Enjoying the Summer Sun

Sunlight sustains life on earth, provides warmth, and is required for photosynthesis. Everyone needs a little sunshine! About 15 minutes of exposure a day promotes feelings of well-being and helps the body make vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones and teeth. Longer exposure to sunlight, especially exposure resulting in childhood sunburns, may cause many problems, from wrinkles to skin cancers later in life.

Sunscreens are products applied to the skin to protect against the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. But just how much protection they provide is a matter of debate. The sun gives off two kinds of ultraviolet radiation, called UV-A (which remains consistent throughout the year) and UV-B (which is significantly increased in spring and summer and especially during the mid-day period, 10am-4pm). Children at increased risk for UV radiation skin damage include those with fair skin, freckling or a family history of skin cancer.

Many brands of sunscreens are available, containing a variety of ingredients. The active ingredients work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering some or all of the sun’s rays. Most sunscreen products contain combinations of ingredients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration require sunscreen products to carry a sun protection factor (SPF) rating on their labels. This number tells how well the sunscreen protects against burning. The higher the number, the longer a person can stay in the sun without burning.

Sunscreen products are sold as lotions, creams, gels, oils, sprays, sticks, and lip balms, and can be bought without a physician’s prescription. Seeking shade is useful but because of reflected light a fair skinned person can still burn in less than one hour even while sitting in the shade. Clouds decrease UV radiation intensity but not to the same extent that they decrease heat intensity. Sand, snow, concrete and water can reflect up to 85% of sunlight intensifying exposure and UV radiation can even penetrating up to 2 feet underwater.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has proposed the following guidelines for children and adolescents regarding UV radiation exposure:

• Use sunscreen when there is a chance that the child may sunburn.
• Tanning beds should be avoided by those < 18 years of age.
• Avoid suntans and sunburns.
• Dress in protective clothing (cover to neck, elbows and knees), apply sunscreen, wear hats (with wide brims) and sunglasses when in the sun.
• Outdoor activities should be scheduled before 10am or after 4pm; limit exposure to peak-intensity midday sun.
• Use sunscreens with a SPF of at least 15. Apply regularly (every 2 hours) and after swimming, sweating or drying off with a towel.
• Use a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB.
• Apply sunscreen to skin 15-30 minutes before going outside.

The outside is a fun place to be for children during the summer. With proper protection from the sun’s harmful rays and by following a few simple guidelines, kids can play, have fun and remain safe all summer long.

Dr. Doug

Dr. James Douglas Campbell, MD, FAAP, MHA, LLC, is a pediatric health professional who advises La Petite Academy on the needs of our program as a whole, and provides consultation and technical assistance on child health issues. Dr. Campbell received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Florida and a Masters of Health Administration from the University of North Florida College of Health. He is Board Certified with the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has been taking care of children in Jacksonville, Florida since 1981.