Sun Safety

Written By: Debriella Debrecki

Who doesn’t love to sit out in the sun?! We all need a little sun exposure to soak up all that

vitamin D, but we have to make sure we are being safe! (Especially our little ones!) We all

have to make sure that we protect our skin to prevent melanoma and skin damage.

Sunburn is caused when our skin’s melanin is not strong enough to protect the great UV

exposure. Too much sun exposure equals damage to your skin. There are a few easy ways to keep your children safe in the sun!

1. Use Sunscreen: The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that all

kids wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. I personally like to use SPF 50. When you are shopping for sunscreen, buy one that is “broad-spectrum”, as it protects from both the Sun’s UVA and UVB rays. And if you plan on swimming, make sure it is water-resistant. Don’t forget to reapply often!

2. Cover Up: Babies and young children have thinner skin and underdeveloped melanin,

the best way to protect them is shade and covering up as much exposed skin as possible!

3. Avoid the strongest rays of the day: The strongest rays of the day are typically from

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in our area. If your child is in the sun during these times be sure to reapply sunblock often. Remember that even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays still reach the earth and our skin!

4. Wear sunglasses and hats: Sun exposure not only damages skin but our eyes as well.

Sun exposure over time can cause cataracts later in life. Using sunglasses that provide

100% UV protection is your best option, then use a hat to provide your eyes with some

shade.

5. Double-check medicines: This tip is often left forgotten. There are some medicines that

make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. Make sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if

any of your prescriptions or over-the-counter medicines your kids take can increase sun

sensitivity. (It is usually antibiotics and acne medications).

So, what happens if your child gets sunburn? Sunburn is not very fun to deal with especially for

children. They will experience pain and itching and typically their skin will start to peel a week

after the sunburn. Encourage your kids not to peel the skin! This puts the skin that is underneath at risk for infection.

There are a few things you can do to help your child if they have sunburn.

1. Have your child take a cool bath, or gently apply cool, wet compresses to the skin to help

ease the pain and heat.

2. Apply pure aloe vera gel to any areas that are burned. You can typically find this at your

local drug store, or you can even buy the plant and use the gel inside!

3. If your child is old enough, give them an anti-inflammatory medicine (ibuprofen) to ease

pain and itching. (Doctors do not recommend giving children and teens aspirin to treat

sunburn).

4. Apply moisturizing cream to any itchy areas to rehydrate the skin.

5. If your child has blisters or complains of extreme pain bring them to a doctor, they may have sun poisoning and need treatment.

I hope these tips help you and keep you safe in the sun this year! Always wear sunblock and

keep your children safe!