Kids are more vulnerable to sun damage. A few blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person’s lifetime chances of developing serious forms of skin cancer. The best sunscreen is a hat and shirt. After that, protect kids with a sunscreen that’s effective and safe. Take these special precautions with infants and children:

Infants:

1. Infants under 6 months should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible. Their skin is not yet protected by melanin. So when you take your baby outside :
2. Cover up with protective clothing, tightly woven but loose-fitting, and a sun hat.
3. Make shade with a stroller’s canopy or hood. If you can’t sit in a shady spot, put up an umbrella.
4. Avoid midday sun — take walks in the early morning or late afternoon.
5. Follow product warnings for sunscreen on infants under 6 months old – Most manufacturers advise against using sunscreens on infants or urge parents and caregivers to consult a doctor first. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that small amounts of sunscreen can be used on infants as a last resort when shade can’t be found.

Toddlers and Children:

Sunscreen plays an essential part of any day in the sun. However, young children’s skin is especially sensitive to chemical allergens as well as the sun’s UV rays. When choosing a sunscreen, keep these tips in mind:

1. Test the sunscreen by applying a small amount on the inside of your child’s wrist the day before you plan to use it. If an irritation or rash develops, try another product. Ask your child’s doctor to suggest a product less likely to irritate a child’s skin.
2. Slop on sunscreen and reapply often, especially if your child is playing in the water or sweating a lot.
3. Choose your own sunscreen for daycare and school. Some childcare facilities provide sunscreen for the kids, but you can bring your own if you prefer a safer, more effective brand. Share EWG’s safe sunscreen tips and product suggestions with your child’s caregiver.

Sun Safety at School:

Sometimes school and daycare policies interfere with children’s sun safety. Many schools treat sunscreen as a medicine and require the child have written permission to use it. Some insist that the school nurse apply it. Other schools ban hats and sunglasses on campus. Here are a few questions to ask your school:

1. What is the policy on sun safety?
2. Is there shade on the playground?
3. Are outdoor activities scheduled to avoid midday sun?

Teens:

Teenagers coveting bronzed skin are likely to sunbathe, patronize tanning salons or buy self-tanning products. Not good ideas. Researchers believe increasing UV exposure may have caused the marked increase in melanoma incidence among women born after 1965. Tanning parlors expose the skin to as much as 15 times the UV radiation of the sun and likely contributed to melanoma increases. Many chemicals in self-tanning products have not been tested for safety; the major self-tanning chemical, dihydroxyacetone , is not approved by FDA for use in cosmetics around the eyes.

Tan does not mean healthy.

Here are a few more tips for teens:

1. Make sunscreen a habit for every outdoor sport and activity.
2. Find sun-protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses that you like to wear.
3. To parents of teens: Be good role models – let your teen see you protecting yourself from the sun.