Sam Faiers is branded 'irresponsible and naive' by 'horrified' skin doctor after admitting her three children don't wear sunscreen as she wrongly claims many SPF brands are 'harmful' in controversial statement

Daily Mail​

30-07-2025

A leading skin doctor has slammed Sam Faiers on Wednesday after she admitted she doesn't put sunscreen on her children in a controversial opinion on SPF.
Currently on holiday in Mallorca, the mother-of-three took to Instagram on Tuesday as she responded to a fans question asking what suntan lotion brand she uses.
The former TOWIE star revealed none of her family use sunscreen as she wrongly claimed some brands of SPF are 'harmful' and full of 'toxic ingredients'.
Now skin cancer prevention doctor Ross Perry has told Daily Mail he is 'absolutely horrified' by Sam's comments and called her 'naive and irresponsible'.
Dr Perry, who is the owner of skin clinics chain Cosmedics, claimed the reality star is 'misleading' fans into not using sunscreen on their children and it can 'double the risk of getting skin cancer' as they 'do not build up a tolerance to sun exposure'.
He told Daily Mail: 'I am absolutely horrified at Sam Faiers' comments to followers (2.5 million of them!) are both irresponsible and naive.
'Children do not build up a tolerance to sun exposure, they are just storing up more sun damage for later on in life.'
He continued: 'It is a well-known fact that children if they get any degree of sunburn as a child it more than doubles their risk of getting skin cancer at a later date so that is completely false and misleading.
'Children do NOT build up a tolerance to sun exposure. I would totally advocate the use of sun protective clothing as a alternative for those who do not tolerate suncream being regularly applied, especially for children regularly in and out of the water, but they will only cover certain areas so an SPF is still required.
'It is misleading to say that children need to have sunlight in order to promote their health as they will absorb more than enough sunlight through day-to-day activities rather as an over exposure or potential sunburn on holidays.
'The standards that still apply and are good guidance are that people apply SPF when out in particularly hot sun environments and do not take the risk of getting any sunburn and that involves wearing hats, appropriate clothing and avoiding hot times of the day for sunbathing.'
'Remember that ANY tan or sunburn is creating damage to the skin so SPF should always be worn in the sun,' he concluded.
Sam revealed that she doesn't use suncream on her children by sharing a snap of her youngest son Edward, two, playing in the shade.
She wrote: 'So this is always a bit of a controversial one, but honestly, me and my whole family don't actually wear sunscreen.
'Over the years, the kids have built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun. Of course if it's really hot and the sun feels too harsh I'll make sure we head into the shade... usually around lunchtime we'll go in, have something to eat and just avoid those peak hours.
'I'm really careful about sunscreen in general, because a lot of them are actually pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients.'
Sam then revealed the alternative way she makes sure her children stay safe in the sun as she added: 'If you do want to protect your kids, I think SPF swimwear is such a good and safer option.
'But also, don't be afraid of the sun! Early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it's not as strong, I love letting the kids run around and soak it up, it's good for them.
'That said, I do always bring a Tallow Zinc SPF with me when I go away, just in case. And hats or caps are a must! Especially for us ladies because no one wants extra sun damage (I've had my fair share over the years because I am such a sun lover!).'
Sam isn't the first celebrity to admit they don't use SPF on their children after Kelsey Parker, TV personality and widow of The Wanted singer Tom Parkewr, previously claimed that her children 'don't burn' and wrongly alleged SPF 'causes skin cancer'.
Speaking on her podcast with fellow mum Georgia Jones she said: 'My kids do not wear sun cream.'
Instead, she uses 'organic' sun cream to protect her children and claimed they 'do not burn'.
'Sun cream is so bad', she said, adding that growing up she 'never used to wear sun cream, sun cream causes skin cancer'.
'The only thing that I may put on them is an organic sun cream. My kids, we went on holiday, I never put sun cream on them and they do not burn.'
Lauryn Goodman also spoke out about sun cream last year after she took to Instagram to tell her followers: 'you're brought up to wear sun cream [to] protect yourself', but 'everything you think you know isn't correct'.
She insisted: 'training your skin is key' as she added: 'It's about building up your melanin to handle the sun as well slowly.
'I did it with K [her eldest son] and will do it with little girlie.'
Responding to a comment from a follower who advised that UV rash vests offer 'more protection' than cream, she also said 'skin is so much better in the sun'.
Dr Bav Shergill a consultant dermatologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital, London and spokesman for the British Association of Dermatologists hit back at her claims.
He previously told the Daily Mail: 'Sunscreens are a safe and effective way to protect your skin from burning and other forms of sun damage.
'Millions of people have used sunscreen over many decades so we can be confident about their safety profile.
'For people with lighter skin tones, there is a common misconception that you can build up a base tan which will protect you.
'A tan is a reaction to sun damage, so to develop a base tan, you have to damage your skin.
Responding to a comment from a follower who advised that UV rash vests offer 'more protection' than cream, she also said 'skin is so much better in the sun'
'Evidence also suggests that a "base tan" offers the equivalent of SPF 4 – not enough to provide meaningful protection.'
He added: 'If you don't want to use sunscreen, you need to be really on top of other forms of sun protection.
'Make good use of shade, minimise the time you spend out in the sun when the UV index is three or above, and wear clothing that covers your skin.
'These tend to be very effective ways of protecting your skin – though ideally you would use sunscreen in addition to these options as a final line of defence.'
Meanwhile Dr Richard Parsons, a senior lecturer in biochemical toxicology at Kings College London, warned that any sunburn still raises the cancer and long term damage risk.
He told the Daily Mail last year: 'Building a base tan is fine. But you have still got to have that level of protection.
'If you burn you are still going to increase your chances of getting those DNA mutations which can increase your risk of cancer.
'As you get older, you can get lost elasticity in the skin you can get skin damage like wrinkles. So that's actually lasting damage.'
He added: 'We're not talking "I've got a real bad sunburn, but it's ok it'll be gone in a few weeks". That will have lasting implications.'