Sunscreen and kids

[PatsGirl]

No, we rarely use sunscreen and then only when there is a risk of burning. Let me preface this by saying that we are a mix of American Indian, Portugeese, and other olive-skinned ethnicities. For the most part, we use protection the first few times out in the sun and anytime we are in Florida or south of the Mason/Dixon line, and then usually only on the nose, top of feet and ears, cheekbones and shoulders. It is used to prevent sunburn and nothing more.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Like many others we all wear sunscreen (new bottles every year) if we will be out for more than a half hour or so and for swimming (unless we do not get out until around dinner time or later).
We also are not sun worshippers and tend to spend lots of time in teh shade, even when at the pool or beach.
For every day walking around and playing in the yard we do not wear sunscreen. That is a good time to get that vitamin D--and I also do not want to discourage running and play out of doors by making a big production of having to put on sunscreen every time the go out.
So far it is working well. The kids are 13 and 11 and have never had a burn. DD13 has olive toned skin and it tans to the kind of bronze many try to obtain artificially after the first day or two of summer swimming, even with SPF 30 on. DS is very pale (as in every new doctor tests for anemia pale) and darkens only a smidge in summer, but he gets freckles on his cheeks. He does have several moles popping up on him this year (I am sure it is a part of puberty, they have all popped up in the past 4 months during which time he has also grown 4 inches and gotten much more muscular)--which I will just ask the doctor to take a look at next time we are in.
Both kids also wear hat nearly every time they are outside. The yjsut plain like hats--but I figure that helps protect them to

 

[Elmo888]

I think it might have more to do with diagnosis and care. Poor farmers and poor cowboys don't go to the dermatologist very often.

That's a good point. And goes to how things aren't always as they seem!