Our sun is a wonderful thing.  It provides us with energy in the form of light and heat, and helps us produce Vitamin D.  It gives us brilliant warm bright days to spend outside having fun. However, while we are doing that, the sun also gives us burns, wrinkles, and skin cancer.  As with many other things in our world, the sun is good in moderate amounts.

Skin cancer?  All my friends and I were out in the sun all the time when we were young, and none of us have skin cancer.

Then you’re lucky.  Skin cancer is actually the most common cancer in the United States.  Many of these are not melanoma – which can kill up to 8,000 people a year – but still require removal and testing.  Skin cancer treatment in the US costs $8 billion a year.

Exposure to UVA and UVB rays is a large factor in most skin cancers.  Even if a person doesn’t get a blistering burn (which can significantly increase your risk), the damage from tanning year after year adds up to a higher risk.

Sun burns aren’t fun.  How do I help my child if they get one?

Once you realize your child has a burn take them out of the sun, and try to keep them out of the sun until it’s healed.  You can give them a cool bath, then put on a moisturizer after incompletely drying. Ibuprofen and over the counter hydrocortisone cream can help decrease swelling, redness, and discomfort.  “Caines,” such as lidocaine, are not recommended. Make sure they drink plenty of water to rehydrate. If they develop blisters, do not pop them. Blisters protect the burn from infections, and help the skin heal.  Once they’ve opened it is okay to trim the dead skin.

Eyes can also be sunburned, and frequent episodes can damage the eyes permanently.  If the eyes get sunburned, keep the child inside or put sunglasses on them. Tylenol or ibuprofen, as well as cool compresses can help with the pain.  Over the counter saline eye drops can help with the dryness.

It’s important to note that you generally don’t see signs of burns as it happens.  It can take a few hours to show up, and up to 48 hours to show the full extent of a burn.  If the blisters are large, or there are other symptoms, such as fever or malaise, call your doctor.  

How do I protect my child from sun damage?

First, you need to know that *every* time you go outside during the day you’re being exposed to the sun.  Yes, there are times and places where the sun is more likely to burn you – in the summer months when your shadow is shorter than you, higher elevations, clear days.  But you can also get sun in the morning on a cloudy day in winter. Also, sunlight is reflected by water, snow, sand, and other objects in the environment.

Protecting yourself and your child from the sun involves many different factors, including avoiding the sun.  In fact, we don’t recommend direct sun exposure at all for infants under 6 months. You can time your outside activities to avoid the time when the sun is more intense – 10am to 4pm, or whenever your shadow is shorter than you are.  Having outside activities under shade trees or a pavilion is another option.

For the child themselves try to cover them with a long sleeve shirt, pants, a wide brim hat, and sunglasses.  Darker colors in a tight weave, lightweight fabric are the best. Some clothing brands have lines that are specifically made for sun protection; just check for a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) label.

Finally, there is sunscreen.  I’ve put it last because it’s not meant to be used as the only protection from the sun.  No sunscreen blocks out 100% of the sun, and it stops working two hours after application or sooner.  Also, sunscreen has an expiration date. If there’s not one printed on the bottle, then assume 3 years after purchase.

There are two different kinds of sunscreen, chemical and mineral.  Chemical sunscreens are the more common kind, are easier to rub in, and generally don’t leave any residue.  These are safe in general, as the few unsafe ones (PABA, tolamine salicylate) have been taken off the market.  They can work well as long as they are used in the correct amount. However, the sun’s rays break it down, or it can clump within about two hours, so it has to be reapplied.  Mineral sunscreens shield the sun’s rays with ingredients like zinc oxide. They are better for people with sensitive skin, and are recommended for babies. These also stop working by two hours, so need to be reapplied.  

Once you’ve decided if you want a chemical or mineral sunscreen – or if you don’t care either way – there are some important things to look for when buying it.  First, it needs to be “full spectrum” which covers both UVA and UVB rays (the same goes for sunglasses). It should be at least 30 SPF. “Water resistant” to 40 or 80 minutes is good, but you still need to reapply when your child gets out of the water.

Applying sunscreen is more than giving a swipe on the shoulder and calling it good.  Since it needs to absorb, initially apply it at least 15-20 minutes before going outside.  Put it on *all* exposed skin: neck, tips of ears, face, tops of feet, legs, arms, back of hands, and head (if needed).  Make sure you apply enough to cover well; it can take an ounce of sunscreen for an adult. Then, reapply it whenever you sweat, get wet, towel off, or after two hours.  Use lip balm with an SPF of 15 or greater.

If your child has recess at school, or goes outside during daycare, ask the staff to help you keep your child safe.  You can provide them with a bottle of appropriate sunscreen and a hat that they or the child can put on.  If your school doesn’t allow hats, you might discuss with them how they plan on keeping the children safe while in the sun.

Is there anything else?

Yes. Tanning beds are just as bad as being in the sun because they use the same radiation that the sun gives off to give you a tan.  Even if you don’t burn, any amount of tan is still evidence that your skin is being affected and damaged.

Links.

American Academy of Dermatology sunscreen FAQs.

Sun safety and protection tips.