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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not smother my DCs in suncream?

379 replies

CantankerousCamel · 20/05/2018 06:43

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.

OP posts:
bananafish81 · 20/05/2018 10:27

Yes. That's one person's research vs multiple RCTs and NICE guidance based on peer reviewed journal data

Original poster
CantankerousCamel · 20/05/2018 10:35

The article contains various evidence compiled by one person

OP posts:
GoldenMcOldie · 20/05/2018 10:36

Use of sunscreen and sensible sun exposure is very different if you live in Australia vs living in the UK.

Here in Queensland with the highest rate of melanoma in the world, my kids wear factor 50 every single time they go in the sun (9am -4pm). The key is that they just don't go out in the sun between 10am and 3pm st all in the summer. We stay indoors or in the shade. We wear long sleeve sun protection, hats and glasses if we do go out.

Living in the uk is a totally different situation.

BoneyBackJefferson · 20/05/2018 10:37

CantankerousCamel

Build tolerance

You are aware that this does not work for everyone?

Original poster
CantankerousCamel · 20/05/2018 10:44

GOLDEN

I absolutely agree

OP posts:
coffeeforone · 20/05/2018 10:46

YANBU, I generally only use it on my DS when exposed all day and it’s blazing sun e.g. beach or picnic. But he is half Indian and very dark and it would take a lot for him to burn. He does go slightly darker in the summer months, as does DH.

I would be more cautious if I had a very fair child though

GoldenMcOldie · 20/05/2018 11:03

My SIL, is a born and bred Yorkshire lase, has had a melanoma successfully removed.

Likely the result of silly tanning/burning whilst on holiday in the continent as a teen/young adult.

stressedoutfred · 20/05/2018 11:06

I use it on DS2 as he's had chemotherapy so needs to be ultra careful. I use it on myself as I've recently had a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. DS1 is more difficult to convince as he's 14 and thinks he knows everything Hmm, however he does have a much darker skin tone to DS2 and I ( he's mixed race) so I don't over stress about it, but expect him to use it if we're out in the sun in long periods

jamoncrumpets · 20/05/2018 11:10

I always use factor 30-50 if DC is in the sun between 11 and 3. Either side of those times I monitor closely. If they've been out for over 30 mins I will slap some on. I have a little factor 50 stick from Boots that I keep in my handbag.

Weirdly I have to be more vigilant about my own skin than DC's. I burn after about 10 mins in the sun and use factor 50 on my face every day from March - Sept.

DC has never been sunburnt.

MayFayner · 20/05/2018 11:13

I think most very pale skinned people on this thread have heard the whole "oh stop being so silly, take a bit of sun, you'll be fiiiiine, you need to build up a tolerance" bullshit all their lives, and it's pretty fucking tiresome, let me tell you.

Some people burn no matter what, and they need to protect themselves. Newspapers print a load of crap all day every day so that they can fill up column inches and make a profit.

MistyMeena · 20/05/2018 11:14

Mine haven't had suncream on yet this year at school. They're just not outside long enough in high enough temperatures to need it (IMO) plus they are pretty well covered up and wear a hat at playtime/PE. Once it gets consistently properly hot then yes I will insist. On the beach, in the park is different though.

GummyGoddess · 20/05/2018 11:43

@MistyMeena Getting burnt has nothing to do with high temperatures.

AngkorWaat · 20/05/2018 11:55

It’s a balance isn’t it

Not burning vs getting a chance to make some vit D

We all do our best to interpret the advice/research and make decisions for our families.

I didn’t go out yesterday, apart from putting 3 loads of washing on and off the line, and my shoulders are burnt. So I come at this topic from a very different starting point to our darker skinned Mnetters.

MistyMeena · 20/05/2018 12:19

I agree it's not just about high temperatures. But when it's 22 degrees at best, and child has about 4 inches of lower leg and lower arm exposed, in a shady playground for 30 mins in May with a hat on don't think factor 50 is necessary!

Exposure for longer or more uncovered then yes, of course.

BeyondThePage · 20/05/2018 12:51

It has NOTHING to do with high temperatures - you can get sunburned when skiing!

gamerwidow · 20/05/2018 12:56

Both DD and myself burn very easily. I start to go pink with about 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure so we always wear sun cream with the temps start hitting the high teens.
Any change in colour shows sun damage. Tans are not cute on kids, they’re negligent.

mishfish · 20/05/2018 12:57

I don’t wear it in the UK as have Mediterranean/Arab skin so don’t burn. My DC1 has a similar skin tone so it’s only during the heat of the day in the summer months he will wear some, DC2 wears it more often as she is not as dark but my DC3 is so white she’s blue and I try to let her have some exposure during the early part of the day but then smother her by lunch

GummyGoddess · 20/05/2018 13:00

Is it associated with high temperatures because high temperatures = more skin exposure do you think?

I remember getting burnt skiing, bloody goggle outline on my face for ages!

LinoleumBlownapart · 20/05/2018 13:34

We live in Brazil. The only time we wear sunscreen is when we're outside between 11-4 but that's avoided as much as possible. The secondary aged children go to school from 7am-11.30, with a break at 9am in a covered playground. The primary children from 1pm-5.30pm with playtime in a covered playground before 4pm and after 4 pm in a shaded playground. All school playgrounds are covered by law. They go outside to play or swim after school when the sun has gone down, PE in secondary is after 4pm, my 14 year old has PE from 4.30-6pm. Suncream is used but they are more obsessed with staying out of the sun all together. This is true of all Brazilians from black Brazilians to pale ginger ones. You never come across people who have darker skin so they say they're fine to go out in the sun. Sun safety here is not just about slapping on suncream and going out in the midday sun, in fact, unless you have no choice, that is frowned upon and seen as idiotic behaviour.

howrudeforme · 20/05/2018 13:54

Dunno op. Im med/middle eastern toned and I’ve had a skin cancer removed - so has my v pale Mum and also my very dark Asian Mum. I’d spent summers in tropical countries and had played out all day.

Mine was in late 30s (but started to develop early 30’s).

I’m not a sun worshipper at all. My ds like me does not burn but not burning doesn’t mean you’ll be ok down the line.

So, for ds he can go cream free until 11am and then he has to apply cream. If out after 4pm then I’m not so concerned. This is based on his colouring. If lighter I’d ensure more coverage and more often. Sun cream is horrible though so I like long loose sleeved clothing etc.

I’m a molely person and so extra cautious.

AreWeDoingThisNow · 20/05/2018 14:05

I would have got sunburn if I'd gone out without sunscreen at 10 am today for 30 minutes.

DD is the palest child I know (and I'm pretty sure the others at baby swimming haven't been on the sun lounger, DD is literally white as a sheet), I do not want her to burn. I walked the dogs with her at 9am and we were both wearing factor 50 (I skip my forearms, they're a bit more hardy). The dogs were intermittently laid in the shade because it was hot.

Summer solstice is June 21st. The sun is as strong today as it will be on July 23rd.

That said, 30 minutes in the garden in and out of shady patches I'd agree, or maybe at 7/8 am, or after 5pm, and she doesn't get cream in those situations, but not 30 minutes in direct sunlight at 10 am in May, I honestly would be red from that.

Iftheshoefits · 20/05/2018 14:09

OP you say you have med skin-so I guess you've never been burnt? -it's awful esp for little ones. I understand that the advice is for 20 mins exposure to the sun (to avoid ricketts)and then cream. Once skin is damaged it's irrepairable. Imho it's neglectful not to use cream. -Having said that I think that parents should decide for themselves and not judge others for theirs.

Iftheshoefits · 20/05/2018 14:12

What other pps have said about high temps -agree-u can burn on a cloudy day with little sun.

sendthecoffee · 20/05/2018 14:15

My three (and me) are quite fair. We live by the beach so spend a lot of time outdoors. Yesterday we spent a couple of hours on the beach between 2-4. We didn't use sun cream. They had Tshirts and shorts on and hats (I worry more about sunstroke). They were fine. If we were going to be there all day in the middle of the hottest part I would put factor 20 on, but I'm not quite relaxed about it. We use our common sense