AIBU to think that it's not usual to wear sunscreen all the time?

[TheKitchenWitch]

Leading on from another thread of mine in which I asked for recommendations for a tinted moisturiser without sunscreen in it (due to skin reacting), I was surprised that it seemed to be very much a given that one would wear sunscreen every day.

Now, I don't think I know of anyone who slathers sunscreen on their whole family every single day of the year. It might well be that it's included in a daily face cream for some, so they are getting it by default, but I don't put any on my children until we get to proper summer, hot sunny days etc and they are outside way more than me.
My husband also would only ever put it on if we're spending the day outside in summer. We live in Germany, so climate is similar to UK for much of the year.

So my question is: do you (as in your whole family) wear sunscreen all year round?

Thanks for all the responses. I am astonished that so many wear it every day!
But - and this is actually the crux of my question - are you putting it on your children too? And does your OH wear it?

(If your moisuriser happens to have SPF in it then that's not the same as making a decision to wear sunscreen every day imo unless you specifically chose it for that reason, and if you did then same question: do you put it on your kids? Does your OH wear it too?)

I think the moisturiser DH uses has sunscreen in it but he doesn't spend so much time outside either. Also no to putting it on the kids as routine -they are indoors most of the day, unless its very sunny I think the breaks outside don't pose a risk, whereas I'm regularly walking the dog/running/playing tennis outside for 3 hours plus.

I put sunscreen on my kids more often than I put it on myself! Their young skin is far more important than my middle-aged skin. Then again, Scandi kids are usually outside most of the time so they need it more than my office sitting self. DH wears sunscreen the same amount as I do.

I wear sunscreen all year round and have done since my 20s. I am in my mid 60s now and a natural red head with pale skin but have few wrinkles. I take vit D supplements.

No. No one puts it on unless it’s a rare (in the uk) high UV day and we will be out in it all day. Even then we only use it for part of the day.

Vit D is very important and I’m not slathering any of us in unnecessary chemicals every day.

I wear SPF 50 PA++++ about everyday. I have dark hair and brown skin. I don’t drive so I’m outside walking my son to nursery and running errands. I live 15+ min from different stores and the town centre. It’s not about how much sun there is but the UV index. We live outside of Oxford and the UV index is 5 which is considered moderate risk of harm to unprotected skin. 6+ is considered high risk of harm.

phoenix unless you've had medical advice to do that, I think you have a far higher risk of developing vitamin D deficiency by doing that, than getting skin cancer if you don't. Darker skin absorbs vit D less easily than paler.

My mum had skin cancer between the corner of her eye and nose and was advised by the consultant to use a minimum of factor 30 from March to October. She's dark to my pale so doesn't burn but we both use the Clinique city block daily. And sunglasses if sunny. Well I wear mine if dull and cloudy too

I'm translucent Irish. SPF 15/5* UVA on face and neck every day year round. (vanity rather than cancer reasons) plus multivit containing vit D every day.
Sunny days- apply hat and sunglasses for vanity, put on shorts and push sleeves up, rush outside to soak up some delicious- feeling rays. Apologise to anyone who has looked in my direction and burned their retinas with my pasty whiteness. Roll sleeves down and put trousers on, or apply SPF 30 after 20-30min, if by some miracle it hasn't started raining and is warm enough to have bare arms and legs (rare)..

I wear sun cream on my face everyday now as I have very fair and sensitive skin and burn ridiculously quickly. I don't put it on my DS every day though as his skin (lucky for him) doesn't burn so easily.

I put it on my child daily. We are very fair skinned and I have already had skin cancer as a result of childhood sunburn leading to scarring on my face. My dermatologist says any colouring is sun damage. Even if you have skin that tans well it is still damage. Just some people's skin can cope with more damage than others.

I am a bitter about it as my whole life I've been an outdoors person but people have said ignorant things like 'you're so pale you look ill' and 'don't you ever go outside?'. Even my own parents recommend 'toughening kids skin up' with a bit of sun exposure but it just doesn't work like that. I blame them for not taking better care of my pale skin when I was a child leading me to have a facial disfigurement.

My moisturiser and foundation contain spf 15 but apart from that a rarely wear sunscreen, same for my children.

I have to say most people I know are obsessed with it, and cover their children in it before school every day from April onwards. Given most children are lucky to get 15 mins outside play at break and again at lunchtime I find this a bit excessive.

I deliberately buy all face products with SPF and wear Fac 50 whenever it is sunny. I try and sit outside for breakfast in the summer so I can get some natural sun on my skin but do take fit D. I burn in minutes if i’m not careful and, despite taking care, have some nasty sunspots on my face.

Factor 20 on face, hands, neck etc all the time. Best defensive against wrinkles. Factor 50 in summer. Always!

i won`t buy a face cream without spf. its been shown that it prevents damage/ wrinkles.

a new study also shows vitamin d absorption isn`t stopped by spf.

In winter I drive to work in the dark and drive home in the dark. I don't go outside at lunchtime, so I don't wear sunscreen in winter because I don't need to. The light levels where we live in winter are poor as well.

I used wear that clinique city block one everyday yes, I might go back to it

My DC are 18 and 20, DD wears sunscreen. DS doesn't, but he works in an office and is only outside for about 30 mins a day. I did cover them in sunscreen when they were little, between March and October anyway, usually the once a day stuff. They also had to bring sunscreen in for lunch and break times at primary school too (school rules).

We are all super pale, and burn ridiculously easily. Not wearing appropriate sunscreen would be silly for us. Vitamin D spray under the tongue daily and we're fine.

It's no good just taking vitamin D supplements. You actually need the sunshine on your skin for it to be effective. Sod the wrinkles.

I’m shocked at people wearing it every day.

God knows how we've survived as a species for so long without SPF 50 until now..

I don't get why the shock? SPF is proven to help against ageing
£££££ is spent on anti ageing creams
Prevention is easier than cure!

I live in the UK and don't wear anything. I wear a night cream on a face at night and that is about it. Only put suncream on my kids when it is hot.

I have a friend with rickets. It is absolutely no joke.

Having a moisturiser with an spf is one thing, it's just covering your face.

Wearing full sunscreen every day is blocking you from getting any vit D (and agree, I have also read that supplements are nowhere near as good as sunshine).

I use retin a at night and factor 50 everyday. I'm in my 60s and it has really paid off.