Sam Faiers has sparked backlash on social media for sharing ‘dangerous’ medical advice with her sister Billie, after she opened up about her son Arthur’s new medical issue on their new ITV2 show.
The former TOWIE star is appearing alongside her sibling in their reality show Sister Act, and in Tuesday’s episode, Sam, 34, raised eyebrows with a suggestion for her nephew Arthur, eight.
In a clip from the episode, which was shared on Instagram, Sam and Billie, 35, chatted about Arthur having his tonsils removed.
Billie said: ‘Arthur is getting his tonsils out. He had tonsillitis I’d say six times last year, and it made him so poorly.
‘When the doctor looked at them, straight away he said to me “nah”. He went, “they are really, really unhealthy tonsils.”
‘But tonsils serve no purpose in your body.’
Sam Faiers has sparked backlash on social media for sharing ‘dangerous’ medical advice with her sister Billie, after she opened up about her son Arthur’s new medical issue
Sam, who releases her own brand of collagen, is quick to share her thoughts, and later admitted she’s keen to follow holistic health methods.
Her first suggestion was to encourage her sister to get an intolerance test for Arthur before having the surgery.
She said: ‘Everything in your body serves a purpose.
‘When you’re not well and something inflames in your body or your tonsils are raised or your hair is falling out, or you’ve got a rash, it’s because your body is telling you something isn’t right.
‘So it’s Arthur’s body’s way of telling him I’ve got an allergy, or you know, I’ve got a virus and that’s his way.
‘So when they’re out, how else is his body going to tell you that something is wrong?’
Agreeing with her sister, Billie noted that she also felt her son may have some sort of intolerance, but fans were quick to criticise Sam’s advice, and brand it ‘dangerous’ in the comments.
Posts included: ‘She’s no doctor and shouldn’t be allowed to give advice that’s dangerous;’
‘Sam who encourages children to not wear sunscreen and doubts effectiveness of NHS mammograms;’
In a clip from the episode, which was shared on Instagram, Sam chatted with her sister Billie about Billie’s son Arthur having his tonsils removed, suggesting he should have an allergy test first
Fans were quick to criticise Sam’s advice for her sister, branding it ‘dangerous and uneducated’ in the comments
‘Don’t ever mess about waiting for tonsils out mine was left when I was you [sic] by 17 rushed into hospital because it made me soo ill had swollen all over from leaking I’ve had fibromyalgia for 15 years nothing can help and now severe arthritis all over from sport, pus, single parent, disabled daughter.
‘I wish I could dream everything be OK with positivity or a cream or holistic but life not like that.’
Last month Sam faced huge backlash for revealing she doesn’t put sunscreen on her children in a controversial statement, where she claimed some SPF brands are ‘harmful’ and full of ‘toxic ingredients’.
In recent months, doctors have been forced to speak out after videos claiming sun tan lotion contains chemicals that are ‘more cancerous than the sun’, have racked up tens of thousands of views on TikTok.
Among those peddling the information are influencers with thousands of followers, including Lauryn Goodman and Kelsey Parker.
Most recently, Sam was branded ‘irresponsible and naive’ by a horrified skin doctor after admitting her three children don’t wear sunscreen and claiming wrongly that many SPF brands are ‘harmful’.
Dr Ross Perry, the owner of skin clinics chain Cosmedics, claimed the reality star is ‘misleading’ fans into not using sunscreen on their children, when it can ‘double the risk of getting skin cancer’ as they ‘do not build up a tolerance to sun exposure’.
Sam revealed that she doesn’t use sunscreen 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: ‘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 Parker, previously claimed that her children ‘don’t burn’ and wrongly alleged SPF ’causes skin cancer’.
Dr Perry, who is the owner of skin clinics chain Cosmedics, claimed the reality star is ‘misleading’ fans into not using sunscreen on her children.
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.
Last month Sam faced huge backlash for revealing she doesn’t put sunscreen on her children, before claiming some SPF brands are ‘harmful’ and full of ‘toxic ingredients’
‘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.
In response to the backlash, Sam posted on Instagram that she wasn’t a medical expert, and she was simply sharing her own experience with SPF.
She wrote: ‘Wow, I’ve received so many kind and supportive messages from my sunscreen post. Thank you.
‘I’d definitely recommend doing a little research into which tallow you’d like to use, there are lots of amazing options out there.’
‘PS: Just sharing my experience and tips (not an expert).’
