Sun Protection for Children |
A tan is the body's defense against sun damage. A dark tan means a more effective defense. But if you have to work at your tan, or burn first, then tan, you do not have a strong defense against skin cancer. We now know that sunscreens do not completely protect you from getting melanoma if you use them to go out in the sun longer. If your children do not easily and quickly darken, you should avoid excess sun. The following simple tips will help to enable your child to enjoy the summer safely: Keep children out of the sun when it is at its most dangerous - between 11 am and 3 pm. If you care for young children you should make every effort to schedule their outdoor activities to avoid this time of day. Make maximum use of shade. The Australians have learnt the value of shade and have run campaigns to plant trees in school playgrounds, and the children must wear hats outdoors. Maybe we in the United States should follow their example. Dress your children in long sleeves and pants whenever possible. Tightly woven fabric that you can't see through easily offers the best sun protection. Oversized T-shirts are OK. Avoid skimpy clothes sundresses and sleeveless T-shirts that leave the most vulnerable areas like the shoulders exposed. The shoulders and back of the neck receive a good deal of sun exposure when children are playing and this is the commonest area for severe sunburn. A hat with a wide brim that shades the face and preferably the back and sides of the head should also be worn.
The labels of sunscreens recommend it not be used on children under 6 months. That is not because there is a known harm to young children, but rather the products have not been tested on infants. Besides, since they can't yet crawl, what would they be doing in the sun anyway?
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