source from: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2011-06/07/c_13915106.htm
BEIJING, June 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The changes that lead to skin cancer may actually begin during baby’s first year, according to a new report in the July issue of Pediatrics.
Sun avoidance is recommended for children under 6 months of age, and older children should avoid midday sun and wear sun-protective clothing, wide-rimmed hats, and sunglasses.
New York City dermatologist Doris Day, MD, says that “newborns, infants, and toddlers have skin that is continuing to develop.” “Their skin is still evolving and maturing and it is really important to protect it,” she says.
The ABCs of Infant Sun Protection Day recommends keeping infants and toddlers indoors when the sun is strongest, which is usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., choosing clothing with built-in ultraviolet(UV) protection, and slathering on the sunscreen.
When choosing sunscreen for children, look to thicker zinc- or titanium-based products, Day says. “These are more opaque and sit on skin rather than getting absorbed." And zinc and titanium don’t irritate the eyes as much because they tend to stay in place.
“Infant and toddlers’ skin barrier protection is quite immature,” says Roya Samuels, MD, a pediatrician at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park.
“A child’s skin has structural quality that makes it more vulnerable to the effects of UV radiation, and this can result in an increased risk of later skin cancer.”
The sunscreen should have an SPF of 15 or higher, she says.
Reports indicate that one blistering sunburn during childhood can more than double a person's chances of developing melanoma later in their life.
Studies have shown that a person gets about 80 percent of lifetime sun exposure by the time they are 18. Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer for young adults 15 to 29 years old.
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