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Home › Articles › Toddler Health › Sun Smarts

Sun Smarts

A Crash Course in Sun Safety From Texas Children's Hospital Specialists

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"Remember that you can't rely totally on sunscreen for your children's sun protection," says Dr. Metry. "It should be one part of their sun-protection program, along with wearing protective clothing, avoiding the midday sun (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) and checking the ultra-violet (UV) index."

Sun Safety 101

Children with the following characteristics are particularly prone to skin cancer. These characteristics include:

  • A fair to light complexion
  • A family history of skin cancer
  • History of sunburns early in life
  • Freckles (an indicator of sun sensitivity and sun damage)
  • Atypical moles or a large number of moles

Sunburns and overexposure to the sun have been found to compromise the immune system, reducing the body's ability to fight infections and disease.

Find hats with brims for children to wear in the sun. Baseball caps leave the neck and ears exposed. Loose-fitting clothing made from a tightly-woven fabric is a good choice. For children who are particularly sensitive, special clothing is available, which blocks out nearly all UV rays. A laundry additive called SunGuard also is available that lasts for 20 washings and provides an SPF of 30.

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