Sun Protection for Children

with Kevin Scammell, M.D., Pediatrician, Advanced Healthcare

Posted: July 1, 2004

It is estimated that we get about 60 to 80 percent of our total lifetime sun exposure in the first 18 years of life. That’s why instilling healthy sun protection habits from an early age is essential, said Kevin Scammell, M.D., a pediatrician with Advanced Healthcare.

Protecting your infant or young child from the sun will not only help guard against immediate concerns like painful sunburn and heat-related illnesses, but also can prevent long-term radiation damage that often results in wrinkling, skin discoloration and other signs of premature aging or even dangerous kinds of skin cancer.

Kevin Scammell, M.D., Pediatrician, Advanced Healthcare "Parents need to start thinking about sun care now. People often overlook concerns like cataracts, melanoma and other types of skin cancer, which are directly attributable to a lifetime of sun exposure."

Protecting infants
Teaching kids proper sun care from infancy may help them carry over those practices into their teenage years and adulthood, Dr. Scammell explained. He added that even darker-skinned people need to think about sun protection.

For children over six months of age, applying sunscreen is the simplest and most recommended form of sun protection. For infants under six months, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend routine sunscreen use, as safety on infant skin has not been established. Fortunately, children in this age group are relatively immobile and unable to venture into direct sunlight by themselves.

“There’s no good reason to put a child that young in the sun,” Dr. Scammell said. “It’s up to parents to make proper health care choices.”

For infants under 6 months of age, sun canopies and protective clothing like hats and tightly woven shirts are your best lines of defense. To determine how tight the weave of your child’s clothing is, hold the garment up to a light — the tighter the weave, the less light will pass through.

In addition to tight-knit clothing and wide-brimmed hats, Dr. Scammell advocates the use of sunglasses, though he acknowledges that convincing young children to keep them on can be a challenging task.

If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t avoid exposing your infant to the sun, Dr. Scammell recommends erring on the side of sunburn protection and applying sunscreen.

“Infants have relatively thin skin and are more prone to burning,” he explained.

Sunscreen tips
When choosing a sunscreen for your child, select a product with an SPF of 15 or greater. But Dr. Scammell warns against the common misconception that the higher the SPF, the longer the sunscreen will last.

“An SPF 45 wears off in the same amount of time as an SPF 15,” he said.

Parents should apply sunscreen to their children at least 30 minutes before they go outdoors and sunscreen will need to be reapplied every two hours thereafter. Be sure whatever product you choose blocks both harmful UVA and UVB rays.

In addition to sunscreen, Dr. Scammell recommends that parents apply a light zinc oxide product to protect children’s ears and noses. While zinc oxide creams and pastes made specifically for that purpose are widely available, you can also use any white creamy diaper ointment you already have on hand, which typically includes zinc oxide.

Treating sunburn
If your child does get a sunburn, the first step is to get out of the sun. Cool compresses applied for 10 or 15 minutes throughout the day will help soothe the sunburned area.

Dr. Scammell also suggested using an aloe vera gel to relieve itching. A dose of Tylenol or ibuprofen will help control fever and may ease the pain. Extra fluids also are important to prevent dehydration.

Warning signs that may warrant a call to the doctor include blistering of the skin in the first 24 hours after your child is burned, fever and lethargy.

Peeling — a natural part of the healing process — typically begins three to 10 days after the sunburn. To avoid irritating your child’s sensitive skin, dress him or her in loose clothing and be sure to keep your child in the shade until his or her skin has fully healed.

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