Sun: Protecting your child's skin

​​Too much sun exposure can cause severe sunburns, including blisters, illness, shivering and fever. In the long term, too much sun exposure can also cause early aging of the skin and even skin cancer.

It is important to protect your child's skin from the sun. This can include applying sunscreens, wearing sun-protective clothing and avoiding the sun completely.

Information for babies

Always protect babies from the sun. Babies have more sensitive skin that is thinner than that of adults, so they burn more easily. Babies under six months should stay in the shade at all times. Sunscreens are not recommended for this age group.

General tips to protect the skin

• Avoid going out in the sun between 11am and 3pm. This is when the sun's rays are at their strongest. Do outdoor activities earlier or later in the day.
  
• The sun's rays can still reach your child on cloudy days.
• Even children with deeply pigmented (dark) skin require maximum sun protection.

Sunscreens

Sunscreens that your child can use on the skin:

• protect against the sun's harmful rays (UV rays)
• protect against sunburn
• help prevent sun-related skin changes such as wrinkles, pigment (skin colour) changes and skin cancer.

Choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB. These are the damaging components of sunlight.

Sun protection factor (SPF) refers to the degree of protection from UVB rays. It does not include protection against UVA rays.

Chemicals that protect the skin against UVA include:

• oxybenzone
• avobenzone
• ecamsule

Sunscreens that contain ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide protect against both UVA and UVB.

Choosing and using sunscreen

Follow these steps when choosing and using sunscreen:

• Choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Apply sunscreen liberally and often to all parts of the body that are exposed to the sun, especially the face and neck.
• Re-apply sunscreen every two to three hours, especially if your child has been sweating from doing outdoor activities or their skin has become wet, for example from playing in water or swimming.
  

For more videos from SickKids experts in collaboration with Youngster, visit Youngster on YouTube.

Other tips for reducing sun exposure

• Avoid tanning beds. Using tanning beds increases the risk for skin damage and skin cancer significantly.
• Avoid sunbathing. Look for areas that are shaded or covered instead of sitting in the direct sun.
• Wear loose, long-sleeved cotton tops and pants. These help keep your child covered and cool during the day. Cotton and linen are the best materials for staying cool.
• Wear a sunhat.
• Wear sun-protective clothing while outside or swimming.

Medications and sun exposure

Certain medications may cause skin to become more sensitive to sunlight. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Seek medical attention if

• Your baby is less than one year and gets a sunburn.
• Your child develops symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion including headache, nausea, weakness, heavy sweating and elevated body temperature.