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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not wear sunscreen in winter in northern England?

133 replies

thepox · 02/04/2023 13:48

Just don't see the point, yet every advice says to indeed bother.

AIBU?

OP posts:

BigButtons · 03/04/2023 15:34

Fairislefandango · 03/04/2023 12:33

I'm genuinely curious as to how many people are spending enough time per day outside in winter in the UK to make it necessary to wear sunscreen. I've just been on a 2.5hr walk in the very bright sunshine, so I did wear sunscreen, but it's the first time I have since September! We have precious little sun in Cumbria from October to July March!

UVA rays come through windows too. So even if you are indoors you are exposed to them.

Albiboba · 03/04/2023 15:42

This thread is hilarious and utterly depressing. It’s like an insight into why the climate disaster is so bad.

’Here are all these cancer organisations who recommend spf even in the winter’
and the responses are basically ‘idgaf I’ll never believe I need spf in uk winter no matter how much science exists’

Myneighbourskia · 03/04/2023 16:01

I wear factor 50 moisturiser everyday no matter the weather. I'm not your typical mn 'ooh I'm 40 but I look 20' user, and I'm sure I look around my age, but I certainly don't want to look even older. I'm pale and freckly with some rosacea and I need to plaster my limbs with spf in the summer anyway.

2023a · 03/04/2023 16:18

QueenCamilla · 03/04/2023 11:33

Nope, not really. I explained the necessity of that practice in my post as well as the fact that those 5mins do not alter the tone of my skin = does not affect melanin cells to any notable level. The cell DNA damage (and so the accompanying cancer risks) and UV-induced immune-suppression are only considerable with melanin cell activation, hence "burning" the skin being the highest risk, closely followed by chronic exposure (3 x weekly in most studies) of tanning.

From the scientists currently working on establishing a measured, scientific approach to low-level "normal" sun exposure (walk in a sunny park type):

There is also abundant evidence showing that sunlight effects, especially of “very low doses,” are indeed beneficial and not only due to Vitamin D synthesis. We believe that plenty of work has yet to be done in the field of photoimmunology, which needs to cover the impact not only of “very low doses” of radiation, but also of exposure to non-UV light (focusing on the effects of various doses) on the immune system.

I love a scientific approach to health/longevity/ beauty industry. Practically I can say that for me the activation of photoimmunology has great benefits to my over-all health. I used to be an all-exposure avoider but have changed since adverse effects of doing so.
And at nearly 37 I'm yet to develop a wrinkle. I'm regularly thought to be in my early 20s. It's just genetics and oily skin. Maybe due to not smoking. But definitely not due to any sun-screen.

Show quote history

Could you share the source of that quote, please?

mikado1 · 03/04/2023 16:19

LuvSmallDogs · 02/04/2023 20:34

Melanoma (very aggressive skin cancer) risk is partly genetic. It is a raised risk for those with the ginger gene, separate from the risk of gingers being more likely to burn.

Show quote history

Absolutely! It was the first question I was asked when I went to get moles checked and the second thing on my DAD'S 'What increases your chance for skin cancer' list when he was diagnosed with carcinoma.

PousseyNotMoira · 03/04/2023 16:20

Albiboba · 03/04/2023 15:42

This thread is hilarious and utterly depressing. It’s like an insight into why the climate disaster is so bad.

This is basically what I was thinking. ☹️

IDontWantToBeAPie · 03/04/2023 19:02

Meh I wear it to prevent wrinkles but I'm not overly worried about burns etc. so if you're less bothered by that then I don't think you need it.

mybeautifuloak · 08/04/2023 19:16

@RichardMarxisinnocent If that's the case, and lots of people according to this thread are wearing spf year round, how come I have never seen anyone apart from myself reapplying sunscreen while going about their normal day?
SPF is broken down by direct sunlight and physical removal by sweating/swimming and by rubbing off on towels etc. it doesn't wear off due to passage of time that quickly. During average days working inside through the less sweaty days of the year you don't really need to reapply.

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