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Your Skin 2020

Looking after children’s skin in the sun

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Dr Rachel Abbott

Consultant Dermatologist, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff and Spokesperson, British Skin Foundation

Were you told that your freckles were ‘sun kisses’ when you were a child? Or given oil to rub on your skin to make it tan? Luckily for our children, we now know that freckles and a tan are signs of damage to our skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation – usually from the sun. And that overexposure to sun damage causes sunburn, photo-ageing and skin cancer, particularly in people with less pigmented skin.


Infants

Sun safety is one of the few things that is straightforward for babies – never leave them in direct sunlight.

Use pram or buggy shades when you are out and about and be wary of traditional babies’ sun hats as these often only cover the top of the head.

Sunscreen is not recommended for babies as their skin is thinner, so their skin is more likely to absorb the ingredients of sunscreen and may develop a reaction to one of them.

Toddlers and young children

As with everything, sun protection becomes more challenging when children start moving. Get to know your child’s Fitzpatrick skin phototype (see table), which stays the same throughout life.

Children with less pigmented skin will need sun protection during the spring and summer in the UK, while those with deeply pigmented skin may only require sun protection when the UV index is high (>6).

Sunscreen is not recommended for babies as their skin is thinner, so their skin is more likely to absorb the ingredients of sunscreen and may develop a reaction to one of them.

General sun protection measures should be considered when the UV index is >3:

  • Seek shade between 11am–3pm (consider a tent with UV protection at the beach)
  • Use clothing to cover up (sun suits with UV protection are great when getting wet outside)
  • Wear a hat (legionnaire style – a baseball cap with a flap at the back – provides protection to the ears and neck and generally stay on when they are running around)
  • Wear sunglasses
  • Use high factor (>30SPF), broad spectrum (4*) sunscreen – preferably fragrance free to reduce potential allergens.

Older children

From the age of five and above children may want more say in their choice of clothing, hats and sunglasses to encourage them to wear them.

They can help apply sunscreen and at this age colourful or familiar branded sunscreens can help to keep them engaged.

Peer behaviour has increasing influence and so children may only want to wear their hat at school if their friends are wearing them too.

Helpfully, some UK schools have sun safety policies in place that ensure play areas are shaded, children are encouraged to wear hats outside, and sunscreen is provided when appropriate. Further support is available at www.sunsafeschools.co.uk

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