Why protect against the sun?
You wouldn’t put you child in a car without strapping them in
a car seat or seat belt. You wouldn’t let your child ride a bicycle
with out a helmet. Practicing sun safety and setting an example of sun
protection habits is an important preventative measure to ensure the
safety of children. In the past, sun exposure was thought to be a healthy
benefit of outdoor activity. Modern scientific information, however,
has shown many unhealthy and serious effects of sun exposure, such as
early aging of the skin and skin cancer.
What kind of damage does sun exposure cause?
Part of the sun's energy that reaches us on earth is composed of rays
of invisible ultraviolet (UV) light. When ultraviolet light rays (UVA
and UVB) enter the skin, they damage the skin cells, causing visible
and invisible injuries.
Sunburn is a visible type of damage, which appears just a few hours
after sun exposure. In many people, this type of damage also causes
tanning. Freckles, which occur in people with fair skin, are usually
due to sun exposure. Freckles are nearly always a sign that sun damage
has occurred, and therefore show the need for sun protection.
Ultraviolet light rays also cause invisible damage to skin cells. Some
of the injury is repaired, but some of the cell damage adds up year
after year. After 20 to 30 years or more, the built-up damage appears
as wrinkles, age spots, and even skin cancer. Although window glass
blocks UVB light, UVA rays are able to penetrate through glass.
Which types of sun damage lead to skin cancer?
Severe sunburns may be related to the development many years later of
the most dangerous kind of skin cancer called melanoma. Melanomas can
develop in all age groups, including teenagers and young adults. Melanomas
can spread to other parts of the body and are potentially fatal.
Built-up invisible sun damage can lead to skin cancer. Basal cell skin
cancers usually develop in middle and later life, but can appear as
early as the teenage years. These cancers rarely spread to other parts
of the body. However, their continuous destruction of skin and underlying
structures makes their removal necessary. Squamous cell skin cancers
can spread to other parts of the body if they are not treated early.
When should sun protection begin?
Sun protection should begin in infancy and continue throughout life.
It is estimated that we get about 80 percent of our total lifetime sun
exposure in the first 18 years of life. Therefore, sun prevention in
childhood is very important to prevent skin cancer later in life.
How can I protect my children from the sun?
Begin NOW to teach your children to follow the "ABCs for FUN in
the SUN."
A = AWAY. Stay away from the sun in the middle of the day.
B = BLOCK. Use SPF15 or higher sunscreen.
C = COVER UP. Wear a T-shirt and a hat.
S = SPEAK OUT. Talk to family and friends about sun protection.
What should be avoided?
Stay AWAY from the midday sun and its intense rays. Schedule play times
and outdoor activities before 10:00 A.M. and after 4:00 P.M. (daylight
savings time 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.). The sun's energy is greatest when
it travels through less atmosphere at midday. Sun exposure is more intense
closer to the equator, in the mountains, and in the summer. The sun's
damaging effects are increased by reflection from water, white sand,
and snow.
Avoid long periods of direct sun exposure. Sit or play in the shade,
especially when your shadow is shorter than you are tall.
Avoid sunburn. Be aware of the length of time you are in the sun. It
may take only 15 minutes of midday summer sun to burn a fair-skinned
person.
How can sun damage be blocked?
BLOCK sun damage by applying a broad-spectrum UVA & UVB sunscreen
lotion, gel or sunstick with a SPF 15 or higher and reapply every two
hours even on cloudy days. If swimming or participating in intense physical
activity, sunscreen may need to be applied more often.
Choose a sunscreen with a SPF 15 or higher. The protective ability of
sunscreen is rated by Sun Protection Factor (SPF) - the higher the SPF,
the stronger the protection. SPF numbers indicate the length of time
one can spend in the sun without risk of burning. When using a SPF 15
sunscreen, a fair-skinned person who normally sunburns in 20 minutes
of midday sun exposure may tolerate 15 times 20 minutes (300 minutes)
without burning. Apply as much sunscreen as you would a lotion for dry
skin. Spread it evenly over all uncovered skin, including ears and lips,
but avoiding eyelids. Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before sun exposure.
Reapply after swimming or excessive sweating.
Invisible sunscreens work by trapping the ultraviolet energy and preventing
that energy from damaging the skin.
Visible opaque white or colored sunblock creams prevent all light from
entering the skin. They often contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
("chemical-free" sunscreens). They are useful for high-risk
areas such as the nose, lips, and shoulders.
Infants under six months of age should be kept out of direct sun and
covered by protective clothing. Apply sunscreen beginning at six months
of age. Children under six months of age should not have prolonged sun
exposure.
How can clothing be used for sun protection?
COVER UP with a hat and light colored clothing when outdoors. Don't
play or work outdoors without a shirt. Put on a shirt and hat after
swimming or wear a swim shirt while swimming. In addition to filtering
out the sun, sun protective clothing reflects heat and helps keep you
feeling cool. Sunglasses that block ultraviolet rays protect the eyes
and eyelids.
What else can be done?
SPEAK OUT for sun protection now. Do your part to protect others from
sun damage. Show your family how to apply a sunscreen by spreading it
evenly over your skin. Remember to keep babies out of the sun and use
an umbrella over the stroller. Talk to the coach, camp counselor, scout
leader, gym teacher and other leaders about the "ABCs for FUN in
the SUN." Ask them to help you with the simple changes that can
prevent sun damage. Start preventing sun damage in childhood now.
Source: American Academy of Dermatology
SUN PROTECTION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
The
American Academy of Pediatrics
Be Sun Safe!
The
American Academy of Dermatology
Sun Protection Guide for Children
The
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sun Protection Guide for Children
The
Skin Cancer Foundation
Protect Your Children from the Sun
The
American Cancer Society
All About Skin Cancer-Melanoma
Sun Protection and Plastic Surgery
UV
Index
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