SUNBURN SAFETY - Use Sunscreen Consistently

There is nothing better than spending a summer day at the beach or the
pool. However, it is vital to protect your kids from over-exposure to
the sun. Experts at Children's Hospital of Alabama urge you to take
precautions to help your kids avoid dangerous sunburns while enjoying
outdoor activities- especially since sun damage that occurs as early as
an infant's first summer can lead to skin cancer later in life.

"Make sure to stay in shaded areas as much as possible," says Kelly
Pinon-Smith, nursing educator with Children's Hospital. "Keep your child
covered, and using sunscreen is an absolute must."

Lots of good sunscreens are available for kids, including formulations
for sensitive skin, brands with fun scents like watermelon, long-lasting
waterproof and sweat-proof versions, and easy-application varieties in
spray bottles.

What matters most in a sunscreen is the degree of protection from UV
rays it provides. When faced with the overwhelming sea of sunscreen
choices at drugstores, concentrate on the SPF (sun protection factor)
numbers on the labels.

For kids age 6 months and older, select an SPF of 30 or higher to
prevent both sunburn and tanning. Choose a sunscreen that states on the
label that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays (referred to as
"broad-spectrum" sunscreen). In general, sunscreens provide better
protections against UVB rays than UVA rays, making signs of skin aging a
risk even with consistent use of sunscreen. To avoid possible skin
allergy, don't use sunscreens with PABA; if your child has sensitive
skin, look for a product with the active ingredient titanium dioxide (a
chemical-free block).

To get a tanned appearance, teens might try self-tanning lotions. These
offer an alternative to ultraviolet exposure, but only minimal (or no)
protection from UV light.

For sunscreen to do its job, it must be applied correctly. Be sure to:

* Apply sunscreen whenever kids will be in the sun.

* Apply sunscreen about 15 to 30 minutes before kids go outside
so that a good layer of protection can form. Don't forget about lips,
hands, ears, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck. Lift up bathing suit
straps and apply sunscreen underneath them (in case the straps shift as
a child moves).

* Don't try to stretch out a bottle of sunscreen; apply it
generously.

* Reapply sunscreen often, approximately every 2 hours, as
recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. Reapply after a
child has been sweating or swimming.

* Apply a waterproof sunscreen if kids will be around water or
swimming. Water reflects and intensifies the sun's rays, so kids need
protection that lasts. Waterproof sunscreens may last up to 80 minutes
in the water, and some are also sweat and rub-proof. But regardless of
the waterproof label, be sure to reapply sunscreen when kids come out of
the water.

Keep in mind that every child needs extra sun protection. The American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all kids - regardless of their
skin tone - wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Although dark
skin has more protective melanin and tans more easily than it burns,
remember that tanning is also a sign of sun damage. Dark-skinned kids
also can develop painful sunburns.

Be Sun Safe Yourself

Don't forget: Be a good role model by consistently wearing sunscreen
with SPF 30 or greater, using sunglasses, and limiting your time in the
sun. These preventive behaviors not only reduce your risk of sun damage,
but teach your kids good sun sense.

For more information on this and other children's health and safety
issues, visit our web site at www.chsys.org .

To see Children's Hospital expert Kelly Pinon-Smith discuss this topic,
visit this month's video .