Sunscreen and children

[RedRobyn24]

I’m in a couple of online parent groups on WhatsApp and Facebook pages, I’m noticing in all there’s a real obsession (and I would use that word yes) with sun screen and not letting children be in the sun at all without it on. Obviously it’s been quite hot recently, but there’s been days this year where I am in recent months where it’s been sunny but certainly not boiling

I know you obviously have to be careful and I thought I was, but I do feel like I might be missing something

For context, both my children are fair skinned (like me) and my oldest is 4 and has never ever been burnt (the other hasn’t been burnt either) but if it’s been good weather for a while she might have caught the sun slightly and be slightly brown

i mean.. is that ok?? I always thought it was and it was good, like most of the U.K. are vitamin D deficient so surely a bit of sun is good?

If I’m out walking the dog with my baby I will put her in light long sleeve clothing and a floppy hat (she’s in a carrier as we’re rural, walking in farm land) she’s too young for sun screen.. like surely that’s fine?

Feel a bit stupid for asking, but some parents seem terrified if it’s like 13 degrees with a cool wind but the sun is out and it feels like I’m missing something

Nope, once again you are twisting my words.

I did say it was white centric but apart from that I asked what more I could do and you then accused me of being ignorant and racist. I never said it wasnt because of UV rays, I never ONCE denied that. I wasn't rude nor did I say I was being attacked, I genuinely asked for advice on those of us with mixed race children.

I learned this lesson the hard way a few years back 🥴
It was late-May. Went to the seaside on the east coast of England for the day. It was sunny but really windy, so I felt cold for a lot of the day. I had put sunscreen on exposed skin that morning but didn’t top it up.
When we walked to the car to go home, I realised my legs resembled a drumstick squashy sweet when my shorts rode up 🫣 Was so sore!
Lesson learned.

I check the weather forecast and apply suncream based on that.
Low - no need
Medium - suncream and hat
High - suncream & hat but also try to stay in the shade.

This week it's been medium between 10am - 3pm so if we're having an outdoors day I'll put suncream on DS around 10am and then reapply just after we've had lunch (after I've wiped his face).

I put suncream on my face & neck every morning and suncream on any other exposed skin the same time as I do DS

Making sure she has sunscreen is you doing a good job. Avoid the hours when the sun is more directly overhead to reduce risk even more.

Even with sunscreen applied daily to my pallid arms, face, legs, hands, and feet, I end up with a slightly tanned look at the end of the summer. I had some serious burns as a child and don't want to do any more damage.

People with more melanin than me can also end up with damaged skin. You could experiment with different brands and different spf factors to see what works best. I'm in the US and like La Roche Posay for walking around and Banana Boat for swimming. I use 70 spf. For my nose and under my eyes I use a zinc stick (can't remember the brand) as well as the chemical stuff.

When I was younger, I used Eucerin or Olay spf 30 facial moisturiser daily, winter and summer, with my nose and under my eyes painted with zinc on top of that in summer, and a sun hat.

For those with lighter eyes, sunglasses will reduce the damage uv rays do to the eyes. In fact, everyone should wear them.

The vitamin D point isn’t weird.

The op is correct in that sun awareness and the increased use of sunscreen has resulted in vitamin d deficiencies in recent years.

It’s tricky balance but by far the most effective way to keep vitamin d stores topped up is sun on skin. Equally, sunburn is a genuine risk.

Children are starting to get rickets again, which is what they used to get when working in mines or factories all day. It is an important vitamin for many functions.

Yes you can get sunburn skiing.

I can only quote my cancer dermatologist when I had 2 malignant melanomas and several lymph nodes removed. It was verbal so there's nothing I can link. Essentially, she told me to take vitamin D tablets because she categorically wouldn't OK not using sunscreen to get it naturally. Any change in your skin's tone is caused by damage, no matter the colour.

All it takes is one episode of 'catching the sun'. You won't know whether it's had an effect for a few decades.

So, yeah, mine wear sunscreen anytime they're outside from about April - October.

And this is true: dermatologists do come from a skin-centric angle and I’ve known a couple who emphasise full precaution.

Other medical professionals, however, have said to me that vit D is very important and moderate sun is really needed.

The problem really is it’s a balance: I don’t think there is a right answer. It’s one of those “ life is complicated and messy” issues!

Op, with my dc I’ve tended to opt for exposure that doesn’t colour. This is only really a few minutes - five minutes max. For example if going to the park, we might walk and then find a bench and put it on when we get there. But I understand the recommendation ( when I last checked) is ten mins a day all year round on uncovered skin. Obviously to meet this fully in uk winter would be tricky. But I feel as though a few minutes must help contribute, given that the recommendation is only minutes a day not hours. So I’ve tried to mitigate the shortfall, rather than prevent it.

The whole issue is complex as the sunscreen itself can have health concerns, and I would also worry about having my Dc thickly coated in it constantly as a matter of course. You won’t be the only mum wondering where the balance lies…

https://www.chromaderm.com.au/resources/for-patients/blogs/sunscreen-for-darker-skin-tones/

@tempuser12345 this explains about the different sun protection factors for different skin tones

You still get some vitamin D synthesis with sun cream. Taking vitamin D supplements is the best way to ensure you have enough, so if vitamin D is something you are worried about (and it seems many are on this thread), then the best thing you can do for yourself and your child is to take supplements and then any added vitamin D (via sun cream) is a bonus.

Personally I’d prefer a vitamin D deficiency than skin cancer, but luckily I don’t have to make that trade off as I can take supplements and wear sun cream.

rickets is more due to dc being indoors too much and in devices rather than kicking a ball around than sunscreen

Rickets is caused by vitamin d and calcium deficiency. The calcium deficiency is rare in children who eat dairy.

There hasn’t been one single study that has linked sun cream to vitamin d deficiencies.

Well that’s good to know then.

I have certainly been advised that clothing does block vitamin d.

Our gp and paediatrician recommended small amounts of bare skin exposure . But small is small - single figure minutes.