Children Need Sunscreen Protection
August 15, 2005 | General Health
With the sunny and warm days we’re having, many families are rushing to the beach or the swimming pool to beat the heat. Health experts are reminding us to take along and use that sunscreen.
For children it’s advice worth heeding.
Those health experts point out that during childhood, when the body is growing, delicate skin cells can be permanently damaged by repeated sunburns that cause blistering or peeling. Dematologists say the sun damage can actually change the DNA inside skin cells, increasing the chance of skin cells in later years.
“About five bad sunburns in childhood doubles your risk for skin cancer,” said Dr. Robin Hornung of Seattle’s Children’s Hospital.
To add to the problem, some doctors believe today’s children and teens may be at greater risk than their parents due to environmental changes.
“With the depletion of the ozone layer, we are getting more ultra violet ray exposure on the earth’s surface, that’s one factor,” said Hornung.
Seattle mother Stefany Dyveck takes the advice seriously. While she and her two boys played at the beach, she made sure to re-apply their sunscreen twice even when there were a cloud or two overhead.
“The sun is still dangerous especially with young kids and it’s something that is going to protect them for the rest of their lives,” she said. “It’s a good practice to start when they are young.”
The health experts suggest taking the following precautions when your children are outside:
- Apply sunscreen to your child’s skin every morning and on beach days do it again every few hours, especially after swimming
- Choose a sun protection factor of 15 of greater and apply it thickly
- Try to avoid the midday sun
- When you buy your child a swim suit, get a sun protection shirt as well and encourage your child to keep a T-shirt on.
- Hats and sunglasses provide good protection as well