Children's sun protection: protecting young skin

In this sunny world, outdoor activities have become an important way for children to explore the world and grow up healthily. However, with the increasing ultraviolet radiation, the issue of children's sun protection has also received increasing attention from parents. Children's skin is more delicate and sensitive than adults and is more susceptible to damage from ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every parent to master the correct children's sun protection knowledge and build a solid protective barrier for children.

1. Understanding UV rays: the invisible “harmer”

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are invisible light waves in sunlight, mainly divided into three types: UVA, UVB and UVC. Among them, UVC is absorbed by the ozone layer in the atmosphere and hardly reaches the ground; while UVA and UVB can penetrate the atmosphere and directly irradiate the earth's surface, causing damage to human skin.

UVB: Mainly affects the surface of the skin and is one of the main factors causing sunburn, erythema and skin cancer.

UVA: can penetrate deep into the skin, promote melanin production, accelerate skin aging, and may also cause skin cancer.

Children have relatively less melanin in their skin, and their ability to defend against UV rays is weaker. In addition, they spend a lot of time outdoors and have a weak awareness of sun protection, so they are more susceptible to damage from UV rays.

2. The importance of sun protection for children

Prevent sunburn: Sunburn not only causes redness, swelling and pain of the skin, but may also cause serious consequences such as blisters and peeling, causing unnecessary pain to children.

Prevent skin aging: Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays will accelerate the skin aging process, causing the skin to become rough, sagging, and wrinkled.

Reduce the risk of skin cancer: Ultraviolet rays are one of the main factors that cause skin cancer. The accumulated amount of ultraviolet radiation in childhood has a long-term impact on skin health in adulthood.

3. Misconceptions about children’s sun protection

In the process of sun protection, many parents tend to fall into some misunderstandings. The following are some common misunderstandings and explanations:

"No need for sunscreen on cloudy days": Ultraviolet rays do not disappear regardless of whether the weather is cloudy or sunny. The intensity of ultraviolet rays on cloudy days may still reach a high level, so you cannot relax in sun protection.

"You only need to apply sunscreen once": The sunscreen effect of sunscreen is not permanent. With the passage of time and the washing of sweat, the sunscreen effect will gradually weaken. It is recommended to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

"Clothes and hats are complete sun protection": Although clothes and hats can provide a certain degree of sun protection, not all clothes can effectively block ultraviolet rays. It is recommended to choose sun-protective clothing marked with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor).

"Children have dark skin and do not need sunscreen": There is no direct correlation between skin color depth and the need for sunscreen. Dark skin also needs sunscreen to protect skin health.

4. Five principles of scientific sun protection

For children's sun protection, we can follow the following five principles to develop an effective sun protection strategy:

Physical occlusion is the main

Wear sun-protective clothing: Choose sun-protective clothing marked with UPF. Long sleeves, long pants and wide-brimmed hats can effectively block ultraviolet rays.

Use a parasol or awning: When outdoors, try to use an umbrella or awning to provide your child with extra protection from the sun.

Wear sunscreen

Choose the right product: Choose a sunscreen designed specifically for children with an SPF of 30 or above, and pay attention to whether it has broad-spectrum sun protection (that is, it can block both UVA and UVB).

Correct application: Apply sunscreen half an hour before going out, making sure to evenly cover exposed parts of the body, especially the ears, neck, arms and legs and other easily neglected areas.

Reapply sunscreen in a timely manner: Reapply sunscreen in a timely manner according to the child's activities and the durability of the sunscreen. It is generally recommended to reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating.

Avoid peak UV periods

Try to avoid direct exposure to strong sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when UV radiation is strongest, and reducing outdoor activity time can effectively reduce the risk of UV damage.

Increase your antioxidant intake

Increase your intake of antioxidants through your diet, such as foods rich in vitamins C, E and beta-carotene (such as oranges, kiwis, nuts and green leafy vegetables), which can help resist the oxidative stress caused by UV rays and protect skin health.

Check your skin regularly

Parents should check their children's skin condition regularly to see if there are any sunburns, spots or other abnormal changes. If any abnormality is found, they should seek medical attention in time and inform the doctor of their children's sun protection habits.

5. Specific sun protection recommendations

Choosing the right sunscreen

No irritating ingredients: Choose a fragrance-free, alcohol-free sunscreen suitable for sensitive skin to avoid irritating your child’s delicate skin.

Water and sweat resistant: If your child sweats easily or plans to participate in water activities, choose a water and sweat resistant sunscreen.

Spray or lotion: For younger children, it is recommended to use lotion-type sunscreen to prevent spray-type sunscreen from being accidentally inhaled into the respiratory tract; for older children who can cooperate, spray-type sunscreen may be more convenient and quicker.

Sun Protective Clothing and Accessories

UPF logo: Choose sun-protective clothing and hats marked with UPF values ​​to ensure that they can effectively block UV rays.

Lightweight and breathable: Choose light and breathable sun-protective clothing and hats to prevent your children from feeling stuffy and uncomfortable during outdoor activities.

Wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses: Wide-brimmed hats can effectively block ultraviolet rays from the face and neck; sunglasses can protect children's eyes from ultraviolet rays.

Education and guidance

Cultivate sun protection awareness: Cultivate children's sun protection awareness from an early age, let them understand the harm of ultraviolet rays to the skin and the importance of sun protection.

Participate in sun protection preparations: Encourage children to participate in sun protection preparations, such as choosing sun-protective clothing and hats, applying sunscreen, etc., so that they can have a deeper understanding and sense of responsibility for sun protection.

Sun protection measures for special occasions

Beach vacation: When on a beach vacation, in addition to applying sunscreen with a high SPF value, you should also wear a long-sleeved swimsuit or sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to reduce the damage of ultraviolet rays to your skin.

Outdoor activities: When you are outdoors, try to find shade to rest and avoid prolonged exposure to strong sunlight. If conditions permit, you can carry a portable parasol or awning.

VI. Conclusion

Sun protection for children is a delicate and important task that requires parents to pay enough attention and concern. By following the five principles of scientific sun protection, taking specific sun protection measures, and strengthening children's sun protection education and guidance, we can build a solid sun protection barrier for children, allowing them to enjoy the sun while staying away from the harm of ultraviolet rays. Let us work together to create a healthier and happier growth environment for children!