Sun Safety for Children

Skin cancer rates are higher than any other type of cancer. Over 3.5 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. Skin cancer diagnosis rates are higher that the rates of all other cancers combined! Skin cancer is caused by damage to the skin by Ultra Violet (UV) rays from sunlight. Both UVA and UVB rays are harmful and increase the risk of skin cancer.

Keep kids safe in the sun by:

• Seeking shade during the middle of the day (10 am- 4pm)
• Cover up when possible using long sleeves and pants if comfortable.
• Use a hat, especially one with a wide brim. If you child uses a baseball cap, be sure to apply sunscreen to their ears and neck, in addition to the face as these will remain exposed.
• Offer sunglasses to help protect your child from cataracts later in life. Look for sunglasses which protect from UVA and UVB rays- broad spectrum protection.
• Apply sunscreen generously and often. Use a "broad spectrum" sun screen with at least an SPF 30 in generous amounts to ensure adequate coverage.  It's easy think about suncreen after-the-fact and apply after kids have been in the sun for awhile. Be proactive and apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside. Be sure to include the ears, nose, and tops of feet. Use a lip balm with sun protection as well. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours- more often if children have been swimming or sweating- even if they applied "water resistant" or "sweat resistant" sunscreens.

Avoid sunscreen sprays since there is concern over how much sunscreen makes it on the skin in addition to inhalation of the sunscreen.

Sunscreen is still needed on cloudy days.

To avoid being left without sunscreen when unexpected outdoor fun occurs, keep bottles in multiple, convenient locations such as your car, bag or child's backpack.

For children under 6 months of age, it is best to avoid sun exposure all together as sunscreen is not recommended.