Autumn and winter sun protection for children: What you need to know

Summer is winding down but the need for sun protection - especially for young children - is not. Damaging and even cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) rays are present throughout the year.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation "intense intermittent sun exposure" can eventually lead to skin cancer particularly melanoma. In other words the danger comes from those times when you have a concentrated exposure to UV radiation. This could occur while raking leaves on a sunny October afternoon just as easily as it could during a summer day at the beach.

Incidental sun exposure the kind that happens when you walk to your mailbox or spend a few minutes sweeping the porch accumulates over your lifetime and is linked to squamous cell carcinoma the second most common kind of skin cancer. It can also cause basal cell carcinoma which isn't usually fatal but can be disfiguring if not treated promptly.

Protect your children's skin

How can you provide the right kind of sun protection for your children? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the following steps can help protect your children from harmful sun exposure:

• Stay inside when the sun is strongest - typically midday or 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If your child does go outside during these hours they should seek shade when possible.
• Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 every time your child goes outdoors. Your sunscreen should provide both UVA and UVB protection. Use enough sunscreen to cover ears noses lips and tops of feet.
• Dress children in long-sleeved shirts long pants or skirts to help protect them. Tightly woven fabrics are best for sun protection and certified UV protective clothing is also available.
• Make sure your child wears a hat. Hats are important to help shade delicate skin on the face neck ears and scalp. Parents Magazine recommends a wide-brimmed hat in the summer and it will work just as well in the fall to help protect those sensitive areas.
• Exposure to UV rays can cause cataracts later in life. Wraparound sunglasses with maximum coverage can help protect against harmful rays. Remember that on cool cloudy days UV rays can still cause damage. The CDC notes that clouds only filter UV radiation - they do not block it completely.

• Be sure to read the directions on your sunscreen if you want to use it on babies who are less than six months old. For infants under six months the Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that the best protection is to keep them out of the sun entirely.
• Don't rely on sunscreen alone to protect your child's skin. While it's important to use sunscreen combining multiple methods to prevent excess UV exposure is the best option.
• If your child attends school advocate for sun safety policies and encourage your children to make sun safety a habit.

It may sometimes seem like a burden but when practiced regularly proper sun protection can become a normal part of daily life -- one that will be well worth the extra effort in the years to come.

Image source: Flickr