Bright Ways to Protect Kids From the Sun’s Harmful Rays

When it’s nice outside, it can be hard to get your kid to come inside – which for many reasons is a good thing. Playing outside in the sun replenishes your child’s vitamin D supply (which is good for their bone health), and boosts their mental health and immune system. However, playing in the summer sun also comes with risks.

“Overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays can cause serious health problems, especially for kids,” says Shane Swink, DO, with Advanced Dermatology Associates, partner of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. “In fact, studies show that even one serious sunburn during childhood or adolescence more than doubles your risk of developing melanoma later in life.”

To help you protect the children in your life, Dr. Swink offers some sun safety tips:

Sunscreen is not recommended for children under 6 months of age, and in general, a baby’s skin burns easily. Because of this, it’s best to limit the time babies are in direct sunlight.

“Infants younger than 6 months of age are not well equipped to regulate their temperature and hydration status and can become very ill when out in the sun,” Dr. Swink says. “The best way to protect infants is to avoid the sun when possible, but it is OK to use a sunscreen for areas that may gain exposure if absolutely necessary.”

Children should have their sunscreen reapplied every one to two hours depending on the sunscreen label. However, if they are sweating a lot or just coming out of the water, they should have it reapplied right away (regardless of how long it’s been).

“It’s important that all kids – no matter their skin tone – wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher with the higher the better,” Dr. Swink says.

Broad-spectrum sunscreens are a good option for kids because they protect against both UVA and UVB rays, which can both damage skin.

There are two main types of sunscreen: mineral and chemical. While all sunscreen protects against the sun, mineral sunscreens are typically preferred by health care experts for a variety of reasons.

“Chemical sunscreen can sometimes lead to rashes like allergic contact dermatitis. That’s why I recommend mineral sunscreens, which sit on top of the skin instead of being absorbed,” Dr. Swink says.

When picking out a sunscreen, Dr. Swink recommends looking for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on the product’s ingredient list.

Sunscreen is a great choice for sun protection, but wearing a wide brim hat and sunglasses can help protect parts of the body that it can’t be applied to.

There are also pieces of clothing specifically designed to block the sun’s rays, such as rash guards, which is a great option for outdoor sports and playtime.

Try to stay in the shade when the sun is at its strongest.

“In general, the sun is at its strongest midday, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” Dr. Swink says. “If you can plan some activities in the shade during that time, or even take a break inside, that’s great. If not, keeping up with sunscreen and other sun safe measures is the best way to stay protected.”

When it comes to sun protection, keeping a few things in mind can not only prevent sunburn in the short-term, but it can also protect your children from related health concerns in the future.

“Especially during the summer, and all year round, the No. 1 thing I tell my patients and their parents is to wear sunscreen,” Dr. Swink says. “Like your phone, wallet and keys, you don’t want to leave home without it. Consider keeping some in your car or bag so you can always be protected and sun safe.”