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Summer Sun Safety for Kids

Block the sun, not the fun!

With temperatures peaking in the high 90’s this past week, we are reminded that summer is just around the corner. This means countless hours spent outdoors enjoying a myriad of activities from picnics at the beach to play dates at the park to riding bikes in the neighborhood to chasing beautiful butterflies to running barefoot through the sprinkler. The contagious laughter of children fills the air and, while the relaxation of the season is marked by a reprieve from the strict rules that accompany the academic year, it is more important than ever to be vigilant about one rule - sun safety. 

It is reported that one American dies from skin cancer every hour. This is alarming to say the least. Given that most kids get up to 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure prior to their eighteenth birthday, it is critical that parents are careful about sun safety.

If the right precautions are taken, parents can greatly reduce their children’s chance of developing skin cancer. The following sun safety tips will block the sun, not the fun!

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  1. Wear sun protective hats. Hats block sun from the face, ears, head and neck. They are a simple and effective way to reduce sun exposure.
  2. Apply sunscreen generously. As the first line of defense against sun exposure, sunscreen must be applied correctly. Children 6 months and older should be wearing an SPF of 30 or higher. All sunscreen used should have both UVA and UVB protection. For best results, apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before heading outside. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that sunscreen be reapplied every 2 hours. Even on cloudy, cool and overcast days the sun can reflect off of sand, water and even concrete causing incidental exposure. Be sure to apply lotion to the tops of ears and feet, lips and the part in your child’s hair, too.
  3. Avoid direct sun exposure between 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Seek shade when possible, especially during the peak sun hours of the day when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
  4. Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses protect the eyes from the sun and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the soft, delicate skin around the eyes. Be sure that there is a label on the lenses stating protection from UVA and UVB  rays.
  5. Wear (long) clothing. Protective clothing helps ward off UV rays. Pants and long sleeves are ideal, but not often practical. Choose lightweight clothing and test to make sure that the fabric is not see through as this would indicate lack of complete sun protection. It is important not to neglect sunscreen even when covered up.

 

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The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests keeping babies under 6 months of age out of direct sunlight. 

It is imperative that parents take sun safety seriously. Proper precautions taken now when the children are little will go a long way towards preventing sun related skin damage and, possibly, future skin cancer.

SPF: The sun protection factor measures the length of time a product protects against skin reddening from UVB, compared to how long the skin takes to redden without protection. If it takes 20 minutes without protection to begin reddening, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer -- about 5 hours. (Actually, it may take up to 24 hours after sun exposure for redness to become visible.) 

UVA: Ultraviolet-A : Considered the chief culprit behind wrinkling, leathering, and other aspects of "photoaging." The latest studies show that UVA not only increases UVB 's cancer-causing effects, but may directly cause some skin cancers, including melanomas.

UVB: Ultraviolet-B : More potent than UVA in producing sunburn, these rays are considered the main cause of basal and squamous cell carcinomas as well as a significant cause of melanoma.

- Definitions according to Dr. Charles H. Booras

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