With children, it’s never too early to start practicing good sun protection behaviors. In fact, exposure to ultraviolet radiation and a history of sunburns during childhood greatly increases your risk of developing skin cancer later in life.
Nanette Silverberg, MD, Director of Pediatric Dermatology, Mount Sinai Health System, shares some tips for protecting your child’s skin, which is especially important during the warmer months when they may spend so much more time outside in the sun.
Nanette Silverberg, MD, Director of Pediatric Dermatology
Here are five basic steps you should take:
- Look for sunscreens that have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30-50+ and that say they provide “broad spectrum” coverage, meaning they protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. UVA rays have less energy and are mostly linked to long-term skin damage, such as wrinkles, while UVB rays are the ones that cause sunburns, which are thought to cause most skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
- Sunscreens should be applied 30 minutes before going outside for the day and then reapplied every two hours.
- Sunscreens should be reapplied after swimming or heavy sweating, as they are not waterproof.
- In addition to sunscreen, children should wear a wide-brimmed hat and sun protective clothing (UPF 50) such as swim shirts or rash guard shirts. These shirts typically block 98 percent of ultraviolet radiation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Stay in the shade as much as possible, and avoid the mid-day sun during its peak hours of intensity from 10 am to 2 pm.
Even if you apply sunscreen and practice good sun care, your child may still get a sunburn. What should a parent do to minimize the sting?
Dr. Silverberg, suggests applying a cold compress, or bathing your child in cool water. Over-the-counter hydrocortisone one percent cream can also be helpful to ease red, itchy, or tender skin and help with inflammation. Hypoallergenic moisturizers can soothe the skin.
If the sunburn is painful or widespread, talk with your pediatrician about whether taking ibuprofen is appropriate for older children. If you notice any blistering, you should consider consulting with a pediatric dermatologist. Follow up to check for sun damage and be extra careful with sun protection on healing skin.
Post-pool skincare is also extremely important, especially for young children. Dr. Silverberg says most children tolerate chlorinated water, but she recommends rinsing off after the pool and applying light emollients when coming indoors.
Skincare also includes applying therapies afterwards for children with eczema, and reapplying sunscreen for outdoor play. Additionally, shirts with UPF should be rinsed with water and left to air dry to help maintain their potency and soft feel.