To think sunny holidays are actually incredibly dangerous

[Monikaems]

People go to the Mediterranean or other warm destination soley with the purpose of baking themselves in sun, often times this is done without sunprotection but even with sunprotection it can still be dangerous. The UV exposure from just two weeks in the sun can be months and months of what someone would get in the UK.

AIBU to think we should be better educated about the risks of sun exposure. It breaks my heart seeing little kids burnt.

Melanoma rates are increasing every year, we place warnings on sunbeds but not on sunny holidays. It seems absolutely bizzare that there is no warning on sun loungers about the risks of exposure.

AIBU

I lived in Italy for years and never saw a sunburned Italian. But there was always a rash of scantily clad, lobster coloured Brits and Germans

But might a lot of that be due to skin tone? I'm the classic English rose and burn very easily. While not having any southern European heritage as far as back as anyone can recall, DP (and MIL and several other of his older relatives) have skin that is much more 'Mediterranean' in appearance and they are far less sensitive to the sun than the average Brit, rarely burn even when out in the sun all day and go very brown.

We're off to the sun tomorrow. Sunshine is essential for a summer holiday. We're in Scotland and see so little of it that a fortnight in the sun recharges the batteries.

However. We don't "bake". I've never sunbathed in my life, we always sit in the shade. We use factor 50 on everyone. We all have rash vests for the pool / water park.

Sunshine isn't "incredibly dangerous". Getting sunburned is dangerous, but that's not the same thing.

Pretty sure i read recently that there has been an increase in rickets in children as parent are obsessed with slathering them in factor 50 as soon as it gets mildly warm

I’m not sure how much more education can be put out there. I’m pretty certain everyone in this country is now aware that excessive sun exposure can cause skin cancer and that they should wear factor 50 and sunhats.

My DC have been taught about it in school and the school have also put posters up around school about the importance of sun cream and sun hats. What else would you like schools and so forth to do really? There comes a point when people have to take personal responsibility.

Nothing to do with going on sunny holidays, everything to do with not taking proper precautions.

I think sitting around in the midday sun is stupid, getting a bit of sun, fresh air, doing activities in the med or wherever is a good thing.

Well I think my username gives a clue to my attitude on sunbathing! I have olive-y skin and love the sun. I realise that the sun can be dangerous for some, but as long as you protect properly for your skin type, it can be enjoyed!

You don’t really need to expose that much skin for that long to get all the Vitamin D you need.

I just cannot tolerate hot sun for very long, whether or not I’m wearing sunscreen. I can count on one hand the number of beach/pool hot holidays I’ve had as an adult. Not my thing really. Admittedly had a lot of UK seaside holidays as a child. But I do not have osteoporosis.

I lived in Italy for years and never saw a sunburned Italian. But there was always a rash of scantily clad, lobster coloured Brits and Germans

This is me. I'm a pale face who lives in factor 50 and in a hat that who still goes bright red regardless. I think my body thinks sweating is for wimps and attempts homeostasis purely through the effort of flooding my face with blood to cool down.

Offsett

Yes, I know - I was discussing my own vitamin D deficiency with a clinical specialist nurse, who I see in another neurological clinic; her main job is as a MS nurse. She knew a lot about vitamin D deficiency!

@Dungeondragon15 I take 10,000 IU a day. You would have to take 40,000 IU a day for toxicity to be an issue.

That is a high dose. I was told than 4,000 IU should be the maximum, min 1,000 IU. for my health condition. I decided to take 1,000 IU (25mcg) in the winter and go in the sun for 20 minutes in the summer. My vitamin D levels (I have recently been tested) are well into the optimum range so I'm glad I didn't take anymore.

Sit out in the morning and sit out in the evening. Get your Vitamin D via the sun's rays and enjoy the sunshine.

Don't over do it though. Keep up your water intake.

Wear a hat and stay in the shade.

I can't use sun cream on my skin unless I'm active.

But might a lot of that be due to skin tone?

Some of it. But you do get blonde and red-haired Italians. Famously in Venice! And somewhat in Sicily. And they don't lobster either.

It's not because it is hotter than the sun is stronger. I have always tanned best in the UK. The rules apply wherever you are.

I've seen many a tanned Scandinavian, who love their holidays to the Med.

They take sensible precautions.

Mad dogs and English men. As Noel Coward would rap!

Scandinavians have the highest incidents of skin cancer in Europe.

sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=5123470

I am VERY averse to the sun. So this probably skews my view. But I really doubt people are going JUST to get some sun. Knowledge about the dangers of the sun are widespread, wheverer i go i see suncream and hats on most children and schools I have contact with strongly support safe sun exposure. I think you just see the odd unprepared person, people ssy "to get a bit of sun" and you like to make a huge massive judgement about that.

My nan has skin cancer, she has never left the UK or been a sun worshipper.

For that reason alone, it worries me that purposely going somewhere sunny and spending time outside when we are not used to the conditions could mean I am much more likely to also get it, so I use sun cream. It's not difficult, just a mastery if common sense. You can't help people who don't help themselves though.

*a matter of common sense

I lived in Italy for years and never saw a sunburned Italian. But there was always a rash of scantily clad, lobster coloured Brits and Germans

Mostly because one group gets some sun throughout the year and the other only for the week they are on holiday. For the most part.

Having said that, similarly white people may react differently. I tend to go red first. Others with similar skin don't.

Scandinavians have the highest incidents of skin cancer in Europe.

That's no surprise. I think that they always appear tanned rather than red because they go on holiday before us and have usually tanned by the time the Brits start burning.

Burning isn't good but lots of people (including children) do have naturally brown skins and this one at least is getting pretty sick of the hysteria around moving around outdoors in the sun. People actually live in the Mediterranean you know? Holidaying there is not "incredibly dangerous" for anyone with an ounce of sense.

@Dungeondragon15 Who told you that? I'm just curious that's all :) It's good you got tested. Going on your and mine alone it seems different people process it differently. Getting regularly tested is a good thing.

A few friends of mine here (Spain) have been tested in the last few years. None of them use sunscreen unless they are at the beach, all of them came out low.

@Dungeondragon15 Who told you that? I'm just curious that's all smile It's good you got tested. Going on your and mine alone it seems different people process it differently. Getting regularly tested is a good thing.

My consultant. There is a lot of conflicting advice but even those that say "10,000 IU" is safe for most adults acknowledge that it isn't for everyone. It seems unnecessarily high.

When I say "unnecessarily high" I mean for people who aren't deficient of course.

We arrived at 10,000 as it keeps me smack in the middle of the normal range