You'll reduce your risk of sun damage and teach your kids good sun sense. Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Here's how to help kids enjoy fun in the sun safely. Why Is Sun Protection Important? How Do Sunburns Happen? UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
UVA rays pass easily through the ozone layer, so they make up the majority of our sun exposure. UVB rays are also dangerous, causing sunburns, cataracts clouding of the eye lens , and effects on the immune system.
They also contribute to skin cancer, and melanoma is thought to be associated with severe UVB sunburns before age Who Needs Sun Protection? Avoid the Strongest Rays of the Day Try to stay in the shade when the sun is at its strongest usually from 10 a. Cover Up One of the best ways to protect skin is to cover up. Wear Sunglasses Sun exposure damages the eyes as well as the skin. To treat a sunburn: Have your child take a cool not cold bath, or gently apply cool, wet compresses to the skin to help ease pain and heat.
Apply pure aloe vera gel available in most drugstores to any sunburned areas. Give your child an anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen or use acetaminophen to ease the pain and itching. Do not give aspirin to children or teens. They can also bounce back from reflective surfaces like sand, water, snow or concrete, making sun exposure a risk year round.
Sunscreens marked water resistant are required to state whether the sunscreen remains effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes when swimming or sweating. While people with darker skin may have some built-in skin protection because of a pigment known as melanin that filters more UV radiation, this natural protection only goes so far. Everyone should wear sunscreen. While sun-induced skin cancer may be rarer in people with dark skin, some studies suggest that when Black people are diagnosed with skin cancer , the disease may be in an advanced stage and more difficult to treat.
Poor awareness of skin cancer risk and delayed care often play a role. Sunscreen should actually be the last resort for sun protection, DeHaan says. You and your child might be able to approach this as a problem-solving activity. Give them some choice in what they wear if you can.
Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go outside, and reapply it every two hours, even if the tube or bottle says four hours. You and your child need shade and sun-protective clothing too. Sunscreen and older children or teenagers The best way to ensure that your older or teenage child wears sunscreen is to give them their own supply for using during outdoor activities like going to the beach, pool or park.
For example, you could buy some smaller tubes of sunscreen for your child to put in their bag. Some teenagers might find that some brands of sunscreen are better for acne-prone skin. You may want to use a sunscreen on your child if he or she is outside for an extended period of time during these months. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. Sunscreen and Sun Protection Sunscreen and sun protection are very important for children and adolescents. There are two types of sun rays that are harmful to the skin: UVA rays cause skin aging and skin cancer, such as melanoma.
UVB rays cause sunburns, cataracts, and also contribute to skin cancer. The product you choose should include one of these ingredients: Titanium dioxide Zinc oxide Avobenzone These tend to be thicker, but provide better protection for the skin.
How to Apply Sunscreen Apply to all exposed skin at least 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every 2 hours and after water exposure, such as swimming or sweating. Reapply the sunscreen when outdoors in both sunny and cloudy weather.
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