REDUCING
kids’
sun exposure lowers
n i k scancer risk N LATER I
LIFE
With the hot weather and long days of summer here, people are spending more time outdoors. While many people are aware of the need to protect themselves from the sun, reducing children’s exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is especially important. In fact, teaching kids to be sun-safe now can benefit them for the rest of their lives. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood sunburns are a risk factor for skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation, a non-profit devoted to skin cancer education and prevention, offers a stark warning: suffering one or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing potentially-deadly melanoma later in life. But although skin cancer can be deadly, it is also highly preventable. There are several simple things you can do to reduce your children’s exposure to damaging UV radiation while still allowing them to enjoy the summer weather.
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BY NAVNEET DHILLON, M.D.
Play in the shade: The sun’s UV rays are most intense between 10 am and 4 pm. Remind kids to play – or at least take breaks – in shaded areas in order to limit UV exposure. Getting out of the sun can also reduce their risk of heat illness. Sun screen: Teach children to apply one ounce (about the size of a golf ball) of sunscreen to all exposed areas 30 minutes before outdoor activities. Teach them to cover areas such as the back of their ears and neck, and the tops of their feet and hands. Use a “broad-spectrum” sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, with an SPF of 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours, sooner if you are swimming or sweating. Sun-safe swimwear: Look for bathing suits that cover more skin – swim shirts, onepiece suits and long trunks come in fashionable colors and styles for both boys and girls. Many types of swimwear are now rated with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF); the higher the UPF, the more protection they provide.
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JULY 2014
6/18/14 2:35 PM