Protect your children from the sun’s harmful rays
IT’S long been known that excessive childhood sun exposure and sunburns are significant risk factors for developing skin cancer and premature ageing (such as sun spots and wrinkles) later in life. Children have thin, delicate skin and are even more susceptible to sunburns than adults. Prevention and moderation are the keys to protecting your kids, and there are plenty of options for barriers to shield them from the harmful rays. Here are ways to keep your family safe in the sun. • Prevention and coverage The best protection from the sun is limiting direct exposure during peak the intensity hours of 10am to 5pm. This is also the time your kids will likely want to be out and about on a beautiful summer day, and you don’t want to discourage them from active outdoor play. You just need to be prepared. Apply sunscreen, of course, to any exposed skin, but also have your child wear sun protective clothing. Look for clothing rated with an ultraviolet protective factor ( UPF) of at least 30, which will block the most harmful rays. Encourage your child to wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. • Sunscreen Look for a broad- spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB light. Both types of rays can lead to skin cancer.
Don’t be fooled by the higher number SPFs ( sun protection factors). Aim for something with an SPF of 30 or above, but be wary of anything boasting a number higher than 50.
Choose a sunscreen with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, which are physical, or mineral, blocks. These are safer for skin than chemical-based sunscreens because they are more hypoallergenic, and they won’t sting a child’s eyes.
Apply sunscreen generously to any exposed skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Don’t skimp. Slather it generously all over, and don’t forget the back of the neck, tops of the feet, the ears and scalp.
Reapply often - at least every two hours, or sooner if your child has been swimming or sweating.
• Ways to get the kids on board
Buy-in, and cooperation, are everything. If your child is resisting your efforts to protect him from the sun, here are some tricks to make it easier.
Make sunscreen part of the routine or requirements. Tell the child that any time you are going outside, you have to apply sunscreen and put on a hat as well as shoes. Or that when you’re going swimming, you have to wear sunscreen and a bathing suit.
Be a good role model. Make sure you are also wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, UPF clothing and sunscreen when you go outside, to show your child that it’s important, and normal.
Increase buy-in by having the child help pick out his sunscreen. Give him a few options, asking if he wants to use cream or a stick on his face. Also ask him if he wants you to apply it to his legs or his arms first. Kids like to feel like they are in control, and that makes them more likely to cooperate with tedious tasks.
Set a timer or an alarm for reapplying sunscreen every hour or two. Give the child advance warning, and make it fun by announcing “In five minutes we are all going to freeze for a sunscreen and water break. After that we’ll go back to acting crazy and having fun.”
Try giving sun-protective clothing items a special name to make things more fun. Say “Everyone wears a zookeeper hat when we go to the zoo” or “We’re going to the pool, it’s time to put on our robot sunglasses.” • Sun protection for babies It’s best to keep babies, especially those under six months old, out of direct sunlight. But the American Academy of Paediatrics says it’s okay to use a small amount of sunscreen on your baby if you are unable to find shade. Be sure to test the sunscreen on a small area of her skin first, to ensure she doesn’t develop a rash. • Treating a sunburn Prevention is best. But if your child does get a sunburn, cool compresses, pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen and aloe vera can help soothe burned skin. — Washington Postv