My kids are tanned

[hipslikecinderella]

We haven't been abroad but they do masses of sport and outside activities. Dd is 8 and ds 9. They rarely burn but are fairly pale normally.
Aibu to have (inadvertently) allowed this to happen?
I do put suncream on them for a day trip/sports days. But not every day and clearly not enough to prevent a tan.

My dd seems to tan even with factor 50 applied religiously, she takes after her dad. My ds on the other hand is like me,very fair skinned so I am extra careful and he just seems to stay pale. They both spend time outside so I think it's just genetics. I just have to look at the sun and my skin sizzles like a vampire in a bad horror movie.

It’s quite common for people to believe they are allergic to suncream when they actually have ‘polymorphic light eruption’ (i.e. an itchy rash triggered by exposure to sunlight)
I had that when I was 17, and went to Italy with my Dad. I came up in huge itchy bumps.

my 8 y old is pale with white blond hair(more white than blond)
and i cover him with factor 60 regularly

we came back from isle of wight today after a 9 day break and due to lots of day trips(only 1 day at the beach) and being covered with suncream and a hat hes came back tanned

me ive come back as pale as i went out

My little white ghosts can barely get from the house to the garden shed without burning so lotion starts in April but if they aren’t burnt and it’s a gradual build up of tanning rather than a weeks roasting in Spain then I’m sure it’s fine.
I can’t stand tanned toddlers though, I don’t mean a natural dark skin, I mean sun damaged skin - which is what a suntan is, on the under 5’s, just irresponsible.

My toddler only has to look at the sun to tan (so do I) she’s routinely doused in 50+, wears hats, sunglasses and plays mostly in the shaded parts of the garden

DH burns if he’s out in the garden half an hour, it’s just the way some people are

YABU if your not using suncream even in the UK when the UV levels are high.

This attitude really worries me. How do you know the chemicals you put on long term with sunscreen dont cause cancer?
Tbh, I can appreciate that when its hot and the sun is at its peak its not wise to let children run around without sunscreen but imo, you are better keeping them inside at this time.
This over reliance on sunscreen as the be all and end all really concerns me. Dont you think it is in the best interest of sunscreen manufacturers to make you believe that you have to wear it 24/7.
I think with time, sunscreen will come under the microscope.

At the heart, i think its NOT natural to constantly apply sunscreen. These are chemicals that you are applying. I would be wary.

..and yes before someone shoots me down in flames, i get the importance and dangers of the sun but keeping children out of the hot sun and applying only when needed to me is the best.

If they aren't burning I think you are doing great. They need vitamin D, which they can't get if they are always wearing suncream. Lots of children are vitamin D deficient now and it's causing them all sorts of health problems. Carry on!

Not all dermatologists agree with the current "Don't let the sun touch you" advice. While sun exposure, and burning in particular, increases skin cancer risks, there may be a lot more benefits to other aspects of health from regular sun exposure that cancel out the melanoma risk. Richard Weller at Edinburgh has been at the forefront of research here. Unfortunately, suncream companies have millions to invest in research that just points out the dangers of sun exposure and do not look at it's benefits. A bit like the margarine companies managed to focus research on the negatives of butter and ignore the negatives of margarine in the '70s and '80s.

I'm not advocating here for a don't use sunscreen approach. I'm more suggesting that medical advice is frequently skewed by narrow interests and extreme advice (whether it's "all tanning is bad" or "sunburn doesn't matter") is unlikely to survive a more gestalt look at health and lifestyle.

My eldest now approaching 30 has always had a permanent tan. He has green eyes and blonde hair. I covered all 3 of mine in sun block. My other 2 were always pale one with blue eyes and white blonde hair and one with blue eyes and dark hair. As adults they are the same. My son said people asked if I was Mediterranean as my skin tone is apparently darker too but I am 100% English. My mum had a permanent tan but wore sun cream all the time. She was a keen gardener and rambler. I think it’s just skin tone to be honest

As someone whose parents didn't put much sunscreen/high factor on them when I was a child (it was a long time ago)who is now paying the price having had melanomas removed, I would say you can't be too careful. You should really be applying sunscreen daily during the summer months even if its a bit overcast. The recommendation is to reapply every 2 hours whichever factor you are using. I apply it to my kids every morning and they also take some with them in the vain hope they might reapply.

Regarding Vitamin D It is very efficiently made in the skin when exposed to UVB – just 15 minutes of exposure on the arms 3 times a week in the summer is sufficient to have enough. There is no benefit in trying to get more as the body does not store it.

Some tan is sometimes unavoidable. Sunburn however is unacceptable. Beggars belief seeing children with no tops on whilst out in direct sunlight. Most adult skin cancers are as a result of sunburn as a child - I was a child of the 80’s that had regular sunburn - Ive melanoma twice and have not been a sun worshipper since around 18 yrs old

It’s tricky. There are huge benefits to being in the sun (not burning and seeking shade/cover when you’ve had enough rather than shoving suncream on and sitting in it all day).

Not all dermatologists or doctors agree with the factor 50 from head to toe at all times. Vitamin D (lack of) plays a huge role in many diseases.

There is lots of research being down on low vitamin D levels and cancer (I was part of a study). On reading the report it’s enough to make me get my 20 mins uncovered per day in the sun (factor 50 on my face). I supplement throughout the rest of the year.

Kids run around at school for less than an hour. I only put cream on if we are out for hours.

Sometimes, I think a light tan is unavoidable.

My son is fair haired and skinned like me (he's 5 and a half). I always make sure he has suncream on and wears a hat and t shirt. I do the same myself. Both of us, after a summer in the UK have a light golden tan. Not extreme and we certainly never burn but unless we never went outside, we get a slight tan.

As long as you are not burning and are doing all you can go protect yourself, I don't see there is anything else you can do.

My 1 year old wears sun cream all the time and still tans, it's on our genes (Asian family) Im the same. It can't be helped if you are following safe sun rules.

Too much suncream can stop little bodies absorbing vitamin d which we are all lacking in this country
Give them a supplement. Why do people only give a shit about Vitamin D when it’s used as an excuse for not protecting kids from skin cancer.

Sounds like your kids are healthy as long as they arent burning

Another myth which has led to a massive increase in skin cancers in this country.

I don't think you can avoid a certain amount of tanning unless you become a hermit
We just spent a week walking 5 miles a day in 30 degree temperatures, bright sunlight. Not one of us has a tan.

I cringe when I hear DD’s friends aged 10 saying “oh I don’t need sun cream, I just tan”

OP, only you can decide if you are doing enough, but worth bearing in mind there is no such thing as an all day suncream. It’s a good habit to get kids into, to re-apply cream during the day.

@neveradullmoment99 depends on your skin. I wouldn't be able to go outside for more than 5-10 mins between 10am - 4pm
So if I want to walk or ride my horse or do something outside, I have to wear suncream

DS1 is very tanned.

DS2 is not. Whiter than white.

They get the same sun protection, play the same amount outdoors. They just have very different complexions.

DD and myself are both tanned after a week abroad (not a beach holiday) even after using Factor 50 every day. I don't see that you are doing anything wrong.

These are chemicals that you are applying.

Shampoo is chemicals, do you stop washing kids hair? And soap, do you wash them?

Do you let them drink juice? Chemicals in that. Eat any biscuits? Bread (in fact pretty much any food)

“Chemical” doesn’t equal “bad”

And..... The problem is????? Worrying about what others think is a tiresome task. Have a vino and forget about it

Any tan is just a sign of DNA damage. It’s hard to avoid if they are outside lots but it’s not great for them. I’m
All for kids being outside. It’s hard to get it right.

My DS is very fair (and blonde). We use SPF and he still tans (not lots but we notice it). My DH is the same though - not sure anything else can be done really

It’s literally impossible to stop my children from going brown, short of keeping them indoors 24/7 or sending them outside in hazmat suits. They’re mixed race (but look white) and their melanin kicks in at the first mention of sun.

Although the pursuit of a tan is damaging, I’m not sure if you can describe what my kids experience as “damage”.