Sun Care
posted: Apr. 16, 2017.
As we welcome this unseasonably warm weather into the Pioneer Valley, our kids will be spending more and more time outside. While that's a good thing, it's important to remember to protect their skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers several recommendations for safe sun-related care.
Prevention of sunburn:
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Keep infants younger than 6 months shielded from direct sunlight. An umbrella or stroller canopy are great forms of shade to protect your infant.
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Cool, lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs help protect your child’s skin from direct sunlight.
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Avoid exposure in the mid-afternoon, when sunlight rays are at their peak.
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Sunglasses are important to protect the eyes from damaging UV rays. Your child’s sunglasses should fit well and have at least 99% UV protection.
Use sunscreen:
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For infants younger than 6 months, only use sunscreen on small areas of the body when shade is unavailable. Protecting your infant from sunlight is prefered over the use of sunscreen.
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For children and infants older than 6 months, apply sunscreen to cover all areas of the body that will be exposed to the sun at least 30 minutes before going outside.
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Select a sunscreen with an SPF of 15-50. The AAP suggests avoiding sunscreens with Oxybenzone as an ingredient
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Reapply sunscreen after the skin gets wet (swimming, sweating) and at least every 2 hours. There is no such thing as “waterproof” sunscreen.
If sunburn happens, keep your child well-hydrated. Burns to the skin cause the body to lose fluid. Do not allow your child’s skin to be re-exposed to direct sunlight until the sunburn has completely healed. Over-the-counter pain medicines may help alleviate your child’s discomfort.
Give us a call if:
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Your baby’s (less than 1 year old) skin is sunburned
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Your child’s skin is blistered or if they have pain/fever with their sunburn.
You can find more information here on the Healthy Children website.