quick clicks

dads today articles

dads today q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Sun Smarts

A Crash Course in Sun Safety From Texas Children's Hospital Specialists

Just two severe sunburns before the age of 18 can increase a child's risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

"A child's immune system and cell repair mechanisms eventually will be compromised after repeated sunburns and tans, just like in adults," says Dr. Denise Metry, chief of the dermatology clinic at Texas Children's Hospital and assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. "Their bodies are unable to catch and destroy damaged cells, which can later grow exponentially and turn into skin cancer."

There are three types of skin cancer. Squamous-cell and basal cell carcinomas are cancers that often occur on areas of the skin that are regularly exposed to the sun, including the face, the back of the hands and the ears. The third and most dangerous type is melanoma, which is a cancer that begins in the skin and can spread to other parts of the body.

"Melanoma is one of the fastest growing types of cancer in the U.S., with the number of cases doubling in the last 20 years," says Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer, director of Texas Children's Cancer Center's long-term survivor program and associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "Several thousand people die each year from the disease. On average, children and adolescents get three times as much sun radiation as adults do and need special protection."

However, this does not mean keeping children inside all day to avoid the ultra-violet (UV) rays says Dr. Metry. It means being smart about the sun and practicing healthy habits.

Texas Children's specialists remind parents about the harmful effects of the sun's rays and provide these tips:

• Be a role model. Practice smart sun safety yourself so your children have a model for their behavior.
• Start early in a child's life. Start teaching children about sun safety early in life so it becomes a habit.
• Keep sunscreen handy. Pack a bottle of sunscreen in your child's backpack or carry some in your purse or in your pocket. Keep a bottle in the car.
• Talk to your kids about the sun and UV exposure. Explain the dangers of not being smart about the sun. Point out people who have sun-damaged skin.

Want to see more?

• Dealing With Extremely Hot Weather
• An All-Natural Approach: Products for Healthy, Beautiful Skin
• Savvy Sun Sense
• Swim Safely! Protect Your Child From Waterborne Illness
• Talk about it!

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.