By John Clayshulte III, PA-C

Every year over five million skin cancers are diagnosed in the United States and over 8 thousand Americans die annually due to melanoma. Sadly, almost all of these melanoma deaths are preventable. While skin cancer risk can be affected by many different factors such as family history and medications, the vast majority are due to one major factor – ultraviolet radiation damage from the sun. This damage is not just due to the times you forgot sunscreen at the beach or that phase in your twenties when you went to the tanning salon.  It actually begins in early childhood; nearly as soon as the sunlight first hits your skin.

As a parent, I know that we all want to do our best to ensure a happy and healthy future for our children and good sun habits for your kids can help prevent skin cancer in adulthood. This is why it is important to address sun protection in your children from a young age. You can potentially make the biggest difference by protecting them now against cancer later and instilling good habits that they can carry into adulthood.  Additionally, you will help them slow the process we call “photoaging,” which greatly contributes to undesirable cosmetic effects such as wrinkles and dark spots.

When to start

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends beginning the use of sunscreen in your children at 6 months of age.  Prior to this, it is best to keep your baby covered and in shaded areas and to avoid outdoor exposure between 10am and 2pm when UV exposure tends to be the highest. UPF rated clothing is also a great option for protecting your baby. After 6 months, infants can begin the use of sunscreen regularly.

SPF

Most dermatologists and dermatology providers recommend sunscreen have an SPF of 30 or higher.  When used correctly, SPF 30 will block 97% of UV radiation.  While it is perfectly acceptable (and even a little beneficial) to use an SPF higher than 30, it does have diminishing returns and does not make your sunscreen last longer.

How often to use sunscreen

This depends entirely on the day.  Current research suggests that most sunscreen can last for about 6 hours if you are not active and are not sweating or getting wet. But sweating and getting wet reduces the effective time of sunscreen and in these situations the AAD recommends reapplying every 2 hours that your child is out. I usually give my patients and patient parents the following recommendations:

• Apply sunscreen to your kids once daily in the morning if they will be outdoors at all or riding in a car.
• For any outdoor activities, apply sunscreen 15 minutes ahead of time and then reapply it every 2 hours that you are out.
• Don’t forget that you are still getting UV exposure with winter sports! These count as outdoor activities. Snow can even increase your UV exposure by reflecting it.
• Use water-resistant sunscreen for any water activities such as swimming or boating.

Shade

While shade can be useful in situations where sunscreen cannot be used (such as babies under 6 months) it is less protective and not an adequate substitute for sunscreen in older children or adults.  This includes the use of wide-brimmed hats and parasols.  While these can be helpful, it is important to still use sunscreen on you and your children anywhere clothing does not physically cover.

Fidgety or ticklish kids

These can often pose a lot of difficulty and frustration for parents, but there are strategies that can help.  First, from as young as possible, encourage your children to apply their own sunscreen as early as possible.  They will need supervision at first and still may need help then with hard-to-reach areas.  But the more they practice, the better they will get and the easier it will be for you. For ticklish kids, a make-up brush can be used for sunscreen, and many (including my own kids) can tolerate this much better.  Dabbing a small amount and having them rub it in themselves can also help with ticklish kids and while training them toward independence.

Spray sunscreens

While often preferred by parents for their ease of use, spray sunscreens can be more difficult to ensure that the skin has been adequately covered. They also should not be sprayed near the eyes, mouth, or nose.  My professional opinion is that lotions and creams are better options for children.

Sun-protective clothing

This is an excellent option for parents.  It can help reduce your sunscreen bill and make reapplication much less inconvenient.  Similar to sunscreen, you want to look for a UPF rating of 30 or more and long sleeves are best. Hats are also very useful as it is impossible to apply sunscreen in long hair and hair does not entirely protect the scalp. Again, it is important to still use sunscreen on you and your children anywhere clothing does not physically cover.

Protect their eyes

Finally, don’t forget about your child’s eyes.  UV exposure doesn’t only affect the skin; it can also lead to an array of eye issues including cataracts, abnormal eye growths, and even eye cancers (including malignant melanoma). The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends sunglasses in all age groups with any outdoor activity. Child-sized UV filtering sunglasses are available from many retailers both in-store and online.

Schedule with Vanguard Skin Specialists for any Skin Concerns

Always remember that health skin habits aren’t just for adults.  If you have any concerns about the skin health of your child or yourself, contact Vanguard Skin Specialists today at (719)355-1585 or by filling out our online appointment request form.

John Clayshulte, III, PA-C has been specializing in dermatology since 2018. He specializes in medical dermatology and skin cancer diagnosis. As a father of two and a dermatology provider, he is well equipped to discuss sunscreens for children.