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dd (10) tans very easily - others commenting

7 replies

MrsEricBana · 04/06/2013 09:47

Hi,
Would really appreciate some advice on this. My dd aged 10 tans at the slightest exposure to sun. I had terrible sunburn when I was 17 so never sunbathe, always wear long sleeves and trousers in the sun, SP15 daily moisturiser or factor 50 under makeup in summer, hat etc.

For both dcs (ds 12) I always provide and use factor 50, hats, long sleeved tops, rash vests if in an outside pool, try to get them to stay in shade etc. They are resistant as many kids are but I always do as much of the above as necessary given the weather.
Dh is pale skinned and had red hair when younger and burns easily, I am dark haired and would go brown quickly if it did go in the sun. We are both English with Irish relatives (me) and possibly some mediterranean blood far back on my side and my grandfather, mother, ds and I all have blood trait which is usually mediterranean in origin.
So, ds is always pale or possibly with the lightest of colour but dd goes, I kid you not, dark brown at the first sign of any sun, despite being treated identically to ds. She has a few very dark moles, none of which look suspicious. Her skin colour attracts comments ALL the time. Now this I can weather but I am concerned as to why this happens at all. I haven't taken her to the gp as she is not ill in any way. I did ask a dr friend (not gp or skin doctor) and she said it is just that she tans very very easily and she produces melanin very easily as a protective mechanism against the sun. To my mind any tan at all = skin damage. Any thoughts please.
Thank you.

OP posts:
MolotovCocktail · 04/06/2013 10:13

I think that you're over thinking this because of other's comments. Are you bothered by the implication that you are the one who I eagle ring your daughter's skin? From what you've written, that is not the case :)

My heritage is similar to yours, OP: I am dark-haired, green-eyed with olive skin and I am of Irish descent on my DM's side. I tan easily and have gone extremely dark in the past. If your dd has inherited the genes from you that control melanin, what can you do? It seems like you're already doing enough in terms of covering her in appropriate clothing, high SPF sunscreen, etc.

I think more than you needing to do more, others should butt out.

MolotovCocktail · 04/06/2013 10:17

And yes, skin tans as a reaction to UVA and UVB rays as defence against those rays. But honestly OP, everything in moderation. If she was out all the time without SPF protection or adequate clothing, then you could worry about the effects of sun exposure. Don't forget that sun exposure is the best way of the body absorbing vitamin D, so a little is onay.

Short of keeping her totally indoors, you sound like you're doing enough to me, and being a responsible Mum :)

MolotovCocktail · 04/06/2013 10:20

JESUS, some awful, awful type-o's! Blush This phone! ... Blush

That should have been ''the implication that you're the one who isn't taking care of your daughters skin?''

And

''A little is okay''

Well, that was embarrassing ...

LittleTyga · 04/06/2013 10:20

Your dd sounds like some of my family - They are Irish but have dark curly hair and olive skin, they just have to look at the sun and they are brown, come the end of the summer they all look like they have spent the year in Spain! I'm very jealous I didn't inherit that gene : (

We all need exposure to the sun, lack of Vitamim D will result in ricketts. Just put on factor 50 and a hat if really hot and leave her have fun. You are doing the right thing and you can't control how her skin reacts just protect it as best you can.

badguider · 04/06/2013 10:23

I think the 'any tan at all is damage' line is an exaggeration brought in to counter the whole 'you only look healthy with a bit of a tan' brigade.

Tanning is a defence mechanism of the body, but some people launch that defence with very little provocation (like your dd) and others need to be seriously attached to launch that defence.

The amount she tans will not determine the amount of sun damage she recieves - it's the amount of sun exposure that determines that... and it seems you're taking sensible precautions about that. As long as you continue to treat her like her fair-skinned brother in terms of exposure she will not be recieving more sun damage just because she's tanning more.

5madthings · 04/06/2013 10:28

My ds3 is the same, the others tan a bit but not as much, ds4 i have to watch as he is most likely to burn.

I do the same as you sunsvream, long sleeves, hats etc but its just a different skin type, i was the same as a child i tanned very easily and had an olive complexion at times, as i have got older i dont tan as easily which i think is partly due to my eczema and the creams iuse includi.g steroids which are not good for the skin.

I dont think its anything to worry about.

MrsEricBana · 04/06/2013 10:46

Thank you all, that is really reassuring. I really do treat them both the same, if anything cover her up more as she shows the effects of the sun far more which makes me more conscious.

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