Lloydspharmacy.com Health - Protecting children from the sun

Reviewed by Dr Stuart Crisp, consultant paediatrician

Protecting children from the sun reduces the risk of skin cancer developing later.

Why is it important to protect children from the sun?

Too much sun is particularly harmful to young children, who should be kept out of direct sunlight at all times.
Protecting children from the sun not only prevents painful sunburn, it also significantly reduces the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.
50 per cent of total lifetime sunlight exposure occurs in childhood.
Breezes or water can cool the skin of children playing in the sun, so excessive exposure to sunlight is not noticed until they are burned.
Some children are sensitive to sunlight and might develop a rash.

How to protect children in the sun

Remember that infants must be kept out of the sun entirely, while children with light skin will burn easily.
If the child is not exposed to direct sunlight, sunscreen is not usually necessary.
Children should be encouraged to play in the shade, wearing good protective clothing.
Sunscreen use does not allow an increase in the time spent in sunlight.
Sunscreen must have sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Anything less is useless.
Make sure you use enough sunscreen; half a handful (approximately 20ml) is usually enough for the child's entire body.
Remember that some sunscreens come off through contact with water, sweating or rubbing with a towel.
Re-apply sunscreen every couple of hours during a day in the sun, especially if they are in and out of water.
Keep children out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when the sun's rays are at their strongest.

Five things to remember

Small children should always be kept in the shade.
Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm.
Stay in the shade as much as possible.
Good protection is provided by light clothes and a hat.
Children should be given sunscreen with a high SPF (at least 30).

What you should know about sunscreen

There are several different ways to specify a lotion's SPF, so remember to check which system is being used when you buy a sunscreen.

For example, American SPF numbers are usually twice as high as the SPF numbers on European products.

This means that an American SPF 8 sun cream is in fact equivalent to European SPF 4. Ask the pharmacist if you are in doubt.

Re-apply suncreen several times during the day.
Remember that even when it is cloudy, 30 to 50 percent of the ultraviolet rays can still reach us, depending on how overcast the weather is.

What to do if a child gets sunburn

Always consult a doctor if a small child or baby has been sunburnt.
Consult a doctor if blisters or a rash appear.
Consult a doctor if the skin is very red and painful. Consider calamine lotion to cool sunburn.
Cool the sunburnt area in tepid water (approximately 25ºC) for 30 minutes to an hour.
Be careful the child does not get cold.
A pharmacist will be able to provide advice about aftersun products, some of which may be useful for cooling and remoisturising the skin.

Based on a text by Dr Eric Olsen

Last updated 18.06.2010