| You know enough to grab a tube of sunscreen if the family is headed outdoors. But did you think to pack a shot glass? That would be an accurate way to judge how much sunscreen (one ounce) it will take to cover the average-size adult from head to toe. Fill it three-fourths full and you’ve got coverage for one of the kids, but this is much more than most parents use. “The most common mistake is that they don’t use enough,” says Diane Truong, M.D., a SoCal mom and pediatrician with more than 10 years in practice. But it’s easy enough to correct. “Whatever you have on your palm, double or triple it,” Truong advises. And keep in mind that not all sunscreens are created equal. Most experts recommend choosing one with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 or higher, but that only tells you how well the product protects against UVB rays. These medium-wave “tanning” rays are strongest during summer, and during the middle of the day. But you also need to protect against UVA rays, longer-wave rays that penetrate window glass and water, don’t vary in intensity by time of day or season of the year, and are the bigger culprit when it comes to skin cancers. In the U.S., legislation has been proposed to set UVA standards, but hasn’t yet been implemented. So what’s a parent to do? |
| Label Reading |
| “What we’re left to do is really look at the label,” explains Truong, adding that there are two sets of ingredients that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Chemical blockers like avobenzone, parasol1789 and meroxyl sx work by absorbing UV radiation, thus protecting the skin. Physical blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide stay on top of the skin to block the sun’s rays. For small children and babies, Truong, co-founder of MD Moms (www.mdmoms.com) and the Baby Silk line of skincare products, prefers physical blockers because they go to work immediately (rather than requiring a 30-minute soak-in wait) and stay on top of the skin, meaning less chance of irritation. But to be doubly sure, “patch test” any new product you use on the back of your child’s knee, then wait 20 to 30 minutes and make sure no rash develops before applying to the whole body. “We have lots of moms come in with babies looking like little strawberries because they applied liberally without testing first,” Truong says. Another big problem is that parents forget to reapply sunscreen often enough. If you’re swimming or sweating, you need to apply every hour or two. Even if you’re doing nothing at all, you should reapply every two to four hours no matter what it says on the label. Truong points out that claims made on the label only have to be tested under very controlled clinical conditions, and aren’t subject to the same conditions you’d find with a kid at the pool, or on the beach or playground. |
| Cover Up |
| It can also help to cover your kids with clothes, but that protection only goes so far. “A white T-shirt only gives you an SPF of 5,” Truong says. So hold the fabric up to the light and see how much goes through to get an idea of the weave. “The tighter the weave, the better the protection,” she says. Hats can help protect the scalp, eye lids and ears, and Truong says that if you start kids wearing hats from infancy, they’re more likely to accept them as a normal part of going outside. If you can’t get the hat to stay on, definitely cover those sensitive areas with sunscreen. Truong recommends sunscreen sticks with physical block ingredients for the forehead, because they’re less likely to run into the eyes, and less likely to irritate if they do. The eyes themselves should be protected with sun glasses, because sun damage can lead to cataracts. Wraparound styles with polycarbonate lenses designed to block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best sun and shatter protection. How about just hitting the shade? “That depends on what you mean by shade,” Truong says. Remember that UV rays can reflect off water, sand, buildings and other surfaces, and also can filter through trees. If you’re window shopping, the sun reflects off the glass. And it can come through car windows. |
| On the Go |
| Also be aware of the sun while your child is in school. “We send them off to school early in the day when the sun is barely out,” Truong says. But at lunch time, they’re going to be outdoors. She advises packing sunscreen in your child’s lunch box so they can apply it at recess. Protection is equally important for folks with darker skin – even though they’re less likely to burn – because they are just as susceptible to skin damage from UV radiation as anyone else. More than 90% of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, Truong points out, and 50-80% of our sun exposure takes place before we turn 18 so now’s the time to get sun serious. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood can double your son or daughter’s risk for melanoma later in life. “Skin cancer is very, very common,” Truong says. “And it’s easier to prevent than to treat.” |
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