I spend a lot of my time educating my friends and family members on the best ways to protect their skin from the harsh rays of the sun. However, some of our precious family members cannot protect themselves from sun exposure on their own. I’m talking (of course) about children.
Although skin cancers,especially Melanoma, are often rare in children they account for about 3 percent of childhood cancers in the US (ages newborn to 19). Also, a recent study showed that the rate of Melanoma in children has increased by about 2 percent per year from 1973 to 2009 among U.S children.
The first way you can help prevent skin cancers in your children is by regularly checking their skin and paying attention to the size, shape and colors of their existing moles and lesions.
Here’s what to look for:
- A mole that changes color, shape, or grows
- A mole that is large (larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser) or oddly shaped and asymmetrical
- A lesion or bump that is pale-colored or red
- A mole or lesion that itches or bleed
Children’s skin is more sensitive to the sun and it’s UV rays so it is especially important that we, as adults, are vigilant about providing sun protection for them, and teaching kids to adopt a sun-safe lifestyle while they are young.
Keep your young children sun safe with these practices for infants to preschool aged children:
Infants: 0-6 months old
- Infants under 6 months of age should be kept out of the sun as much as possible, as their skin is too sensitive for sunscreen use. An infant's skin possesses little melanin, the pigment that gives color to skin, hair and eyes and provides some sun protection. Therefore, babies are especially susceptible to the sun's damaging effects.
- Use removable mesh window shields to keep direct sunlight from coming in through the windows of your car or invest in UV tinting window film, which can filter out almost 100% of ultraviolet radiation
- Take walks early in the morning (before 10 AM) or in the evening (after 4 PM) and be sure to use a stroller with a sun-protective cover.
- Dress your baby in lightweight clothing that covers their arms and legs.
- Choose a wide-brimmed hat or bonnet that protects your baby's face, neck, and ears. A baby who wears a hat during the first few months will get used to having it on.
Babies: 6-12 months old
- It's now safe to use sunscreen on babies.
- Apply broad-spectrum, SPF 15+ sunscreen to areas left uncovered such as a baby's hands. (Many companies sell "tear-free" formulas that won't sting baby's eyes)
- If you are using a spray sunscreen, it should NOT be applied directly to the baby's face. You should spray your hands with the sunscreen and then use hands to apply on your baby’s face
- Most importantly, sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before taking your baby outside and reapplied every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.
Toddlers/Pre-School Age: 1-5 years old
- Protecting toddlers from the sun requires a little more thought and effort. It is important to educate your child and child caregivers.
- Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher. Water-resistant, spray-on sunscreens are a good choice for toddlers who won't sit still. Again, spray sunscreens should not be applied directly to the face.
- Make sure your child seeks shade between 10 AM and 4 PM. Be sure the outdoor area where your child plays has adequate shade.
- Ensure that toddlers are wearing sun-protective clothing. Long-sleeved, unbleached cotton clothing is cool and comfortable, while also highly protective. Clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) listing on the label offers extra security.
- Don't forget hats and sunglasses. Choose a wide-brimmed hat that protects face, neck, and ears.
As we are in the middle of summer, children are spending more time outdoors. Help your children enjoy outdoor activities safely this summer with these tips:
At Summer Camp:
- Remind kids to seek shade: Encourage kids to play in shaded areas during peak UV strength, in order to limit UV exposure. Check with counselors to see if there are adequate places for campers to seek shade during outdoor activities taking place between 10 AM and 4 PM.
- Dress kids in sun-protective clothing. For optimal protection from the sun, send kids to camp in tightly woven or knit, dark- or bright- colored fabrics. Don’t forget wide-brimmed hats (though a baseball cap is better than nothing) and UV-blocking sunglasses.
- Practice sunscreen application beforehand. Teach children to apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to all exposed skin, 30 minutes before outdoor activities. Remind them to cover easily missed areas such as the back of ears and neck, and the tops of feet and hands. If camp rules allow, ask counselors to help children reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or excessive sweating. For extended outdoor activities, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is best.
- Dress kids in sun-safe swimwear. Look for high-UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) swim shirts or rash guards, and choose bathing suits that cover more skin, like one-piece suits and long trunks.
- Take extra precautions. Remember that water and sand reflect the sun's rays. Help children reapply sunscreen frequently, cover them up with clothing, and bring a beach umbrella for kids to play under. The most effective beach umbrellas provide a minimum UPF of 30.
- Talk to your teens about tanning. Teenagers may be tempted to “lay out” or visit tanning salons. But there is no such thing as a safe tan, because tanning itself is caused by DNA damage to the skin. Remind teens that tanning increases skin cancer risk, and leads to wrinkles, blemishes and age spots later in life.
Most importantly, practice what you preach! If you practice sun-safe habits in your life, you will not only reduce your own risk for skin cancers (not to mention wrinkles and age spots!), but you will encourage your children to do the same.
And remember, putting sunscreen on kids can be a lot like wrestling a crocodile. But don't give up!
As always, protect and Love the Skin You’re In!
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