Sun safety - protect your kids from sunburn

Children’s skin is much thinner and lacks the adult’s natural defences so needs greater protection against the sun.

While babies under six months should never be exposed to strong sunlight and should be kept in the shade away from reflected sunlight, toddlers will want to play in the sand and paddle in the sea and older kids will want to explore and play, so follow these simple guidelines:

• Always read the instructions on sun protection products - their sun protection factors (SPFs) may vary, some are waterproof and others require less frequent application.
• Apply a high protection sunscreen or block at least 15 minutes before going out into the sun. It's best to do this before putting on clothes so you don't miss bits.
• Remember to apply on delicate areas like the ears and don’t forget hands and feet.
• Reapply frequently especially after being in water and towel-drying.
• Pop on a broad-brimmed hat to protect the back of the neck and shade the eyes.
• Get them to wear UV protection sunglasses.
  
• Avoid the sun from 11.00am to 3.pm when ultra violet light is at its strongest.
• Cover up with loose cotton clothing but remember that wet cotton lets through more UV rays so change into dry clothing as soon as possible.
• Give them plenty of water to drink to avoid dehydration.
• Spend time in the shade - tents are great for kids to play in.
  
• Be aware that dangerous rays are also reflected off sand -30 per cent, grass and concrete - 4 per cent and 100 per cent off water.
  
• Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day, the sun’s rays can still burn and even in April and September in the UK you may need sun protection.
  
• If a child does burn, remove him from the sun immediately and keep out of the sun until the skin heals – this may be anything from a day to a couple of weeks in extreme cases. Shower or bath in warm  water, pat dry and apply calamine lotion or an after-sun preparation. Offer lots of drinks to replace fluids.
  

The freckle factor
Recent research has shown that children who are frequently exposed to the sun, even though they are wearing a sun cream have a lot more freckles and moles on their bodies than other children. As the number of moles and any change in their shape can be an early indicator of a predisposition to skin cancers, it is wise to encourage kids to spend some of their time in the sun covered up and to play in the shade whenever possible.