Throughout history, the sun has been a symbol of health and wealth. But of course, when something seems too good to be true there is usually a dark side.

Today we view the sun’s ultraviolet rays as responsible for more than 90 percent of all skin cancer. And there will be a million new cases this year alone. It is estimated that up to 80 percent of our sun exposure happens before we turn 18 years old, showing up later in life as wrinkly, leathery skin and age spots.

Two or more blistering sunburns as a child or teen increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. So it’s up to us to help protect our children while we still have some control over them.

Solar ultraviolet (UV) light is classified into two main categories: UVA and UVB light. UVA is believed to cause photoaging. UVB is responsible for the redness we get in sunburn and is at its greatest intensity during the summer; a time when children spend more time outdoors. It can also be reflected off sand, concrete, snow and water.

But there are a few ways to make the sun our friend.

Sun Avoidance

Avoid the times when the sun’s rays are their strongest, specifically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It’s best to keep your baby out of the sun during these hours.

Protect your baby even on overcast days!

• It’s best to keep babies less than six months of age out of direct sunlight. Move them to the shade, under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy.

• Wear protective clothing such as lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Make sure the clothing has a tight weave. Test it by holding it up to the light of a lamp or window-little light should come through. Cotton clothing is a great option.

• Wide-brimmed caps or hats with bills facing forward should be used to shield your baby’s face.

• Protect the eyes with sunglasses. Look for labels that indicate Ultraviolet (UV) blockage of 99 to 100 percent.

• Check the UV index for that day located in the weather section of the newspaper. This is a prediction of the intensity of UV light based on the sun’s position, cloud movements, ozone data, altitude and other factors for that day. The higher the number the more intense the UV light will be a midday.

Sunscreens

• Broad spectrum sunscreens that absorb both UVA and UVB light are recommended.

• Opaque sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) reflect and scatter the light making them especially useful for children with photosensitivity, or those who require protection from full spectrum UV light.

• The sun protection factor (SPF) is a grading system that measures the degree in the reduction of redness provided by using that sunscreen. The higher the SPF the greater the protection. For example, a person who would experience redness in 10 minutes can be protected for up to 150 minutes with an SPF-15 sunscreen. Sunscreens with SPF of 15 filter about 93 percent of UV light; sunscreens with SPF of 30 filter about 97 percent of UV light. An SPF of at least 15 is recommended in most cases.

• Sunscreens should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going into the sun. Be sure to use an adequate amount, rub it in well and cover all exposed areas. The average adult wearing a bathing suit would need approximately one ounce of sunscreen to adequately cover the sun exposed areas.

• Sunscreen should be used to protect children of all ages, including babies under the age of six months. Test the sunscreen on an area of your baby’s back for a reaction before applying it all over. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding the eyelids.

• Reapply the sunscreen every two hours after swimming or heavy perspiration.

• Pay special attention to covering your baby’s face, ears, nose, feet, hands and the backs of the knees with sunscreen.

A Few More Tips and Facts

• A suntan is not a sign of good health. A suntan is the result of skin injury and damage.

• Baby oil is not a sunscreen. This causes the skin to burn faster and does not offer protection to your baby’s skin and therefore should not be used for this purpose.

• Avoid sunburns—they can be dangerous!

• Indoor tanning is just as bad for your skin as sunlight. Self-tanning creams are an alternative.

• You can get sunburn in the winter due to the reflection of the sun’s rays off the snow.

• People of all skin types, even naturally darker skin, need protection!

Set a good example by making sun protection a family event. Teach all members of your family how important it is to protect their skin. Prevention of sunburn requires sun avoidance, protective clothing and the use of sunscreens. Skin cancer is rare in children, but start now to offer your child the best protection.

—Hannah Wilhelm, PA-C