Just as we promised, Orlando Cosmetic Surgery brings you Protecting Baby Skin, Pt 2.
According to Pediatric Sun Skin and Safety Guidelines, “In 1935, 1 in 1500 children had a lifetime risk of developing melanoma, compared
with children born today,
who face a 1 in 33 risk of developing this form of cancer over the course of their life.”
Importance of Pediatric Sun Protection
Knowing this shocking statistic, the doctors and staff caution caretakers to realize the importance of Pediatric sun protection. Did you know that relative to its size,
a baby has more skin surface than an adult? Likewise, the skin barrier with protection is still developing.
Thus, a baby or toddler has less protection against the harmful rays of the sun and more sensitivity to chemical absorption.
In last week’s blog article, we explained the importance of protective clothing and sun hats for children. To these precautions, we add one more: Avoid the sun between
the hours 10 and 2. This is healthy not only for your child, but also for you. Here are a few keys to selecting a sunscreen, appropriate for children over two years old:
1. Do not purchase a sunscreen, marketed for babies or children. Instead, read the label and find a product with an SPF of 30 or higher.
2. Remember, water proof sunscreen does not exist. However, we highly recommend water-resistant sunscreen.
3. Your sunscreen, as well as your child’s, should be labeled broad spectrum. This means you and your child will be protected against both types of harmful rays from the
sun. The American Academy of Dermatology features an excellent infographic on “Sunscreen FAQS.”
4. For children, seek sun screen that features titanium or zinc in the label as active ingredients. Many chemical agents have not yet been given sufficient pediatric study.
5. For yourself, as we suggested in the previous blog, you need to apply sunscreen every 30 to 60 minutes and slather it on by the shot glass full.
For your child, apply as much as they can hold in their small cupped hands each time. Be very aware that even though, their skin still feels oily to the touch,
the sunscreen is wiped out when they get wet, sweat it off or have worn it for 30 to 60 minutes. Take the time to reapply it.
Another Enemy of Children’s Skin: Stinging and Biting Insects
We would be remiss if we did not caution parents about strong bug repellent. Here are some hints to assist you in preventing insect bites and avoiding toxic chemicals:
1. We suggest you avoid DEET or Picaridin. We also hope you will not use oil of lemon eucalyptus.
2. Be sparing with any insect spray you wish to put on a child. Wash any repellent off the skin when the child comes back inside. It is far better to put insect repellent on clothing, not on the child. We already know you would not let a young child put on his or her own repellent. Be cautious about him putting his hands near his eyes, mouth or nose. No bug repellent has been manufactured as edible!
Likewise, bury that bright colored bottle deep in the beach bag so little hands do not think it is a toy!
3. Never apply insect repellent as often as you do sunscreen. It is considered safe to put insect repellent over sunscreen. However, evidence suggests that the repellent can make
the sunscreen less effective. Again, we must ask you, as we did last week, just how many chemicals are healthy to use on your child at one time?
In spite of all our cautions in this blog and in our last one, it is quite possible for you and your child to enjoy some summer fun. Enjoy and be safe. Become a shade-seeker!
Thank you for reading our Orlando Cosmetic Surgery blog, and we hope you return next week when once again we bring you news and views on some of the latest research,
issues and topics in Cosmetic Surgery.
