As the weather warms up, most of us look forward to spending more time outdoors. While the warmth of the sun feels so good, especially after a cold winter, we need to remember that its ultraviolet rays are harmful to our skin. Ultraviolet rays can cause sunburn, skin damage, and in some cases skin cancer. The sun exposure we get in childhood can contribute to skin cancer as we age. Research shows that two or more blistering sunburns as a child or teen increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.
Sunscreen can certainly be helpful in protecting our skin from the sun’s harmful rays, but sunscreen is not always the most appropriate option, especially for babies. If your baby is under 6 months of age, sunscreen should only be used if other means of protecting the skin are not available, and only on small portions of the body. If your baby is older than 6 months, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more is recommended. Apply sunscreen generously and often; every 2 hours is recommended and more often if your baby is spending time in the water. Using a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide is recommended to prevent skin and eye irritation.
How to protect baby’s skin
- Avoid the sun from 10:00 am-4:00 pm when the sun is strongest.
- Keep baby in the shade (under a tree, under the canopy in a stroller, under a beach umbrella.)
- Dress in protective clothing – hat with brim, long pants, and long sleeves – fabric with tight weave is best, like cotton.
- Put sunglasses with UV protection on a baby’s face to protect the eyes.
- Set a good example by protecting yourself from the sun too.
- Be aware of the UV index. It predicts exposure levels on a 0 – 10+ scale, where 0 indicates a low risk of overexposure and 10+ means a very high risk of overexposure.
- Remember that UV rays can bounce back from sand or concrete.
- Remember that incidental time in the sun can add up to long–term sun damage (walking the dog, window shopping, walking from car to store).
For more “Sun Safety: Information for Parents About Sunburn & Sunscreen”, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.