To not use spf50 on my children

[Elisannah]

They're 4&2. I'm always hot on putting sun cream on, making sure they're not out for a long time in the heat of summer, all the general recommendations with sun safety.

I've heard spf50 sun cream blocks a lot of the goodness of the sun whereas lower spf can still let that through.

So, given I stick to the recommendations of staying safe in the sun, aibu to use spf30 (with 5 star UVA rating)?

and far less efficacious, as I understand it.

Then you understand incorrectly.

@donkir - rise in rickets is being seen in non-white kids as they need to be out more in sunlight than white children. Current models of play at schools don’t work for them. Nothing to do with spf50

@dirtystinkyrats

Soltan Once! It lasts up to 8 hours, so I apply to DD in the morning (arms, legs, face) & it lasts all day.

Most patients were younger than 5 years. Ethnic origin is not well recorded in Hospital Episode Statistics but, where recorded, 32% of the people with rickets were white

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)60211-7/fulltext

I use the ultrasun SPF 30 family one and it does the job well, is easy to apply, and does a brilliant job when they're at schhol/nursery/grandparents so that I don't have to rely on someone else doing it.

My son has had suncream on for school for the last couple of days, as despite the seemingly short time they're out, he already has a polo-shirt tan over the last week or so! I guess they're out just before 11, between 12 and 1 and then just before 3, so it adds up quickly.

I don't trust one day creams (dd burned with the soltan one on holiday) and they aren't recommended either. Would be ok for the school day in the UK but not for on holiday

Had a bit of a drama with nursery about them using a cream with no star rating displayed. It just had a UVA in a circle. There was a letter home to say they are now using aldi 50+ with 5 stars.

I always use sunsense family 50+ with 5 stars. Rightly or wrongly I apply every 2 hours. I burn in approximately 10 minutes when the sun is out and over about 18°.

My dad had skin cancer twice on his nose and had to have quite a bit of bone removed. He is fair, but not ginger. Didn't start going abroad until he was past 40. I recall him using nose stick and my mum using cream on us. Albeit it was factor 8.
I am not sure whether my dad's nose saw any of this goodness of the sun.

Mind you, all skin is different. I am sure you can make your own decision based on the evidence out there.

randomsabreuse
I've noticed this with mine the blotchy skin and they get watery eyes and a pit puffy, I thought maybe hay-fever! What sun cream do you use on them? Sorry to hijac thread op but very interesting about the factor 50.

We only ever use SPF 30. My DD is ginger and fair and although I have dark hair, I burn fairly easily but the 30 seems to be good enough if reapplied frequently / after swimming.

@Oncewasblueandyellowtwo I haven't had success with her face this year. Last year P20 and the once a day ones were good but straight up in blotches this year. Child's farm was useless... Will experiment more next week!

Tending to use a hat for face cover as far as possible

I rarely use suncream on my kids- teeshirts, hats and cream areas like feet, arms and legs inbetween 11-3pm
I use rash vests on holidays in the pool and hats.
No burns yet. Factor 15 is what we buy, better absorbed (in my experience, not a scientific fact)

chuck is that so? The NHS seem to suggest that supplement should only be used in winter and for those who are, for example, housebound and unable to get into the sunshine.

Which suggests to me that sunshine is clearly the best source of vitamin D.

I use spf50 on very sunny days (I check the local UV rating - being further north than the UK the UV levels aren't as high) and supplement Vit D year round

I don't agree with rubbing chemicals into the skin or tots. Always relied on brimmed hats and t shirts and shade

vimeo.com/120372122

Great video on Vitamin D

I think you should let the kids outside for 10 to 15 minutes with no sunscreen for vit D then put on sunscreen

I don't agree with rubbing chemicals into the skin or tots.

How do you wash them without H2O?

Am I right in thinking that there was some advice a while ago .that small children should be in the shade /indoors between 11am and 3pm or have i got it wrong ?.Presumably the sun is less fierce outside of these times.

SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. So, the difference between 30 and 50 is about 1 percent.

Or, the difference is 50%, because you are exposed to an extra 50% of UVB using spf 30 compared to what you would receive with spf 50.

I have to say I would rather limit my exposure to the sun, than cover myself in chemicals. Big Pharma want you to use this stuff.

I have discovered I am vitamin D deficient recently and GP told me to go outside for 15-30 minutes per day with no sun lotion on (plus also take medication)
My hair was all falling out which alerted me

Agree Pookiedo. I am trying to get 30 minutes a day out in the sun every day with no sun tan cream - arms and legs - to get that Vitamin D feel good factor. Its also good for our general health. Face and hands not enough.

Of course today after a glorious sunny morning, it gets to lunchtime so I pull my chair out of the car, get my book, my hat, my sunglasses. Its so hot and sunny and glorious. Literally as I take my seat a massive dark grey cloud appears and I go back indoors. But I'm gonna try and keep it up, weather permitting.

IMO sun cream is unnecessary unless you are pale and spending more than 30 minutes to an hour in the sun.