Children’s Skin Types Should Dictate Approach to Sun Exposure, Protection
Compared to past generations, many parents today have a better understanding of the importance of using sunscreen to protect their children from the sun’s ultraviolet light. What some parents don’t take into account when providing protection, however, is their children’s skin type.
“The fact is that not all children need sunscreen,” says Susan Bayliss, MD, director of pediatric dermatology at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for the past 18 years. “Children with darker skin – for instance, those of Mediterranean or African descent – have the advantage of natural protection from the sun. For these children, it’s important to make sure sensitive areas such as the lips or tops of their feet are protected. But applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF on all exposed parts of their body doesn’t benefit them.”
It could, in fact, cause some harm. “The built-in protection of darker-skinned children already hinders their ability to absorb vitamin D. Sunscreen further prevents them from absorbing adequate amounts of this vital nutrient,” explains Dr. Bayliss.
On the other hand, for light-skinned children – especially redheads who always burn and never tan – Dr. Bayliss advocates going beyond sunscreen and having these children covered with clothing that blocks the sun’s damaging rays.
“Lotion needs to be constantly reapplied and there’s no guarantee that a spot won’t be missed,” she says. “It’s better for these children to wear surfer shirts that block UV light but still allow them to stay cool. Convincing the children this is a neat thing to do – ‘You get to wear a surfer shirt!’ – can help take away the anxiety of having to wear something different than the other kids.”
She adds, “These are the children who should only go to the beach in the morning and evening, but that’s not always practical. Having them wear surfer shirts from dawn to dusk helps solve the problem. And there is less worry about vitamin D since their skin absorbs it more readily than children with darker skin.”
Dr. Bayliss also encourages her patients’ parents to be diligent about sun protection and educating their children about the dangers of sunburn when they are young. Once they become teenagers, it’s likely too late – they probably will do whatever they want.
“If children are protected as youngsters, they are more inclined to continue using sunscreen on their own as they get older,” says Dr. Bayliss. “As much as possible, it’s important to make teenagers realize that tanning beds are as dangerous as being out in the sun, and that their skin type doesn’t change. If they burn and don’t tan when sunbathing, they will do the same in a tanning bed. The quality of today’s self-tanning products is such that they don’t need to take these risky actions.”
As another means of ensuring healthy skin, Dr. Bayliss advises parents to be aware of the moles present on their children’s bodies. If they think one is changing, they should examine it on the same date once a month over several months. Taking a photo each month serves as an excellent means of recording any changes.
“Melanoma is rare in children but its incidence in 20 and 30 year olds is increasing,” says Dr. Bayliss. “One way to stop this trend is to educate our children at a young age about ways to protect themselves.”
