Northern Light Pediatrics-Newsletter

Sun Protection basics:
sunscreen, clothing, sunglasses, shade

On the perfect July afternoon, when children can spend hours soaking up the fun at outdoor pools or playgrounds, it's easy to forget the harmful effects of the sun.

However, with skin cancer on the rise since the early 1970s - a million cases a year - parents should make sun protection as routine as the use of child safety seats in cars. More than half of a person's lifetime sun exposure occurs by age 20, according to the American Cancer Society. Regular use of sun protection could greatly cut your child's risk of skin cancer.

Safe sun protection for kids means much more than the right sunscreen. Children also should wear sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats and clothing (darker colored and made of tightly woven fabrics), and lip protection containing sunscreen.

Sunbathing may feel refreshing at first, but the ultraviolet (UV) radiation actually causes damage to skin cells that eventually can lead to skin cancer. Because sun exposure suppresses the immune system, those who tan are more likely to develop infections and even cancers. In addition, eye problems, including cataracts, can result from too much sun. Tanned skin today means tough, leathery, discolored and prematurely wrinkled skin tomorrow.

As efforts to reduce sun-related skin cancers increase, two developments are troubling:

First, the use of tanning facilities is on the rise and teens mistakenly believe tanning booths are safer than the sun. Despite claims they offer a "safe" tanning alternative, tanning booths emit UVA radiation and are not regulated. Teens wanting a bronzed look should instead consider the use of sunless self-tanning creams.

Second, the most deadly form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, is on the rise and is being diagnosed in children.

Because melanoma in children sometimes looks different than that in adults, it may not be as easy to identify. Melanoma usually looks like a dark brown or black mole or one with irregular borders, but in children it can appear as light-colored lesions with well-defined borders, according to an article in the March issue of Pediatrics. Ask your pediatrician about any mole that looks suspicious or different.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians advise families about sun protection, and encourage schools to adopt sun protection policies and educate about the dangers of too much sun.

Follow these sun-safe suggestions from the Academy:

Keep infants under 6 months of age out of direct sunlight. Use lightweight clothing that covers the body and hats with brims that shade the face and ears. Select child-sized sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UV rays. Sunscreen may be used on small areas of the body, such as the face and backs of the hands, when shade and adequate clothing are not available.
Select a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 to help block both ultraviolet B (UVB) and A (UVA). Apply about a shot glass full of sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every couple of hours, especially after swimming or sweating. Check the expiration dates on all sunscreen products.
Avoid the hours of peak sun intensity (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) whenever possible.
Know whether your children have a high risk of skin cancer. Risk factors include a greater-than-usual number of moles or freckles, or a family history of skin diseases.

-2005 American Academy of Pediatrics