Thursday, May 07, 2009
Soothing the rays: Protecting children from sunburn
A Roanoke pediatrician has tips for kids' safe exposure to the sun.
The Roanoke Times
File 2007 Stephen Johnston goes for a swim at a pool in Roanoke. Swimmers should get a new layer of sunscreen when they get out.
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This summer your guppy might graduate to minnow. Sand pails and small, plastic shovels will magically transform the beach into Cinderella's castle -- moat and all. And your little one -- fingers crossed -- could learn to pump his legs and swim all by himself.
As you begin planning these careless summer days, remember that the summer sun can cause havoc for many kids, resulting in painful burns and even trips to the doctor's office.
As expected, Dr. Mark McBride, a pediatrician in Physicians to Children in Roanoke, sees the largest number of sunburn cases during the summer. And sadly these cases usually will occur because parents didn't think it necessary to apply or reapply sunscreen. But McBride reminded that this innocent mistake could lead to more than a painful sunburn.
"Unprotected exposure to the sun can cause skin damage [premature wrinkling], eye damage [cataracts and blindness], immune system suppression and even cancer," McBride said.
McBride said the best protection is to avoid the sun's strongest rays, which usually occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
This is understandably not always possible. McBride added that sunscreen is very helpful, when used correctly.
Parents should begin with a sunblock with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 to 30. The lotion should also protect from ultraviolet A and B rays (UVA and UVB) and have broad-spectrum protection. Avoiding brands with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) will help reduce the risk of an allergy occurring, McBride said.
Children with sensitive skin should use a lotion with titanium dioxide. This type of sunblock is chemical-free.
Once you've chosen the right lotion, McBride reminded that it should be applied at least 30 minutes before your child is exposed to the sun and reapplied every two hours or after your child has been sweating heavily or swimming. And if there's no expiration date, definitely buy a new tube.
Sunscreen is not recommended for babies younger than 6 months. In this case, wide-brimmed hats and dark umbrellas can help parents protect their newborns.
Using sunglasses is important, too. Eye injury can occur in a few short hours. And if the glasses you've chosen don't say they have 100 percent UV protection, then they are not protecting your eyes. "Cumulative sun exposure can cause cataracts later in life," McBride noted.
It is true that unprotected sun exposure is more dangerous in children and adults with fairer skin, eyes and hair, but this doesn't excuse anyone with a darker skin color, McBride said.
McBride added that sunshine is very good for children because it's a primary source of vitamin D and that parents should remember they are helping their children create their own skin care habits.
"It is so important that we as parents are responsible for our children since they are not always capable themselves." McBride said.
