun screen for that child in the classroom?) with the risk of getting one of them wrong and having angry parents because their DCs got burnt?

Having cream, not having team!

CANNOCK

Building your children’s skin up to a place where they can enjoy short exposure to the sun without sun cream is just common sense