If your kids don’t burn, how strict are you on sunscreen

[Anonymous]

Does sunblock/sunscreen prevent from people getting vitamin D from the sun? I only apply sunscreen on me/kids if we go to beach or being outdoor for 3 plus hours under the sun. We are asians, and we are all tanned but seem fine for now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t use the spray. It’s awful for your lungs and the environment.

The spray has been a godsend for getting sunscreen on my wiggly kids. Love the stuff. The kids whole their breath while I spray and I use stick on their faces.

[Anonymous]

Hold not whole

[Anonymous]

If I know they will be out in peak sun, I put it on before they leave the house. But I will admit to mostly concentrating on their faces/necks/arms. Legs are only if we will be out all day or at the beach/pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never put sunscreen on my kids unless we are going to be outdoors or at the beach/pool for many hours. My kids don't burn. I'm not completely convinced that the rise in skin cancer isn't somehow related to the constant use of chemical sunscreens.

I wonder the same thing, although I don't ever say it out loud out of concern people will think I'm a conspiracy theorist. I do encourage DCs to use the Cetaphil face lotion with sunscreen on a daily basis in the summer, but I otherwise think they need the Vitamin D so we don't apply anywhere else unless we'll be outdoors for an extended period of time.

[Anonymous]

Our children are biracial and don’t burn. I won’t use sunscreen on them except for occasional lengthy periods of sun exposure. I also don’t use excessive hand sanitizer. It’s not obvious to me that daily chemical applications are better than regular vitamin D and sunshine for small children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will thank you when they are 50 and have relatively gorgeous skin.

they've got melanin for that

[Anonymous]

Only on days we are at the pool or beach. I don't apply for other out door play. We do wear hats regularly though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mineral sunscreen literally has the same active ingredient as diaper rash cream. My aunt never burned badly but then lost part of her cheekbone to skin cancer (luckily not worse). Slather that stuff on.

I do the zinc.

Ugh, it leaves residue over EVERYTHING, stains clothes, and sits on top of the skin like paste (ahem, like diaper cream). I really want to find a good mineral sunscreen, but I haven't found a good option that doesn't leave me cursing the sunscreen gods. Any recs?

The only ones that blend in well are also chemical, like Elta MD.

[Anonymous]

I wear sunscreen on my face and neck every day. The kids know I started that in my 20s and it's why I look good at 42.

I don't make them wear it every day but I've started introducing my tween to the idea. I tell her that her decollette will easily burn and should always have sunscreen.

When they were babies I tried so hard to use all mineral sunscreen but that stuff will just not rub in. So finally I conceded that sunscreen they wear is better than none at all. We put it on before being outside for several hours and will reapply if the sun is relentless. If it's kind of cloudy, we probably won't.

I'm not generally a fan of the spray (I will taste it even if someone is standing 20 feet away when they spray it) but I keep a can on hand. When they were younger and needed an adult to do their sunscreen, it's what DH preferred to use. And sometimes a friend coming to the pool with us will seem confused if I only offer lotion.

For our bodies, I bulk order European sunscreen (Garnier Ambre Solaire from Care to Beauty in Portugal) because it has better UVA protection than US sunscreens. Plus we like the smell and it rubs in really easily.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-06-23/why-the-us-has-fewer-sunscreen-options-than-europe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are half Lebanese. I always put it on if we are out playing in the sun for more than 15 min.

Dark or not, the sun damages skin. The UV rays are causing the damage NOW that end up becoming sun spots and skin cancer as they get older. Even if not for sun cancer...

They will thank you when they are 40 for protecting their skin as children. And really, for creating the habit that it is needed so they will do it themselves when they are young adults.

THIS, above.

It galls me that there are parents here proclaiming their kids "don't burn." It shows the parents don't understand that sun damage is not always about burning. It's also very much about cumulative damage that absolutely can lead to skin cancers. Please, all you "my kids don't burn" parents-- ask your pediatricians. They'll tell you to use sunscreen on your kids and teach the kids to use it and to be good judges of when and how to get out of the sun, too.

Parents need to think ahead, far ahead, to their kids' cumulative sun damage that starts early in life. But they're only thinking about getting a sunburn at the pool or on the playground next week. Wise up. Ask the doctor if you don't believe PP and me. And think beyond your kids' childhoods--consider their lifelong exposure starts now, and only you can help them start prevention now.

If they hate goopy sunscreens, buy sticks or sprays. If you can't lay your hands on that stick sunscreen you bought, well, buy several and keep on in each car, one by the front door, one by the back door, one in your bag. This doesn't have to be hard but you do have to think ahead and not shrug and say "Eh, so what, it's a hassle, and my kid doesn't burn."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They will thank you when they are 50 and have relatively gorgeous skin.

they've got melanin for that

+1. My thoughts too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mineral sunscreen literally has the same active ingredient as diaper rash cream. My aunt never burned badly but then lost part of her cheekbone to skin cancer (luckily not worse). Slather that stuff on.

I do the zinc.

Ugh, it leaves residue over EVERYTHING, stains clothes, and sits on top of the skin like paste (ahem, like diaper cream). I really want to find a good mineral sunscreen, but I haven't found a good option that doesn't leave me cursing the sunscreen gods. Any recs?

The only ones that blend in well are also chemical, like Elta MD.

This is my favorite too. I have a large elta MD UV lotion that comes in a pump. I keep one in my car one in my
Kitchen and put it on the kids before we go outside. Zinc plus one chemical sunscreen (forget which one). It doesn’t transfer on my
Dark purse, side of the car, backpack, etc. like most mineral ones do

[Anonymous]

No I don’t - only when swimming mid day or tropical vacations.. and I honestly think that some of the excessive use isn’t natural and there are no long term studies about it. My fam is low vitamin D and our sun isn’t strong here.

[Anonymous]

I read this article a few years ago. Food for thought. Remember people do profit off of sunscreen - whenever profit is involved you have to dig deeper

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/wellness/sunscreen-sun-exposure-skin-cancer-science/