Under the hot summer sun, make safety priority number ONE!

As the weather warms and the sun shines brighter, be sure your little ones are greater protected. There is a lot of information available about sun safety and proper sun protection for your children. While sunscreen is one of the most protective resources, it’s not our only defense! Wearing hats, sun glasses and appropriate protective clothing can all play an additional role to keep our bodies and our skin, safe!

Each year, more than 3 million Americans develop skin cancer (ACS 2017). Did you know the greatest risk is the number of sunburns a person has had? But even more important, severe sunburns suffered during childhood (Dennis 2010). That’s why we want to keep our parents and our patients informed about the best defenses against the summer sun!

 

Recommended sunscreen use for our pediatric patients:

For babies younger than 6 months: use sunscreen on small areas of the body and face if protective clothing and shade are NOT available.

For babies older than 6 months: Apply to all areas of the body but caution use around the eyes. If sunscreen irritates your child’s skin, try a different brand or one that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If a rash develops, call us straight away.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released their 2017 Best and Worst Sunscreens Guide. For a list of the best sunscreens that are safe and effective for children, follow the link below!

http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/ 

 

In addition to sun safety advice, we have several recommendations to soothe and treat sunburn including:

*Adequate hydration to replace lost fluids

*Pain medicine to soothe sunburn (Ibuprofen or Tylenol as directed. Children <6 mos, Tylenol only).

*Keeping your child out of the sun until sunburn has fully resolved.

 

 

If you have any questions about sun safety or concerns about your child’s sunburn, do not hesitate to call us or come in for an evaluation!

 

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE SUMMER!!

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