Her Health > Cancer > Show Your Kids You Care: Slather Them in Sunscreen

Admit it, you may not wear sunscreen every day, but what about your kids? Unless you follow them around all day with a broad-spectrum, SPF 15 (or above) lotion, you can�t be sure they are truly protected.

It takes only one blistering sunburn to increase your child�s future risk of skin cancer; five or more and the chances are doubled. What�s especially alarming is that the incidence of melanoma in children, while still rare, has doubled in the past 10 years.

The good news is that skin cancer is preventable. Since living life indoors is not the answer, here are ways to protect your whole family from the damaging rays of the sun.

Keep Kids Active

Make sunscreen use a habit: Teach your children to use it every day just as you encourage them to brush their teeth and wash their hands. Keep sunscreen in convenient places.

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapply it at least every two hours.

Read the label: Most sunscreens offer broad protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Be on the lookout for Mexoryl� and Helioplex�, two powerful new ingredients.

Seek shade and wear shades: This is especially true between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun�s rays are the strongest.

Advocate for sun safety at your children�s school: Do children go outside at recess without time to apply sunscreen? Does the playground have shaded areas? These are the kinds of questions to ask the school nurse.

No Sunscreen for Newborns
Children under six months should not wear sunscreen, nor should they be exposed to direct sunlight. Keep their arms and legs covered when you take them out. A widebrimmed hat is also a must, along with a hood or canopy on their stroller.

Teens Need A Reality Check
It�s hard to convince a teenager that tanning isn�t cool. Be firm, especially on the subject of tanning booths or salons. Self-tanning lotions are the safest alternative but most don�t provide UV protection. Remind your teen to use sunscreen every day.