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.

This was an answer to @
AverageMummy

My sons both look like they're wearing white shirts when topless 😂 they're both fair and we use suncream if we're out in it so it's only from playtime at school but they're not burnt so I don't worry too much about it

I cover both of mine in factor 50. One is pale like me, no burning, no colour change at all. The other one tans like his dad. He's a beautiful colour and I'm really envious! I don't quite understand it as they both wear the same type and amount of sun cream.

My children always had factor 50 on every day in summer months. I decided I would rather minimise the sun damage to their skin for the first decade + of their life (while it was under my control). The damaging effect of sun exposure is cumulative - for skin cancer and ageing - and much of that damage occurs in childhood. In my opinion, a tan indicates sun damage and therefore not great for a child.
My 4 are very active / outdoor types but have never been noticeably 'tanned'.
If they are outdoors all the time, vit D deficiency will not be caused by strong spf.

OP please do your research rather than listen to the people on this thread.

Yes it is good to have some sunlight but half an hour a day when the sun is not too hot is enough. It is too much if your children are tanning - a tan is a sign of damage. A tan is a desirable thing so people reason with themselves that it isnt bad for you but it definitely is.

You say you dont put suncream on them every day. Start doing that.

I think the language surrounding a tan isn't helpful either
Glowing, golden, healthy, sun kissed, gorgeous colour....

OP please do your research rather than listen to the people on this thread

This.

Your child will not get rickets from using suncream. Yes incidents are rising but mainly in dark skinned british people who cover or don’t go outside often.

Factor 50 is not “complete sun block”. It is protection x50- you can stay out in the sun 50x longer without burning. Yes you will burn if you spend all day out in very hot weather, and yes you will tan over time, even with factor 50+

Any tan is DNA damage. It is not a good thing.

Lots of myths and pseudoscience on this thread.

@ manicmij Not true about vitamin D. You cannot make it in this country between October and April. You need to supplement. Yes oily fish contains some but nowhere near enough. This is the one vitamin you cannot get enough of from your food.

We weren’t actually designed to live in these northern hemispheres and be inside all day or be covered head to toe in spf 50.

Just be sensible but from all the research I have read I’m more worried about lack of vitamin D than getting a bit of sunshine (sensibly) and then covering up/seeking shade.

Lots of interesting articles about skin cancer having higher rates amongst office workers versus life guards.. Maybe we stay inside too much then cover ourselves with suncream and sit out all day on holiday?. Who knows.

Is the incidence of skin cancer going down yet due to sun cream use? The next few decades will tell I guess.

Don't panic op my children now all 30+ got tans even with obsessive amounts of sun screen. You don't let them burn. Relax

There was a nurse in the news a year or two back who used a total sunblock, and developed rickets.

Tallgreenbottle

@AverageMummy that's also because the poorest are least likely to take their kids to the park or do any kind of outdoor physical activity with them

WHY, this is incredibly judgemental, why on earth would you think this. You could just as easily think that a working mum wouldn't have time to do the above. Or do you think 'poor' people shouldn't have children as they don't know how to look after them?