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Community Corner

Stars of Sun and Screen

It's time to get outside and enjoy the nice weather, but we want to keep skin damage to a minimum, especially when it's our kids.

Q: Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer. So how do we keep ourselves and our kids safe?

A: The best way is to stay out of the sun as much as possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. OK, even with a really good mid-day nap, we’re not going to be inside every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The next strategy is to cover up. Clothing can be your first line of defense. If you can wear long sleeves, do it.

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To see if your clothing offers ample protection, put your hand inside and see if you can see it through the shirt.

And there’s a huge assortment of long-sleeve swim shirts or “rash guards” available.

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Don’t forget a hat - the bigger the brim the better.

Sunglasses, too. … Check for models with 100 percent UV protection. Children’s sunglasses do not always provide full protection.

Remember, it’s always monkey see, monkey do. Personally, I wear my sunglasses religiously year-round and my son does, too. I tried a few pairs before I found ones he liked. We tried favorite characters but in the end the ones that fit the best - absolutely plain - won out.

His dad wears a baseball cap most of the time, too, so my little guy rarely leaves the house without both his hat and glasses. He’s very cool.

OK, on to sunscreen.

There is plenty out on the Web questioning the safety of the various ingredients in sunscreen. I admit that I have bought into some of the hype and use only California Baby no fragrance SPF 30 sunscreen on my son.

If you check medical professional associations’ Web sites, they strongly support the use of sunscreen as a safe and effective measure to prevent skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology (www.aad.org) issued a news release to that effect just last week.

The FDA does test the active ingredients in sunscreens but the other ingredients are not as closely monitored.

A Web site I find interesting is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database (www.ewg.org/skindeep/). I will let you decide whose advice to follow on your own.

So what should you look for in a sunscreen?

 SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and the professionals recommend using 30 or higher.

You also want to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreens will say UVA/UVB protection on the label, or be referred to as broad spectrum. That’s the same thing.

Then make sure you use it correctly for the maximum protection. It seems there is a lot of “user error” out there.

Apply sunscreen before you go out in the sun. You need at least 15 minutes to build up a good barrier.

I usually put mine on in the privacy of my bedroom to make sure I don’t miss any spots. We’ve all suffered the burnt strap mark or, worse yet, along the panty line.

I put my son’s on while he’s strapped in the car seat frequently.

Apply generously. If you read the bottle, the prescribed amount to apply is a lot. Lots more than I use. But using sunscreen sparingly cuts its effectiveness.

Reapply every two hours, or more often if you go in the water or sweat a lot. And reapply even if it’s “waterproof.”

In general, sunscreen should not be used on babies 6 months old or younger.

I found this information in the American Academy of Pediatrics 2011 Summer Safety Tips Fun in the Sun sheet.

“Babies under 6 months: The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and to dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However, when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.”

Lastly, remember to keep read the labels on any medications your child is taking as many will make your child more sensitive to the sun.

See you out there this summer!

How are you keeping cool in this week's hot weather?

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