Sam Faiers admits her children don't wear sunscreen as she deems many SPF brands 'harmful' in controversial statement

Daily Mail​

5 days ago

Sam Faiers has admitted she doesn't put sunscreen on her children as she shared her controversial opinion on SPF on Tuesday.
Currently on holiday in Mallorca, the mother-of-three took to Instagram as she responded to a fans question asking what sun tan lotion brand she uses.
The former TOWIE star revealed that none of her family use sunscreen as she branded some brands of SPF 'harmful' and full of 'toxic ingredients'.
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 previously claimed that her children 'don't burn' and wrongly alleged that 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.'
Sam isn't the first celebrity to admit they don't use SPF on their children after Kelsey Parker previously claimed that her children 'don't burn' and wrongly alleged that SPF 'causes skin cancer'
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 spokesperson 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 sun burn 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.'