The importance of protecting your skin from the sun is something to be taken seriously, but it’s even more important for young children.  Children are in the process of building the foundation of how they will care for their skin in the sun while they are young. Since repeated sunburns and sun exposure are the cause of most skin cancers, teaching our children the importance of sun related skincare at an early age can help them create strong habits of health.  

Don’t forget! The little people in your life are also watching your sun protection behaviors.

Ideally, sun protection should begin from infancy.  UV rays can damage any skin, no matter how old or young it may be.  This damage can become more severe as it is repeated, and it is also nearly irreversible.  

An easy way to protect your child when it comes to summertime fun is to remember the ABCs for Fun in the Sun.

A stands for away.  Playing outside in direct sunlight should be avoided in the hottest part of the day, anywhere from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, depending on your location.  This is when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest and will cause the most damage to skin.

B stands for block.  You can block the sun’s rays in a multitude of ways.  Protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses are all great clothing options to help provide some coverage.  You can also seek shade by having your picnic lunch under the shade of a tree, rather than in the open sunlight.  Another important part of blocking is sunblock!  A sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 is an absolute necessity, as it is nearly impossible to cover all areas of the skin with protective clothing.  Your sunscreen should also be broad-spectrum (blocks both UVA and UVB), to make sure that it protects from all types of sun rays.

C stands for cover up.  It is even possible to find swimsuits that offer more coverage than some of the bikini or boy short options.  There are multiple companies who make really cute swimwear for kids with specially woven fabrics that offer even more protection from the sun! When not swimming, it’s always a good idea to go with light fabrics that cover more of your child’s body, such as long-sleeved shirts and pants.  Wide-brimmed hats are a great option, as well as sunglasses.

S stands for speak out.  Talking to family and friends, especially new parents, about sun protection is important.  You can also offer to share some of your sunscreen if someone has forgotten to bring theirs.  

In terms of infants younger than 6 months, shade and protective clothing are the optimal options for sun protection.  Awwwwwww 🙂 They are all so cute and cuddly. Keep them out of direct sunlight. If it is unavoidable, there are helpful items available like sun-protective clothing, wide-brim hats and sunscreen (like a zinc-oxide based baby sunscreen) applied to exposed skin.

An important factor to consider is that water, snow, and sand can be added dangers when it comes to sun damage. Shocker! Clinch the pearls!  These substances all reflect and intensify the sun’s rays which increases chances of sunburn. Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach, make sure to apply it on the slopes and at the lake, too!  

It’s important to check your children for any kind of spots such as moles and rashes that they may not have had before.  If you see something that you feel is not normal, reach out to a board-certified dermatologist in a timely manner. If you are lucky, you may even find a board-certified pediatric dermatologist in your area (rare gems).  It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your children!

Grab Dr. Candrice’s audio guide for expert secrets to achieving flawless and healthy skin.  

Don’t forget to connect with me, Dr. Candrice, your favorite, fun, board-certified dermatologist, your go-to girl for everything healthy hair, skin and nails.

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