Sun safety is one of the most important things to keep up on for the long-term health of your children. Sunlight is needed for Vitamin D production in your body, which is good for your bones. However, too much sun will cause sunburns, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke and may lead to skin cancer. Since three quarters of an average person’s sun exposure occurs before their 18th birthday, healthy sun-prevention habits will lead to a healthier adult life.
Facts About Sun Exposure
The portion of sunlight that hits our skin and causes tanning, sunburns and other skin damage is called ultraviolet (UV) light. There are three main types of UV light: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is the most dangerous part of sunlight but is blocked by the earth’s ozone layer. UVA light makes up most of our sunlight and is used in tanning beds. UVA light contributes to the risk of sun cancer and causes wrinkles to develop. A tan caused by only UVA light (as from a tanning booth) DOES NOT protect you from damage from real sunlight and gives tanning enthusiasts a false sense of security and more wrinkles from prolonged use. UVB light causes sunburns and most damage to the eyes by causing cataracts. The best skin protection will include blocking of both UVA and UVB.
How to Protect Your Children
Anyone of any color can tan, burn or get skin cancer from sun exposure. People from all races should use sun protection to prevent these problems. Sun exposure is more dangerous for those with fair skin, lots of moles or a family history of skin cancer. Sun light is strongest between 10am and 4pm so try to avoid lots of sun during those times. Remember that UV light is still present even on cloudy days and protect your children on those days as well. Seek shade and cover up whenever possible. A light T-shirt has an SPF of only 3 though and is not sufficient alone for long periods of time.
Apply sunscreen liberally and often. You should reapply every 2 hours or if your child sweats or gets wet. Use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 and look for UVA and UVB protection and PABA-free for children. Don’t forget to apply to hands, feet, neck, shoulders, ears and scalp. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure for best results. Get your children to wear sunglasses that are labeled for 100% UVA and UVB protection to avoid damage to the eyes. Finally, ask your doctor or pharmacist about any medications your child is taking and if they may increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.
If your child does get burned then he/she can take a cool (not cold) bath to alleviate pain. Pure aloe vera gel soothes pain and helps skin heal faster from burning. An anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen can help with pain relief and healing (avoid aspirin in children). For the most burned areas of skin, a 1% hydrocortisone cream can be applied as a very thin layer.
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Respect for the sun equals healthier skin
By protecting your child’s skin from early on in life, you reduce their lifetime risk of skin cancer dramatically and ensure that no outdoor family activity or trip will be ruined by painful sunburn or skin damage.
By: Marcus DeGraw, MD is a board certified pediatrician at St. John Children’s Center and is the medical director of the Pediatric Subspecialty Services at St. John Hospital in Detroit. He is also a member of The Physician Alliance, a physician organization representing more than 2,100 primary care and specialty physicians in southeast Michigan.
