When it comes to sun protection most of us tend to give much significance to the skins of our kids. Both adults and kids alike need the same protection from the sun. As a matter of fact, the sooner they are exposed to the sun the more melanoma develops in their skin that increases the risks of developing skin cancer.
The skin of kids is particularly vulnerable to the UV rays of the sun. But that doesn’t mean you wrap them up and keep them indoors forever. There are a lot of things you can do to keep them safe.
The first thing we need to do is to clear all our misconceptions about the sun and how they affect our kids and what we need to actually do about protecting them from the sun.
Here are 5 myths about sun protection in kids:
- It is not harmful to get a tan:
This is the myth that is the most harmful of all, that is ignorance about the harmful effects of the suns UV rays.
The skins of kids are more delicate than ours and face the risk of burning more than us. The more they are exposed to the sun the more likely they are to develop basal-cell and squamous-cell cancer cells.
Any change in the color of the skin after sun exposure means that the skin has been damaged in some way or the other.
- Babies cannot use sunscreen:
Babies’ skins are delicate and should avoid the sun at all costs. But there will come a time when you need to take them out.
In these cases, paediatrics confirms the fact that it is safe to use a small amount of sunscreen. But do not forget to do a patch test before you apply it all over them.
- Wearing a sunscreen with SPF 50 will prevent burns:
If you do not use enough sunscreen or forget to reapply you stand the risk of burning your skin.
The ideal amount of sunscreen one should apply is about an ounce which should be reapplied every two hours.
- You don’t need sunscreen when you’re indoors:
The sun reaches us in places we tend to think it can’t affect our skin. For example sitting in the car or by a window on a sunny day is enough for the UV rays to penetrate your kid’s skin.
So slather on sunscreen on the exposed areas of your child’s skin even when he is indoors on a sunny day.
- If you use sunscreen you won’t get sufficient Vitamin D:
Research has proved that even people who wear sunscreen get sufficient Vitamin D. If you are so worried about not getting enough Vitamin D then include Vitamin D fortified foods in their diet so that you don’t risk any inadequacy in their diet.
So these are reasons enough to get you to apply sunscreen to your child. So keep your child safe and protected from the sun by applying sunscreen always.
