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Keeping Your Children Safe Under the Sun

Summary & Participants

If you're a parent, you know that kids love to spend their days outdoors and this means hours and hours under the sun. What can you do to protect their skin? Our panel of experts will discuss what every parent should know about sun care for children.

Medically Reviewed On: June 20, 2008

Webcast Transcript

SUSAN CINGARI:  Hello, I’m Susan Cingari, and thanks for joining this webcast from Miami.

Did you know that an estimated 80% of a person’s sun damage occurs before the age of 18?  If you have kids that means you need to give them extra protection when they’re outdoors in the sun.

Joining me now today to discuss sun care for children are two dermatologists from the University of Miami.  To my right is Dr. Mariano Busso, Dr. Busso, thank you for joining us; and Dr. Steven Shapiro to my left, also from the University of Miami.

Now you folks are in the sun capital of Miami.  You must see a lot of patients who have sunburns and need sun protection.  Let’s talk a little bit about kids under six months of age.  What kind of protection do they need?

MARIANO BUSSO, MD:  Actually, I would like to change the name of the state… they should make it the sun protection state.

Under six months of age, of course has to avoid the sun completely, carry an umbrella, wear protective clothing.  Remember the clothing has to be tightly woven clothing, that means that the sun cannot go through the clothing.  If you want to know whether it does or not, just put the cloth against the sun, if you see it shining through, it’s not protective; wear a wide brimmed hat and a sunscreen.

There was some controversy whether to apply or not to apply sunscreen under six months of age, because there was a concern that babies would not be able to produce enough Vitamin D, but that has been solved and that hasn’t been shown to be a problem, so it’s safe to apply sunscreen on the baby.  I would certainly try not to apply sunscreen that is alcohol based, just to make sure it doesn’t irritate the skin.

STEVEN SHAPIRO, MD:  Actually, as a parent of a six month old, I think it’s also great to keep plenty of water out there as well because they could become dehydrated very, very easily.  That’s one of the reasons why it’s probably better if they’re not out there to begin with, too.

SUSAN CINGARI:  What about strollers, when you put babies in strollers?  A lot of parents take their kids out in strollers.  If they have an overhead hang, does it protect the baby under six months from sunburn?

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