Your child’s freckled nose may be endearing, but it’s also a sign that she needs extra protection against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
“Kids with freckles are fair-skinned, which means they don’t have enough of the chemical melanin to reflect and absorb harmful UV rays,” says Douglas W. Kress, MD, chief of the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Instead of tanning, they freckle.
Tanning is harmful, too. So, freckles or not, Dr. Kress stresses that protection against the sun’s rays — whether they’re ultraviolet-A (UVA) or ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays — is a must.
- UVA rays penetrate to deeper layers of the skin to create the tanning effect. People who tan have been fooled into thinking they’re safe because they believe they appear healthy, says Dr. Kress. “The UVA rays cause damage to the skin, which then becomes more susceptible to skin cancer.”
- UVB rays produce sunburn. “Children who get sunburned are more likely to get skin cancer,” he says. The National Institutes of Health reports that the rate of skin cancer has jumped substantially among young people over the past 10 years, especially among Caucasian girls.
Myth: The artificial light in tanning beds protects and prepares skin for sun exposure. “Kids are being diagnosed with skin cancer because of tanning beds,” says Dr. Kress. Tanning beds are popular among teens — especially girls. ”Forbid their use,” he recommends (strongly). While 28 states and four counties have laws regulating tanning facilities for minors, Pennsylvania has no such prohibition. “Law or no law, tanning beds are dangerous,” he says.
After all — as most children learn in school — our skin is the largest organ of the body. It performs a vast array of essential functions, including protecting everything inside us. It serves as a natural barrier against harmful substances and microorganisms, and regulates body temperature through perspiration.
Skin care: Stay out of the sun from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. You don’t have to go inside, but the sun’s rays reflect off of sand, concrete and other surfaces, reaching your kids in the shade. So even if you take cover under a shady tree or on a sheltered porch, be sure to rub a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your kids with a sunscreen protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. The SPF in sunscreen indicates the length of time you can be in the sun before risking sunburn.
- Sunscreen is effective if you apply it a half-hour before your children go outside.
- Use sunscreen on cloudy days. Those UV rays shine through clouds and hazy skies.
- Reapply sunscreen regularly throughout the day — especially after swimming or exercising. Even then, use waterproof sunscreen for active kids who swim and who sweat easily. Always read the product label for directions.
Remember to offer your children water, even if they’re not thirsty. If your child experiences dizziness, nausea, weakness, headache or stomach cramps, take her out of the sun. Rest and plenty of fluids should help, but do not hesitate to call the pediatrician for advice.
Sunscreen loses its effectiveness with age. Buy new sunscreen every year.