The sunny days of summer offer a chance for children to enjoyfresh air and be active outdoors. But excessive exposureto the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can pose long-term health risks — from wrinkles to cancer.
About80% of sun exposure occurs before age 18. Damage to skin andeyes early in life can give rise to serious healthproblems in adulthood, according to the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics (AAP). Therefore, it is important to protectyour infant, child or adolescent from UV rays withsunscreen, protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.
Sunscreen should contain the words "broad-spectrum" on the label — it means the sunblock will screen out bothultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays.Choose a product with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
The AAP offers the following tips to protect children from thesun:
Keep infants younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight, protectedby the shade of an umbrella or tree. Whenphysical protection from the sun is inadequate, apply sunscreen to small areas of your infant’sbody, such as the face and hands.
Makesure children always wear sunblock, protective clothing,sunglassesand a hat with the brim facingforward.
Wetclothing does not offer adequate protection from the sun’s rays.
Be especially careful to help your childavoid sun exposureif he or she uses topicalagents or takesmedications that your pediatrician tells youmake skin more sensitive to UV rays.
Childrenand infants should wear sunglasses whenever they arein thesun long enough to get a tan or sunburn.For maximum protection, pick a pair that fits your child well, has large lenses and has been labeledto block UV rays.
Try to avoid or minimize your child’ssun exposure between10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,when the sun’srays are at their peak.
Because cloudsreduce UV rays by only 20% to 40%, kids shouldwear sun protection even when it’scloudy outside.
Finally, children learn by example, so parents should followsun safety precautions themselves.
