Why are physicians
concerned about sunburns and suntans? For starters, too much sun
exposure can cause actinic keratosis, melanomas, skin cancer and premature
skin aging. They are all a nuisance and some are potential killers.
These problems, as
well as several others, are part of living in a sun worshiping culture.
To avoid these, we need to start from birth. The first two decades of
life are crucial in preventing later problems from over exposure to the sun.
Malignant melanomas are one type of cancer death we can prevent.
A single blistering sunburn in a child or teenager
will double that person's later risk of developing a melanoma.
How many of us haven't had a bad sunburn? Many of us take vacations in
the sun and enjoy the opportunity of coming home and showing off gorgeous
tans. Unfortunately, all this damage is cumulative. Each time
the skin is over exposed to the sun, it speeds the premature aging process
and increases the risk of subsequent cancers.
What about all those tanning parlors that claim
their tanning rays are safe? These tanning parlors became popular in
the late 1970s and began the myth that ultraviolet A was safe. This
myth has been disproven in numerous medical studies.
Ultraviolet tanning rays contribute to skin aging and
skin cancer, regardless of what anyone says.
Are sunscreens safe for children? Yes,
they are unless your child is allergic to them. To test for allergies,
dab some on a small patch on his or her forearm and observe for 24 hours.
If the test patch does not become red or itchy, it should be safe to use the
sunscreen. I recommend limiting a child's sun exposure during the
first year of life. However, if your children are going to be in the
sun, I recommend sunscreens for everyone.
For blondes and
redheads, I recommend a #15 or higher sunscreen and for brunettes, #8 to
#15. For infants under one year of age, I recommend at least a #20
sunscreen. Just for reference, a light-weight white t-shirt is
supposed to be equivalent to #30 to #50 sunscreen.
Do your lips need sunscreen? Yes,
particularly the lower lip, which has the most direct sun exposure. I
recommend either a medicated lip balm with built-in sunscreen or one of the
zinc oxide preparations. Most kids really enjoy the new colored zinc
oxide sunscreens.
In summary, I
recommend limiting sun exposure during direct over-head sunlight (i.e. from
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.), stay away from tanning parlors and sun lamps, and
remember that even on cloudy days you can get
sunburned. All forms of tanning are damaging to your skin, so I
would recommend moderating your sun exposure to preserve healthy and
young-looking skin.
Suntans,
Sunburns and Sunscreens