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Parents Do Too Little to Protect Kids from Sun Damage
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"Our findings reinforce the importance of using multiple sun protection methods to maximize effective sun protection," says Robinson.
Being smart with the sun -- and not relying just on sunscreens for protection -- is critical, Michael P. Heffernan, MD, assistant professor of medicine (dermatology) at Washington University in St. Louis, tells WebMD.
"Any time your shadow is shorter than you are, those are high sun-exposure times," he says. "Kids, especially, should seek the shade. When they have to go outside at high-sun time -- between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. -- they should be wearing protective clothing. That includes long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Use sunscreens to cover the areas that are exposed, like the face, the hands."
Kids under 16 are most vulnerable to skin damage, Heffernan tells WebMD. "People accumulate somewhere between 50% and 80% of lifetime sun exposure by the time they're 16 years old. The average child gets three times more sun exposure as the average adult every year from playing outside." The amount of time a child should be allowed outside varies greatly depending on skin type, he says.
Blistering sunburns are the most damaging in terms of causing melanoma, he adds. But "chronic sun exposure, day in and day out, contributes to other types of skin cancer like basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, the most common types of malignancy."
Babies under 6 months old should spend very little time in the sun, and should wear protective clothing and sunglasses. Children over 6 months should always wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 15.
Make sure you use an adequate amount of sunscreen, Heffernan tells WebMD. "On average, a person uses half the recommended amount to cover the area. So use a large amount. Cover the area thoroughly, and cover it from several different directions so you don't have any holes. You also need to reapply it frequently, because even though it says it's waterproof, it can get wiped off or come off with sweat."
Remember, even the best sunscreen doesn't give 100% protection, dermatologist Tanya Humphreys, MD, tells WebMD. "So even though you're not getting sunburned, you're still getting exposed to ultraviolet rays on cloudy days." Humphreys is associate professor of dermatology and director of cutanenous surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
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