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

How did we ever survive in the 70s and 80s ?

I mostly stay out of the sun as I don't want the skin damage.

Instead I get my vitamin D from oily fish and supplements. I had a vitamin D test done, to check I was absorbing the supplements and my vit D levels were very good.

I spent a lot of time in NZ where it's often sunny and the sun is really strong due to the hole in the ozone layer in that area of the world and knew people there who had had skin cancer and almost everyone I knew looked older than they actually were and I think it was due to the sun and outdoors lifestyle.

I don't think sun exposure is worth it.

Look at old sunworshippers; wrinkled, leathery skin with (cancerous) dots all over. That's enough motivation to do something about protecting your skin.

I seldom wear sunscreen bc I don't really burn or tan very quickly. But I do wear gloves gardening bc women age shows in their hands.

Also hats bc I don't want to look like a wrinkled leather face.

I put my dc in light clothing and hats AND UV protection sun glasses if they weren't in the pool/water. UV goggles are available too for water babies.

They swam every day in the summer when they were young but we usually went in from the water at peak sun times. (Lunch. Rest, playground)

I think there is a moderate compromise btwn slathering on sunscreen like icing and sunbathing (which is really boring!).

...i miss happy poolside/seaside days. Enjoy them, however you protect your dc!

Regarding Vitamin D.

I saw a dr who told me mine was quite low despite hours with dc in water.

She told my dh, "Cats could be in the sun every day. NAKED. And still not get enough sun."

I take Vit D+ K for health reasons. But for anyone else? Look it up first, please.

I’m with Mimi Bunz!

YOu be surprise that in south east asia where its on the equator that they dont use sunscreen nor being advise to do so.

Could it be that it's because most people have skin that protects from UV damage?
Unlike the milky skin often seen in the UK.

How did we ever survive in the 70s and 80s ?

I wore sunscreen in the 70s. Because I burn easily.

YANBU, I worked as a rep (many moons ago) and saw some terrible, terrible sunburn. The worst were the young uns on feckin mopeds/quadbikes, blokes with no tops on, girls in just bikini tops. But, a lot of people were also very sensible.

I don't have to go abroad to burn, I think I'd go red just from seeing a glimpse of the sun through my curtains 😂
There's loads of things that are dangerous and we know the dangers but we really don't need anyone wrapping us in cotton wool.

I wore sunscreen in the 70s. Because I burn easily.

It wasn't very strong compared with today and I think generally only protected against UVA not UVB (or maybe the other way around). I found it quite difficult to not burn as a child and would have to stay out of the sun quite a bit and wear hats. Perhaps in a way though that was better than today when people stay outside for hours in the sun because they feel protected by high factor sunscreen.

@Iwouldlikesomecake same here. Red hair. I went out to chat to my neighbour last summer at about 10am for 15 mins and burnt

My DD is 14 months and has been to Turkey 4 times already. Everytime during the summer months. Her dad lives there and it's a much longer/harder journey during winter due to limited flights etc.
She has never burnt because as well as being in the shade she always has sun cream on and I re apply it every couple of hours or after swimming etc. It was easy the first 3 times as she was just little and just sat there. Last time was a month ago, she started walking and wanted go everywhere and loved the pool so was exposed to the sun alot more than before.... still didn't burn though not even a little. She had cream, sun suit, hat and sun glasses (although a struggle to get her to keep them on) all the time, we also sat in door with the aircon on if I could feel it gettin too hot, and made sure she drank plenty of fluids. It's not dangerous, and it can be very enjoyable as long as you're sensible.

@Monikaems I go to the Med, from the UK, solely to see my family, I use spf 50, rarely sit out without shade, enjoy a swim in the sea, and always reapply after swimming, Towelling etc, however, I tan very easily, and I'm very brown after 3-4 days, a lot of people can not fathom how that happens with SPF 50 and they are the people who will burn to tan, I am very well educated on sun safety as I work primarily in the Uv Tanning industry, I know the difference in skin damage that the average SPF 8 user can do on a two week holiday in July and a sunbed user averaging 2 sessions a week for ten minutes, and believe me, the sunbed user is better protected.

I live in Scotland where rates of MS are particularly high - partly because vitamin D from the sun can be preventative for MS and there isn’t enough sun up here!
So....If we put factor 50 suncream on 24/7 we are risking other things.
Life is all about balance.
Just let people make their own decisions while you worry about yours??....

Credentials
I'm a very fair skinned redhead (64) who burned regularly as a kid despite regular suncream = as suncream back then was a bit hit and miss. It was always zinc and castor oil after burning which we now know does help.
My sister died from Melanoma in 1990. The lesion formed on her scalp in her hair. Thick dark hair, she was not ginger.
I go to Turkey twice a year, May and October and use factor 30/60 and am always under an umbrella - I go home whiter than I arrive - because my false tan has worn off.

Whilst there is clear evidence for protecting children's delicate skin, especially the very fair skinned ones. (I did with mine and they never burned but got more than would be acceptable today they're in their 40s) After that, it is about putting the information out there and letting people make their own choices.
People are killed on the roads every day - dp we worry every time we get in a car.
We are encouraged to eat more fruit and veg - yet there are loads of pesticides on all of them
Everything we do, everywhere we go, everything we eat, etc etc is dangerous.

WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE
We can make healthy or unhealthy choices. Mick Jagger, Rod Stuart and even Ozzy Osbourne are still alive. Many people who have lived much healthier lives are dead.

I'm happy to eat healthily; I am not prepared to give up wine - and I know i drink too much; I am happy to walk 10000 steps per day; I am not prepared to stop driving; I am reducing my plastic usage and recycling what I can; I am not prepared to give up flying.

We all make decisions every day. Educate yes .... legislate NO.

Rant over