by Nora Plunkett
As families prepare to escape the winter weather for somewhere warmer this spring break, they should exercise caution when exposing their skin to the sun after a long winter indoors. Loyola University Health System (LUHS) pediatric dermatologists warn that kids are especially at risk.
"Protecting your child's skin from the sun after they have been bundled up all winter is critical to prevent long-term sun damage and premature aging," said Lily Uihlein, MD, pediatric dermatologist, LUHS.
Loyola dermatologists warn that those traveling to tropical climates are at an even greater risk for sun damage.
"The sun tends to be more intense in areas closer to the equator, giving you more exposure to harmful UV rays," said Wendy Schumacher-Kim, DO, pediatric dermatologist, LUHS. "Children also have delicate skin, placing them in even greater danger in warmer climates."
Having one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chance of developing melanoma later in life, yet less than one-third of all young people take the proper steps to protect their skin from excessive sun exposure, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Drs. Schumacher-Kim and Uihlein report that teaching children important skin health habits now can ensure that these protective measures become routine as they grow older.
They offer the following tips to protect your family's skin this spring break:
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily with an SPF of at least 30. Apply it liberally at least 15 minutes before sun exposure.
- Repeat application of sunscreen at least every 2-3 hours.
- Wear protective clothing outdoors, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, rash guards and sunglasses with UV protection.
- Stay out of the midday sun (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
- Use a higher SPF when at higher elevations.
- Avoid sunbathing and tanning salons before your trip. UV rays from artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sunlamps, are just as dangerous as those from the sun.
- Set a good example for your children by always using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.
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© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
by Nora Plunkett
As families prepare to escape the winter weather for somewhere warmer this spring break, they should exercise caution when exposing their skin to the sun after a long winter indoors. Loyola University Health System (LUHS) pediatric dermatologists warn that kids are especially at risk.
"Protecting your child's skin from the sun after they have been bundled up all winter is critical to prevent long-term sun damage and premature aging," said Lily Uihlein, MD, pediatric dermatologist, LUHS.
Loyola dermatologists warn that those traveling to tropical climates are at an even greater risk for sun damage.
"The sun tends to be more intense in areas closer to the equator, giving you more exposure to harmful UV rays," said Wendy Schumacher-Kim, DO, pediatric dermatologist, LUHS. "Children also have delicate skin, placing them in even greater danger in warmer climates."
Having one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chance of developing melanoma later in life, yet less than one-third of all young people take the proper steps to protect their skin from excessive sun exposure, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Drs. Schumacher-Kim and Uihlein report that teaching children important skin health habits now can ensure that these protective measures become routine as they grow older.
They offer the following tips to protect your family's skin this spring break:
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily with an SPF of at least 30. Apply it liberally at least 15 minutes before sun exposure.
- Repeat application of sunscreen at least every 2-3 hours.
- Wear protective clothing outdoors, including a wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, rash guards and sunglasses with UV protection.
- Stay out of the midday sun (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
- Use a higher SPF when at higher elevations.
- Avoid sunbathing and tanning salons before your trip. UV rays from artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sunlamps, are just as dangerous as those from the sun.
- Set a good example for your children by always using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing.
Explore further: Increased awareness about skin cancer needed for minorities
Medical Xpress on facebook
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Mar 24, 2014
More awareness about skin cancer is needed for minorities because they believe they are at low risk of developing it, says Henry Ford Hospital dermatologist Diane Jackson-Richards, M.D.
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Jun 20, 2011
Cheap, convenient and casual, baseball caps and flip-flops have a trendy charm. Those qualities make them must-wear accessories for teens, outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners or anyone trying to keep cool during the sweltering ...
Look for new, improved sunscreen labels
May 10, 2013
(HealthDay)—New labeling laws for sunscreen will help American consumers choose the product that provides the best sun protection, experts say.
Study: Beauty not disease motivates teens to wear sunscreen
Feb 13, 2014
After offering information about UV light and sun-protective behaviors, the two health-ed videos diverge: one describes the increased skin cancer risk of UV exposure and the other describes effects on appearance ...
Parents risk skin cancer by not practising what they preach
Aug 01, 2013
Forty per cent of UK parents (which equates to around 4.5 million) of children aged 16 or under admit they often forget to protect their skin in strong sun because they are concentrating on protecting their ...
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21 hours ago
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22 hours ago
Tongue tied newborns and their mothers will benefit from an intensive investigation of a case of a 16-day-old boy by UWA human lactation researchers.
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23 hours ago
Clinical investigators at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) have developed a new screening tool to help diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in children. Their findings are published in Pediatric Pulmonology.
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Mar 31, 2014
Fast food giants attempts at depicting healthier kids' meals frequently goes unnoticed by children ages 3 to 7 years old according to a new study by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center. In research published on ...
User comments
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