Sun-proofing Your Child's Skin

This month marks the beginning of beach vacations, pool parties and outdoor BBQs, which means it's a crucial time to keep your child's skin protected from the sun's harmful UV rays. May's National Skin Cancer Awareness Month reminds us all to practice sun safety -- not just during the year's hottest months, but year round. A parent has good reason to engage in sun protection early on: One blistering sunburn from unprotected sun exposure as a child can possibly double the risk of melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer) later in life. And one in 55 people will be diagnosed with melanoma during their lifetime, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation.

In spite of these sobering statistics, most of us -- more than 66 percent -- don't use sun protection regularly. But if we help the youngest members of the family start off on the right track, and as parents we begin to practice what we preach, our children will be more likely to make a habit out of protecting themselves. Here's how:

Protect from day one. The first line of defense for a baby younger than six months old should be proper clothing (lightweight long pants, brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts) and shade. If neither is available, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends applying sunscreen that has at least SPF 15. Sunscreen should be applied to small areas, such as baby's face or the back of baby's hands. When used correctly, sunscreen can help protect against sunburns and certain skin cancers, but it shouldn't be used as a reason to stay in the sun for long periods of time.

Choose a physical sunscreen. A young child's sensitive skin can be easily irritated by a chemical sunscreen. That's why a physical sunscreen (such as MD Moms Baby Silk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes) that contains pure physical block ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide offers the safest protection and reduces the risk of skin irritation. While a chemical block may take up to 20 minutes to begin working -- increasing the potential for sunburn if one heads outside too quickly -- a physical sunscreen deflects rather than absorbs UV rays and activates immediately upon application. Before using any sunscreen, however, check the expiration date. If there is no date listed and the date of purchase is in question, call the company or buy a new bottle. As a rule of thumb, if sunscreen is more than two seasons old, it's time to replenish.

Don't skimp on the sunscreen. Before slathering sunscreen on your child, test out a new brand for reactions by applying to small areas of the skin (on the extremities or torso). If your child experiences itching or redness, wash it off and discontinue use. If no irritation occurs, use one ounce (the size of a shot glass, or a palm full) for each application. (This should be 1.5 ounces for an adolescent or adult.) Apply twice to areas of the skin that wear against clothing or sweat frequently. With a chemical sunscreen, apply one layer to your child's face and body, then reapply after 20 minutes to catch any missed spots.

Pay attention to time and place. Since the most damaging UV radiation happens during the peak hours of the day -- from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- avoid sun exposure during that time or find a shady area for your children to play outdoors. Remember to apply (and reapply) sunscreen to your child, even if she's in the shade. Reapply every 3-4 hours when dry, and every 1-2 hours if swimming, wet or sweaty. Be especially diligent with your sunscreen routine when around water, sand and snow, as these reflect and intensify the sun's rays.

Don't stop at sunscreen. In addition to consistent sunscreen use, appropriate clothing is also key for optimal protection from the sun. Dress your child in clothes with UV protection (try Cabana Life's line). Also, an SPF rinse on tightly woven cotton clothing can increase the SPF value from 5 (the SPF value of an average T-shirt) to 30. Wide-brimmed hats (2.5 inches) can also help shade your child's face and ears, while sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of UV rays (with ANSI rated UVA and UVB protection) offer the best eye protection.

By taking these simple steps to protect your children's skin this summer -- and during any season -- you can make sure they enjoy the sun safely.

 

Comments

[rhaynes]

I'm not sure how you expect children to get their essential vitamin D. Are we assuming that their parents are giving them vitamin D supplements to compensate for the vitamin D they're not getting from sun exposure? I certainly hope so because vitamin D deficiency is a huge problem in this country -- far bigger than the threat of skin cancer, I would argue.

And should black children also be "slathered" with sunscreen? I've noted that rickets is on the rise in this country because African-American children aren't getting enough sun exposure.

I think this generation of children is going to see some rather significant health problems when they grow up, caused by their parents' obsessive coating of sunscreen. Vitamin D deficiency is widely believed to be at the root of some other cancers, including colon. Vitamin D is essential for so many of our body's functions, and its lack sets us up for a multitude of problems.

Frankly, I would rather get skin cancer than colon cancer, if I had to make a choice.

We all want to take good care of our children but this hysteria over the potential for skin cancer has gotten way out of hand. The common wisdom is not always the right wisdom.

[seattle music]

Thanks for your post. As a melanoma survivor, I took to heart my dermatologist's warning that sunscreen may NOT block the deep tissue damage that gives rise to melanomas.

I follow his warning to stay out of the sun between two hours after sunrise until two hours before sunset.

If I go out during the bright daylight, I wear densely-woven clothing, wear a hat, work the shade (e.g. find shade always when I want to sit and rest, even if it means crossing the street or crossing the park to find shade), and I often carry a sun parasol (e.g if I'm going to a parade, a fair, or another venue where I'll be standing or walking for a long time in the sun).

He warned me against getting a FALSE sense of security from sunscreen. I hate to be a wet blanket, but if you're taking a child out between (for example) twelve and two and relying on sunscreen to protect them from melanoma, you may be falsely secure that they're protected. Invest in a sun parasol, plan your outings for morning or late afternoon, keep a hat on your child's head, etc.

[lilkunta]

SPF clothes is a good idea but we're in a recession. Who has the money to buy their kids a whole ew wardrobe for the summer?

& does the protection stay in the clothes for the lifetime? Even is the clothes are bleached (both chlorine bleach & colorSafe bleach) and washed repeatedly & dried repeatedly.

[bostonkayakguy]

An area often overlooked is the scalp. No one wants greasy sunscreen in their hair so it most often goes unprotected.

This year I began using Sun Shadz, a clear micronized powder that I simply brush on my scalp each morning. Easy, simple to use.

It also works extremely well to protect kids from the sun. It has SPF 15, no odor and you don't even realize you have it on. It's an easy habit to instill in your kids early on.

There's also Hair Shadz which provides SPF 15 to your scalp, and also covers/colors your roots. Both products were developed by a Scottsdale woman who lost her mother to scalp melanoma.

www.monimay.com

This disease has affected many in my family, and some have succumbed to it.

Get checked. Protect yourself. Avail yourself of the many products out there which help you protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.

http://tr.im/lVNv

[willowsbasket]

One point I would like to add: Many sunscreens have ingredients that are hazardous. Here is a direct link to the Environment Working Group's cosmetic safety database for sunscreens:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/findyoursunscreen.php

Be sure to check this out so you know which sunscreens are safest. I have not been able to find any safe sunscreens in our local stores, and have had to get them online. I hope that will change in the future.

[timezone]

As a very light-skinned child, I got my fair share of bad burns. Now, as an adult I'm paying for it. So far, basal cell has been the only kind I've had to have removed, and one that my doctor suspected of possible pre-melanoma. He told me that even though I must watch my exposure to sun now, that burns I got by the time I was 15 could have played a big role in my getting skin cancer. So for all the parents out there, I hope you do take care with your child's skin. It wasn't fun having skin cancer on my nose (thank goodness for great plastic surgeons!).

[Dr. Cara Barker - Huffpost Blogger]

I want you to know how much I appreciate your blog. This is a subject that should be dear and near to all our hearts, to the degree that we take action upon it. Both my husband and I are in health care. He sees slides every day under the 'scope. So, we know the truth you speak.

If anyone is interested in absolutely the most impressive skin line products, please contact me at [e-mail]. They are all pure, safe, and beneficial and measured by Swiss standards, that are nearly twice as hight as the U.S. F.D.A.

All the best to you for what you are doing,
Cara

[Harvey Schakowsky]

Almost all sun-protective clothing products are made from woven polyester or nylon. They are typically hot and clingy to wear, not very stylish and very expensive. They are also petroleum based.

Consumers looking for serious but inexpensive sun-protective clothing should check out www.SPFstore.com. They sell 100% cotton shirts that are top-UV rated (UPF50). They are available in six styles, over 30 colors and in sizes from XS to 6 XL. The shirts sell for $11.95 to $17.95. These shirts are recommended by both the Skin Cancer Foundation and the Melanoma International Foundation. These all cotton shirts are light-weight, breathable, soft, comfortable and stylish. The website also sells name-brand sun-protective clothing and accessories, all at affordable prices. Call them toll-free at 800-786-2562.