Female Speaker: From a summertime swing in the park to a trip to the zoo in the fall spending time in the sunshine is an integral part of childhood. So much so that 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to the sun occurs before they turn 18. This would merely be an enviable fact of childhood, if not for one important statistic.
Dr. Amy Paller: It has been shown in studies that children and teenagers in particular who have more than five sunburns have an increased risk of two to three-fold of later developing melanoma.
Female Speaker: Melanoma, a potentially lethal form of skin cancer is 20 times more common today than it was when our grandparents were growing up.
Dr. Amy Paller: Look at this sunburn. Does it hurt?
Male Speaker: Sort of.
Dr. Amy Paller: I think we're going to have to talk about how to use sunscreen today.
Female Speaker: And while the disease generally develops in adulthood, children who play unprotected outdoors may be laying the groundwork for future health problems.
Dr. Amy Paller: I think it's very important for parents to take sun exposure seriously and from the very first moment to protect the child.
Female Speaker: Because a child's skin contains less pigment than an adult's, children especially infants are more likely to burn. In fact, when unprotected on a sunny day, a child can develop a painful sunburn in under ten minutes. Susan Long knows this and isn't taking any chances with nine-month old Mckenzie or two-year old Taylor. With a history of skin cancer in her family, she has her own skin checked regularly by a dermatologist, and she takes extra precautions with her children.
Susan Long: They actually have sunscreen put on every single morning before they even get clothed regardless of whether or not they go outside and the whole reason behind doing this is because I want it to become what I would call, like a routine. I want them to think it's totally natural that you're supposed to put sunscreen on. When they're old enough to start making their own choices, they'll still think, hey, maybe I should do this. You know this is something that I've always done; you know Mom's always done, so I should do it too.
Female Speaker: Sticking to the shade between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. when the sun's rays are most intense is the surest way to avoid sun damage, but it's not always easy.
Susan Long: Right now Taylor's at an age when she likes to explore. Part of exploring is going outside and learning about, you know, the birds and the bugs and the grass, and just sort of going through the whole exploration stage. So, it's hard to say even for a parent to even have to stay inside I just think it's somewhat unrealistic, and so I think that you just simply have to instead prepare yourself to be outside.
Female Speaker: And parents shouldn't assume that an overcast day means it's safe to leave the house unprotected.
Dr. Amy Paller: Clouds only cut down ultraviolet exposure by 20 to 40 percent. If you're up in a higher altitude, if you're on snow or sand or light-colored cement, you're reflecting those rays right up into you and that increases the intensity as well.
Female Speaker: Although there are plenty of sunscreens marketed specifically for children, adult sunscreens can work just as well for them. Sunscreens should have an SPF of at least 15, 30 plus for lighter-skinned people. Waterproof or water-resistant sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays are the best, since they'll protect you against sunburns and signs of aging. All sunscreens should be applied liberally, in a thick coat, 20 to 30 minutes before heading outside. And they should be reapplied every two to three hours.
Dr. Amy Paller: If a child's in water, however, or is doing a lot of sweating, that child's going to lose that sunscreen more quickly. That means it's a great idea when the child comes out of the pool or out of the water, the lake, the ocean, to get that sunscreen back on again.
Female Speaker: Although there has been some debate over whether infants under six months of age should wear sunscreen, the American Academy of Pediatrics has made a recent determination.
Dr. Amy Paller: We feel there's no harm for applying sunscreen to localized areas, even under six months of age. Keep in mind, however, that when a child is under six months of age, the adults are in total control of that child and we don't have to expose the child to sun if we don't want to.
Female Speaker: But sunscreen is not the only method of protection. Clothes offer the simplest and often most practical means of sun protection. And don't forget the eyes. They're more sensitive in children than they are in adults. So sunglasses that block at least 99% of ultraviolet rays are not just adorable they're also an important safety measure.
Susan Long: She enjoys wearing her sunglasses but it's because they are some funky sunglasses, and she thinks it's pretty funny to do. McKenzie is only nine months old, and McKenzie's less inclined because she's teething. And so she teethes on her sunglasses rather than wears them. So hopefully the hat makes up for the difference.
Female Speaker: Besides giving them sunscreen, shades and shelter, what else can a Mom or Dad do?
Dr. Amy Paller: I think it's also very important for parents to set an example. Children learn from their parents, if the parent wears the hat, if the parent applies sunscreen regularly and frequently during the day with exposure, the child will learn that that's an important thing to do.
Female Speaker: Finally, although not everyone sunburns easily, no one is immune to skin cancer. So parents, keep them covered.
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