Dubai Forums Dubai Expat Forums Health and Medicine in Dubai

I've never really been a user of sun cream in the UK. I've never seen the point as we get so little sun. I can't remember ever being sunburnt in England and I certainly never expose my skin in Scotland as I don't like being bitten by midgies!

When Beth was little, and at nursery, I received a letter saying that the staff would no longer be able to apply sunscreen as it could be seen as child abuse I just ignored it as I never applied sunscreen to baby Beth anyway. It did cross my mind that I may be a bad mother but that was it, it crossed my mind and went away.

It seems I was right all along

There has been an increase in the recorded instances of Ricketts in the UK!

The authotities are putting this down to the fact that kids aren't getting their Vitamin D (I think....I've had a couple of glasses of Chardonnay, and can't be arsed to google it...so it's from memory,,,) as too much suncream is being applied and kids aren't out in the sun any more anyway as they are all lazy tw@ts and sit in front of their Xboxes.

When In Dubai, and sitting by the pool, I only ever apply factor 2, max. I expect Beth to sort herself out. If she is burning I expect her to cover up or apply a higher factor. She has a brain and is expected to use it.
I don't allow whinging where the cause has been self inflicted.

What do you do to protect yourself against the sun (and not subject yourself to Ricketts)?

In the summer I stay out of the sun as much as possible. I like to sit in the shade and not to bake in the sun. When its pub terrace season, I am usually the only one sitting inside, while everybody sits outside. Somebody even calls me because of that ´the vampire´. In the pool, I swim, but never chill in the sun, always somewhere in the shade. At the beach, the same, unless being with kids requires to sit in the sand, thats the only time I use sunscreen.
If I sit in the sun in the garden (you need sunlight after all), I make sure to never to do it more than half an hour.

People are pretty irresponsible when it comes to sun exposure, hence the reason why skin cancer is dramatically on the rise. In the UAE BM, there is a massive problem with vitamin D deficiency, because of course many people avoid the sun, so doctors are dishing out Vit D supplements left, right and centre. ETA Calcium deficiency is also a major cause of rickets.

I'm fair, red in the hair, freckles and moles so am a prime candidate for sun related issues. During watersports I wear my rash vests, boardies and slap on the factor 50. I was amazed that in Australia, they don't offer anything above factor 30.

I never really understood people 'baking' themselves in the sun, sure a bit of colour looks ok, but that tan is actually sun damaged skin, do it too much and people end up looking like a leather handbag. I say if you need a tan, fake it and slap on the lotion when outside.

They have factor 50 for kids in Australia chocs.
But you can still use it also.
The red hair explains a few things though.

benwj wrote:They have factor 50 for kids in Australia chocs.
But you can still use it also.
The red hair explains a few things though.

I do use the 'childrens' factor 50. I just spent 2 weeks in Oz, never saw any and trust me I looked!

Chocs is a ginga?

That's a bit unfortunate. Sun wise I mean.

I've never had a ginga boyfriend but I've always wondered, if you have ginger head on your hair do you have ginger....?

It's one of those things that crosses my mind when I see a ginger man.

No, I'm not ginger. I said I have lots of red in my hair, more auburn. That does not = ginger.

Anyway, sitting baking in the sun isn't healthy, it's one of the things that will age you fastest so why bother.

Chocoholic wrote:No, I'm not ginger. I said I have lots of red in my hair, more auburn. That does not = ginger.

Anyway, sitting baking in the sun isn't healthy, it's one of the things that will age you fastest so why bother.

Oh, I see

Yes, you are right, the sun does age you. I do like a bit of a tan myself but I fake it on my face. I'm actually 102.

LOL fake tans are so good these days. The spray ones are pretty good - no more weird orangey streaks.

And in a few years they will find that they are no good for you. Didn't they come out with something about the tanning salons where you would lay in a tube???

I don' think there's any spray methods that would allow you to lie down. I think you might be thinging of the tanning tubes that use uv light - those obviously are not good for you.

I'm always put off having a spray tan by having to stand in front of another woman in a paper hat and paper knickers

Bethsmum wrote:I'm always put off having a spray tan by having to stand in front of another woman in a paper hat and paper knickers

What do you mean? Normally it's just a shower cap! Nothing they haven't all seen a gazillion times before.

Chocoholic wrote:

Bethsmum wrote:I'm always put off having a spray tan by having to stand in front of another woman in a paper hat and paper knickers

What do you mean? Normally it's just a shower cap! Nothing they haven't all seen a gazillion times before.

Not where I live Chocs, tanning salons provide paper knickers to wear.

I have to say though, I'm not partial to getting my kit off in front of other women. I think that's why I don't buy into that Brazilian waxing thing. Yuk.

Having said that it must be worse having to do one than have it done. Fancy getting the bus to work of a Monday morning and sitting thinking you've got 3 Brazilian waxes to do before lunch!
That wouldn't do your hangover much good would it?
I've made myself feel a bit queasy there

BM, this is one of my specialist subjects so I'm open to a volunteer program for ladies only.

Will guarantee satisfaction all round with a good Jockzillion

drewpeacock wrote:BM, this is one of my specialist subjects so I'm open to a volunteer program for ladies only.

Will guarantee satisfaction all round with a good Jockzillion

There's no way you are getting anywhere near by nether regions with a pot of hot wax, Drew. Even if you did offer to numb me with Bombay Sapphire

Here you may find this interesting:




and this




From food, even fortified with Vitamin D, it is very difficult to get the recommended daily amount of vitamin D.