Keep Your Little One Safe in the Sun

The consequences of children getting sunburned are not be as innocent as you might think.

Don't let too much sun spoil summer fun.

When your child is outside playing on a sunny day, do you make sure to apply — and reapply — a protective sunscreen? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, if your child is exposed to the sun, especially during peak hours of the day in the summer, the intense combination of intermittent sun exposure, which results in a sunburn, increases the child’s risk for developing melanoma or skin cancer.

Many parents think that sunscreen is only necessary when kids are playing at the beach. Not true! Studies show that 60 to 80 percent of total lifetime sun exposure occurs in the first 18 years of life. This includes the time spent playing sports, taking walks, playing in the sand box or frolicking in a pool—in other words, being a kid. Sun exposure can be harmful to your child anywhere if you don't take proper (and simple) precautions

Protect Young Skin with Sunscreen:

The best way to protect your child from sunburn is to keep him or her out of the sun. However, children like to spend time playing outdoors, so to protect them against the sun parents should put on sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 20-30 or above. It should be applied at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun, and reapplied often during the day. Sunscreen will protect the skin and play an important role in blocking the penetration of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

When choosing a brand of sunscreen it is best to test it on your child to make sure the lotion doesn’t irritate your little one’s skin. You should also choose a lotion that blocks both ultraviolet A (UVA) rays as well as ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, and when applying that lotion, remember to put it on the areas of exposed skin that are usually forgotten. These are commonly the rims of the ears, the back of the neck, the lips, the tops of the feet and hands, and also the eyelids. Remember that even dark-skinned children can get bad sunburns, so make sure to put sunscreen on your child no matter what their coloring.

The higher SPF sunscreens such as, 20 – 30, blocks the sun for a longer amount of time than the lower SPF’s and also prevents tanning. Both children and teen-agers should be using this type of sunscreen with a waterproof or water-resistant option. In order for your children to understand why sun exposure is bad for them, you, as a parent, have to educate and teach by example. Also, as your children get older let them know that tanning beds are no better for their skin than the sun itself and that sunscreen is a necessary item when he or she is lying out.

Skin-Safe Clothing For Summer:

This is just another way to protect your child from the sun. Covering up doesn’t have to be a painful experience; it can actually be quiet fun. Here are eight different clothing tips from the Lehigh Valley Hospital to help you protect yourself from the sun.

1. A wide brim hat that covers their neck and ears.
2. UV-rated sunglasses protect their eyes from a harmful glare.
3. A Light Color to reflect the sun’s heat and keep them cooler.
4. A Shirt with Vents to keep the air circulating.
5. Zip-Off pants and Rolled up Sleeves allows them to cover up when necessary and cool off when you’re in the shade.
6. Tight-knit fabric like Nylon blocks UV rays better than cotton and is cooler and sheds water.
7. Covered Shoes – not sandals, or open toed shoes – protects their feet from getting sunburned.
8. Sunscreen or Sunblock (SPF 30). This should be applied every 2 hours to all exposed skin and even some covered skin. The sun’s rays can penetrate some fabrics.

Symptoms of Sunburns:

If you think your child has gotten sunburned there are the eight symptoms to look for when they get home from a day outside. These may include, redness, swelling of the skin, pain, blisters, fever, chills, weakness, and dry, itching, and peeling skin days after the burn. If any of these symptoms appear on your child they should take a cool bath, or use cool compresses on the sunburned areas. You can also apply a topical moisturizer such as aloe gel or hydrocortisone cream and you can give your child ibuprofen for the discomfort. In order for your child to heal completely he or she should be kept out of the sun until the sunburn is gone.

When You Should Call Your Physician:

The treatment for sunburn can be judged by the severity of the burn itself. If your child has severe sunburn or forms bad blister you should call your doctor. Also if your child is feeling faint, has nausea, vomiting, the chills or a fever, this is a result of heat stress and a physician should be consulted immediately.

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