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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My mum and SPF

26 replies

coneyislandoldspot · 23/05/2026 10:40

I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall here.

I am very pale. Like, my natural skin tone is translucent. I have always and will always use SPF 50 because if I don’t I burn. Even in the UK sun.

My mum has always been against SPF. She would use it on us as kids but only because she felt “forced” to. She believes it causes skin cancer. She has never used it.

Ironically last week she had two biopsies taken for suspected skin cancer, and has been told that if they come back positive she’ll need a full body scan done because of her refusal to use sun protection. She claims the dermatologist agreed with her, but what was actually said was that avoiding the sun is the best thing to do, but if you can’t, you need SPF.

I’m at her house today because it’s a gorgeous day, and I put on my suncream before heading outside. She immediately launched into her rant about how it causes skin cancer and I’ll “regret using it” when I “get older”

AIBU to have snapped back and said “well you’re the one with at least two skin cancers, and I’m not”? She’s really offended but I’m just so tired of the rants every time!

OP posts:
Millindugu · 23/05/2026 13:33

she shouldn’t be making you feel bad for the decisions you make (especially as you are right) but it’s a dick move saying that to someone who is being investigated for cancer

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