Don’t Wait for Summer to Practice Sun Safety
By: Arkansas Children’s Hospital
When the weather is warm enough, my children play outside for hours.
Even though the temperature is not hot, they are getting sunburned as if it were summer. Do I need to apply sunscreen with the highest SPF this time of year, or will lighter coverage be enough?
In general, when using sunscreen, always use the higher SPF. Even though it is only spring and we are not yet experiencing the “hot” sun exposure we do in the summer time there is enough sunshine that children and adults already are experiencing sunburn and some have blisters. It is not too early to begin thinking of sun safety for your family and yourself.
Despite the many public concerns about the harmful effects of sun rays, I think many parents underestimate the harmful effects of overexposure. Anytime our children are outdoors for a period of time, regardless of the season, we should consider providing them with sun protection.
What appears to be a “healthy tan” may be the result of the skin’s reaction to overexposure to sun and is a precursor to definite skin-damaging sun burn. Our children should be told that continued tanning leads to premature aging and wrinkles. There is a definite relationship between the number of cases of sunburn in childhood and the incidence of skin cancer later in life. The thinning of the Ozone layer has more than likely made the sun’s rays more damaging than they were 50 years ago and the incidence of skin cancer is increasing. Sixty to 80 percent of our lifetime sun exposure takes place before we are 18 years of age.
With this in mind, it is important to protect your child’s skin from the sun. Here are some points to be considered:
Babies younger than 6 months of age have much more sensitive skin and are much more easily sunburned.
• Children younger than 6 months should be kept out of the direct sun. If outdoors, babies should be completely covered in clothing and should wear a hat. Any child who has sunburn that results in blisters, particularly an infant 12 months or younger, should be seen by a physician. Discuss limited use of sunscreen with your physician if your 6-month-old must be outside for any period of time. Limited use of sunscreen is probably acceptable.
Children and adults must always use sunscreen while going to be outdoors or exposed to sunshine for more than 15-20 minutes.
• Choose sunscreen that’s made for children and that is waterproof. When choosing a sunscreen, select a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Sunscreen should be applied every two hours if your child is playing in the water. The nose, ears, cheeks and shoulders are especially vulnerable to sunburn and in these areas one can use zinc oxide for additional protection. Before using a product, always apply to a small surface and check for the rare allergic reaction. It has now been shown that wearing long-sleeved shirts can be more effective than sunscreen in preventing some skin cancers.
Children should always wear a hat outdoors.
• Hats and caps can greatly protect a child’s face and head from the sun. If using a cap, the bill should face forward to shield the child’s face. Sunglasses or goggles with UV protection can also be used to protect children’s eyes, as they also are vulnerable to sun rays.
It is important not to rely on t-shirts for sun protection while in the pool; they provide no help. The sun’s reflection on the water’s surface increases exposure and makes your child more susceptible to sun burn. Use of sunscreen is most important while swimming.
General considerations in trying to prevent excessive sun exposure include:
• Sun rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so this is a good time of day to avoid excessive exposure outdoors. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can bounce from sand, snow, concrete or water - areas that will enhance the possibility of excessive sun and sunburn.
• Even on cloudy days, ultraviolet rays penetrate through clouds so the risk of excessive exposure remains.
• Fair-skinned children burn more easily than others when they receive excessive sun exposure, and they need additional protection. Nevertheless, even those with darker skin need routine protective measures.
Recent reports have accentuated the protective effect of Vitamin D against some cancers and since Vitamin D is produced by the effect of sunlight on the skin, some researchers have suggested more exposure to sunshine could be beneficial. Most people are exposed to adequate sunlight in ordinary day-to-day activities so additional exposure to enhance Vitamin D protection is probably not necessary.
Excessive sun exposure is not good for anyone, and this is particularly true in children. Discourage excessive tanning and the use of tanning beds in teenagers. Discuss suntan lotions with your physician or pharmacist as new products are released every year and some may be more advantageous.
Common sense rules, reasonable length of exposure to outdoor activities and appropriate use of protective clothing and various sunscreens are logical approaches for protecting you and your family from the sun’s harmful effects. Don’t forget that parents should also wear protective clothing and use sunscreen appropriately. As always, children are more impressed by what their parents do as an example rather than what they say.