Sun Protection for Kids

Posted by Diane Laney Fitzpatrick Jun 19, 2008

The sunscreen industry has been front and center in the news recently.

The new FDA rules on sunscreen, enacted last summer, won't take effect for another year, but the public has been made more aware of the importance of UVA protection on the bottle of sunscreen they buy.

Earlier this month, the devastating impact of failing to use sunscreen was spotlighted by a case in Kentucky. A father was arrested and jailed for letting his 2-year-old son go outside without sunscreen. The toddler had second-degree burns from the sun, including golf-ball-sized blisters on his skin, after being outside for just 90 minutes.

Internet chat rooms and blogs are abuzz with parents saying, "It's about time!" and others asking how a father can be charged with first-degree criminal abuse when seriously abused kids are routinely sent back to their parents.

Regardless of how this case turns out for the Kentucky family, it has implications for parents everywhere. I've always considered sunscreen one of my "Mom's Things to Do." Buying it, remembering to pack it, putting it on the kids, nagging the kids to put more on, and knowing the differences in brands, SPF numbers and types. Now I feel that if I don't do all these things, there could be criminal implications.

This summer, make sunscreen your constant companion. WebMD recommends these sunscreen guidelines:

• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors, to allow it to be absorbed into the skin.
• Shake well before using and use about an ounce (a handful) to cover your entire body.
• Use on all parts of your skin exposed to the sun, including the ears, back, shoulders, the part in your hair where the scalp is exposed, and under the edge of clothing, where shifting might expose more skin.
• Reapply sunscreen often throughout the day, especially after getting wet or sweaty.