Staying sun safe this summer

By Dr Sweta Rai

Find more health based articles in our May/June issue, link found at the bottom of the page.

Sun protection is particularly important for babies and children as their skin is much thinner and more sensitive, making them more vulnerable to sun damage than adults. Studies have suggested that the majority of UV damage suffered by our skin occurs before the age of 20, and this increases your risk of skin cancer later in life. So protecting children is vital. Here are my top tips: Sunburn should always be avoided, as this is a sign that the skin has been damaged. Repeated skin damage over several years has been linked to skin cancer. Although less commonly known, a suntan is also a sign of skin damage, and this should also be avoided to minimise the risk of skin cancer. Babies should always be kept out of direct sunlight as they can burn easily and overheat, which can have serious health consequences. Whilst toddlers and children don’t need to avoid going out in the sun entirely, there are some simple sun safety tips worth following. The first line of defence from the sun should always be clothing and shade, with sunscreen providing extra protection. No sunscreen can provide 100 per cent protection from the sun, so this should never be solely relied upon. You are at most risk of sun damage between 11am to 3pm. During these hours the best way to protect your children’s skin is to stay in the shade. When spending time outdoors in the sun, children should be dressed in loose fitting clothing, a broad-brimmed hat which covers the back of the neck and ears, and sunglasses. Where possible, clothing with a unit protection factor (UPF) of 50 or above is best, although UPF-labelled clothing is not common in the UK. Exposed skin should be covered in a high protection sunscreen which offers a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and a minimum 4-star UVA rating. More sunscreen advice Sunscreen should always be applied when going outside in sunshine or cloudy weather. You can burn even when it’s cloudy; Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside so it can be properly absorbed; Apply sunscreen again at least every two hours and always after sweating, towel drying or being in water; Avoid ‘Once-a-Day’ sunscreens. If they are rubbed off, or you miss a spot, then there’s a risk of serious sun damage; Ensure sunscreen is not past its expiry date. Most sunscreens have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years; Check for easily missed areas like ears, tops of feet and hands; Apply sunscreen plentifully – for adults, 2 teaspoons of sunscreen to cover head, arms and neck and two tablespoons to cover your entire body while wearing a swimming costume; Try a coloured sunscreen designed for children which can help spot any missed patches of skin; Lead by example. Children are more likely to apply sunscreen if their parents do, so build a sun protection regimen into your own daily life. Dr Sweta Rai represents the British Association of Dermatologists. Find more information about skin protection in the sun by visiting https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/sun-awareness/