The sun is the main cause of skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. There will be a million new cases of skin cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. All skin cancers are harmful and some, especially malignant melanoma, can be deadly if left untreated.
Most of our sun exposure - between 60 percent to 80 percent - happens before we turn 18 years of age. That's because children spend more time outdoors than most adults, especially in the summer.
"Research has shown that two or more blistering sunburns as a child or teen increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life," says Jeffrey Levy, M.D. Clinical Chief for the Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. "It is very important to protect babies and children from sunburn. You can be the best teacher by practicing sun protection yourself and teach all members of your family how to protect their skin."
The Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and the American Academy of Pediatrics offer some specific rules sun protection.
For children younger than one year old, follow these guidelines:
• Babies younger than 6 months should be kept out of the direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade or under an umbrella or stroller canopy. Babies have sensitive skin that is thinner than adult skin, which causes them to sunburn more easily.
• Dress your baby in clothing that covers the body, such as lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats with brims that shade the face and cover the ears.
• If your baby gets a sunburn and is younger than one year of age, contact your pediatrician at once - a severe sunburn is an emergency.
• For babies younger than 6 months of age, the risks or benefits of sunscreen use are not yet known. If your baby needs to be outdoors, discuss sunscreen use and other options with your pediatrician.
For children six months and up, follow these simple rules:
• Choose sunscreen that is made for children, preferably waterproof. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding the eyelids. If a rash develops, talk to your pediatrician.
• Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics. Clothing made of cotton is both cool and protective.
• When using a cap with a bill, make sure the bill is facing forward to shield your child's face. Sunglasses with UV protection also are a good idea for protecting your child's eyes.
• If your child gets a sunburn that results in blistering, pain or fever, contact your pediatrician.
Here are some additional sun safety tips for all members of your family:
• The sun's rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Avoid sun exposure during these hours.
• The sun's damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful in these areas.
• Most of the sun's rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.
• Sunscreens that are "waterproof" should be reapplied every two hours, especially if your child is playing in the water.
• Zinc oxide, a very effective sunblock, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and on the shoulders.
• Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 plus.
• Rub sunscreen in well, making sure to cover your child's face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees.
• Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors.
• Keep your child completely out of the sun until sunburn is totally healed.
By learning more about sun safety, you can help protect your entire family and develop safe sun habits that can last a lifetime. To find a Saint Barnabas Medical Center pediatrician, please call 1-888-SBHS-123.
Date: July 2, 2004
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