Sun Safety and Skin Protection

Sun Safety Overview

As much as 80 percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposure occurs by age 18, so protecting your child’s skin from the sun is critical. Teaching kids sun-safe habits early helps ensure their skin stays healthy as they grow.

Protect Your Child’s Skin

Deadly skin cancers are being diagnosed at increasingly younger ages. Researchers have linked this alarming trend to childhood sun exposure. Protective steps you take now will pay off in the years to come:

• Slop it on — Apply 30 SPF sunscreen every day. Cover all exposed skin, including hands, ears and the back of the neck. Reapply after swimming or if your child perspires excessively.
• Keep it cool — Schedule outdoor activities before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m.
• Cover up — Outfit your children with broadbrimmed hats and protective clothing that covers the arms and legs.
• Protect those peepers — Choose real (not toy) sunglasses with polarized lenses for your children.

6 Sun Safety Tips

1. Everyone over six months of age should wear sunscreen whenever they’re outdoors, every day of the year. Infants under six months old should be kept out of the sun as their skin is especially susceptible to sun damage.
2. Apply sunscreen with SPF 30 at least 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside
3. The sun is everywhere, so apply sunscreen everywhere. Don’t forget your hands, nose and ears.
4. Reapply every two hours, and after swimming, sweating or toweling off.
5. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for extra protection.
6. Double-check medications, as some may cause a greater sensitivity to sunlight.

There are other precautions you can take to minimize harmful sun exposure. Limit time spent outdoors between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Avoid tanning oils or salons- tanning increases the risk of melanoma and accelerates skin aging. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration, which could make it harder to produce sweat and cool down your body.

Kids and Melanoma

Orange County is one of the sunniest places in California, with hundreds of sun days per year. With that comes the need for protection. Improper protection can increase risk for skin cancer. To ward off harmful UVA and UVB rays, use about an ounce of sunscreen for each area of exposed skin, i.e. leg or arm.

Fast Facts

• Cases of skin cancer in the U.S. every year: 1.3 Million
• Percentage of sun rays blocked when SPF 30 is applied: 90%
• Time of day when the sun is the strongest: 10am – 4pm

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It should be applied liberally and more often than most people think. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and use at least SPF 30. Reapply every two hours.

Melanoma

Melanoma accounts for 4% of all skin cancers. Malignant (life-threatening) melanoma starts in cells that produce pigment (color) in the skin. It usually begins as a mole that turns cancerous. People with all skin types may be affected, but those who are fair-skinned and burn easily are at a higher risk.

The ABCDs of Moles

Although melanoma is still rare in kids, parents should make checking for moles part of their monthly routine. Look for Asymmetry, Border, Color and Diameter.

With early detection, melanoma is curable, so be safe and use common sense in the sun:

• Apply sunscreen, even on infants 6 months and older
• Wear wide-brimmed hats
• Protect your eyes; wear sunglasses