Sun Care for Children

Sunbathing and exposure to the sun was once thought to be a healthy benefit for children participating in outdoor activities. However, we now know that sun exposure can be damaging, leading to pre-mature aging, skin damage and possibly, skin cancer. Sun care for children should begin at infancy and continue throughout the child's life. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that children receive up to 80 percent of their total lifetime sun exposure within the first 18 years of their life, making sun care for children during childhood essential for preventing skin damage and possible cancer in the future.

Sun Damage & Skin Cancer

• The sun's energy reaches the Earth by rays of invisible ultraviolet light that enter the skin, causing invisible and visible damage. Sunburns, suntans and freckles are examples of visible sun damage. Invisible damage occurs when sun exposure damages skin cells over an extended period of time resulting in wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer.

  Severe sunburns are thought to lead to the development of melanoma. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It affects people of all ages, can affect other areas of the body and lead to death. Accumulated sun damage over the years can also lead to skin cancer, known as basal cell skin cancer. Basal cell skin cancer usually develops later in life, but in rare cases has developed as early as the teenage years. This cancer does not usually spread to other areas of the body as melanoma does, but it continues to destroy surrounding skin and underlying structures and must be removed.

  Children at higher risk of from unprotected sun exposure are those who have very fair skin and hair, have moles or parents who have a tendency to develop moles and those who have a family history of melanoma and skin cancer.

Protecting Your Child's Skin

• The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that parents teach their children the "ABC's for Fun in the Sun" concept to teach healthy sun care habits and instill life-long knowledge to prevent sun damage and skin cancer. The "ABC's for Fun in the Sun" concept is based on acronyms for the letters A, B, C and S, with the letter A standing for "Away," teaching children to stay away from the sun during the middle of day. Children should not be exposed to the sun from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., which is the time period of the day when ultraviolet light rays are their strongest and can cause the worst sun damage. The letter B signifies "Block," reminding children to always use a sunblock of at least SPF15 or higher. Children should have sunblock applied every two hours, even on cloudy days. The letter C stands for "Cover Up," telling children to cover up for sun protection using a hat and/or t-shirt. Clothing provides further sun protection for children by filtering out the sun rays. Children can also wear sunglasses to filter out damaging UV rays to their eyes. The final letter S encourages children to "Speak Up" and spread the word about sun care for children by talking to friends and family about sun protection. Parents need to communicate the importance of sun care to their children and make it a priority to be a good role model for their children by wearing sun screen and practicing excellent sun damage prevention.