Preventing Skin Cancer: Sensible Suncare for Kids
Enlighting Tips About Sunscreen
- Before buuying a sunscreen, look at the ingredients. Proven ray blockers include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, PABA, oxybenzone, padimate O and parsol
- Apply sunscreen liberally some experts say one ounce (2 tablespoons or a "palmful") to completely cover an adult body. Reapply often, as clothing, perspiration, pool and ocean water can cause the product to wash or rub off.
- Apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before going outdoors, whether you're going to the beach or simply driving to the mall.
May 2006 — The combination of kids and sun can mean a lot of time spent outdoors — but it also means dangerous exposure to the sun’s powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Did you know that over half of your lifetime sun exposure occurs before you’re 18 years old?
Living in South Florida means exposure to strong sun 12 months out of the year, approximately three or four times as much as people living in northern climates. So by the time your kids turn 30, they may have had as much sun exposure as a 90-year-old person living in Maine. There is a definite need to be vigilant about protecting your family’s skin year-round.
Protecting Baby’s Delicate Skin
You may want to speak to your physician about taking an infant out in the sun, because the internal thermal regulators aren’t fully functioning. By the time children are about six months old, you can start taking them outdoors and should use sunblock on them.
“In general, you and your family should use a su-+nblock with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating of at least 15 every day,” says Stuart Sobel, MD, dermatologist on the medical staff at Memorial Regional Hospital, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hospital West. “It should become an automatic part of your daily routine. Re-apply every two hours, if possible, particularly if you’ve been swimming or sweating a lot.”
Don’t forget that clothing offers great sun protection, too. Even a thin, loosely woven shirt can provide an SPF of 5, which will complement the sunscreen you’re using. A tightly woven, dark-colored T-shirt can give you the equivalent of an SPF 15 sunblock.
“I tell my patients who are children and teenagers to keep their shirts on when they go to the beach or the pool,” says Dr. Sobel. “I suggest they leave their shirts on when they go swimming. When possible, sit under a tree or in the shade. UV rays come at you from every angle — not just beating down from the sun. UV light also passes through clouds, so don’t assume you’re safe on a cloudy or overcast day.”
Talk to your kids’ teachers about using sunblock at school— most kids spend at least part of their day outside and can benefit from this coverage during the school day. If your child is going on an outdoor field trip or spending a summer at camp, think about sending him or her along with sunblock in the form of moist towelettes, which can be found at many drugstores. These are easy to carry and apply, and won’t spill.
Help Kids Understand Sun Protection
You can start educating your children about sun safety at an early age; just make sure what you’re telling them is age-appropriate. “Most kids won’t care about age spots, and the threat of cancer may scare them unnecessarily,” says Dr. Sobel. “But you can simply explain that the sun can be bad for them because it hurts their skin, so they need to protect themselves, just as they wear shoes to protect their feet when they go outside.”
By the time your kids are 12 or 13, you can start talking to them about the risk of skin cancer. “Unfortunately, in my practice we see patients that young who already have skin cancer,” says Dr. Sobel.
Checking for changes in moles and other indicators of skin cancer should also be part of your child’s yearly physical. Be sure to let your doctor know if there is a family history of skin cancer. Parents should also check themselves for skin abnormalities and get regular cancer screenings. Melanoma has the fastest-growing rates of tumor incidence in the country, and is the leading cancer in women age 25 to 29.
Talking to Teens About Tanning
A lot of teens think it’s socially preferable to have tanned skin, in which case it might be helpful to talk to them about the reason why they want to be tan, and what the dangers are. “I like to tell my patients that the desire to be tan has a cultural background — which changes throughout history,” says Dr. Sobel.
“For example, 100 years ago, pale skin was prized. However you look at it, any darkening of the skin means you are injuring your skin. When you burn yourself, the affected area turns darker than the surrounding skin. So when you tan your skin, essentially you’re giving yourself an all-over skin injury. Later, that can lead to an increased chance of wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. Talk to your teens about different standards of beauty — having pale skin doesn’t seem to have hurt people like Nicole Kidman.”
Taking good care of your skin can — and should — start at an early age. Talk to your family about sun protection and learn how to have fun in the sun with fewer risks. For a referral to a physician or dermatologist, please call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.