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Kristi Isham recalls the teenage years when she purposely went out in the sun to get a tan, without wearing sunscreen. As a teen, she also patronized a tanning salon. Suntans were in. “I wanted to be dark like everyone else,” said Isham, the mother of two sons who lives in Temecula. As an adult, however, Isham has grown much more cautious and aware of the sun’s power. She wears sunscreen all year long, even on winter and cloudy days, and makes sure sons Brennan, 3, and Nathan, 7, get slathered with a coat every morning as well. She even grows her own aloe plants to cultivate for soothing gel in case anyone in the family gets a burn. “It cools the sunburn and puts vitamins in your skin,” Isham said of the aloe. You want to avoid excessive sun exposure and burns, because what happens to young skin today could haunt that child in the adult years. And that’s a mammoth challenge for any family in Southern California, where children by age 18 typically receive 80% of the sun’s rays they will take in during a lifetime. Not only is the skin in these early years most tender, exposure is at a premium. Summer daytime temperatures in Temecula, like throughout much of Southern California, are often in the triple digits, making children especially vulnerable to dangerous sunburns. With school-free days at the beach, park or backyard pool just around the corner, parents should consider how they will help protect their children from the sun’s damaging rays. A day at the beach without protection is simply no longer acceptable. By the numbers The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 1 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. The leading cause of most skin cancers is excessive sun exposure. “Studies have shown that sunburn before the age of 15 can come back 20 or 30 years later as either premature aging of the skin, pre-cancerous growths or even skin cancer,” says Dr. Vince Afsahi, a dermatologist in Tustin who has studied the sun’s effects and treats skin cancer patients. “The more they are burned, the more they are at risk,” he says. It’s especially important to protect children of all ages, from toddlers to teens, from the sun to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer as adults. Remember this: Children aren’t very good at protecting themselves; it really is a parent’s job. Consider the findings of a Boston University study, published in the journal Pediatrics, which surveyed boys and girls ages 12 to 18 about their tanning behaviors in 1999 and the previous summer: Only a third of the 10,079 kids surveyed said they routinely used sunscreen during the previous summer. Girls were much more likely than boys to report sunscreen use 40% versus 26% - but they also were more likely to have been sunburned at least three times. Most reported having at least one sunburn during the previous summer. Half who experienced multiple sunburns said it was worth it to get the tan that followed. Nearly 10% said they had used a tanning bed. Under normal circumstances, children receive three times the annual sun exposure as adults. Three or more episodes of sunburn before the age of 20 that require more than three days to heal increase the risk of contracting melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, according to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. What a tan really is Damage comes from the sun’s ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays. A tan is the body’s attempt to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays. Doctors say most skin cancers occur on parts of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, face, the tips of the ears, hands, forearms and shoulders. “You wouldn’t believe how common the tops of the ears are. I’ve removed skin cancer from the ears of patients as young as 25,” says Dr. Afsahi. People face an even higher risk for getting skin cancer if they have fair skin; red or blond hair; light-colored eyes; several moles, freckles or birthmarks; work or play outside; and have relatives with skin cancer, according to the website of the American Academy of Family Physicians, www.Familydoctor.org. This doesn’t mean the children have to play indoors all summer. Medical experts offer plenty of suggestions and tips that allow children to have fun in the sun while protecting their skin. Sunscreen and sunblock Using an effective sunscreen and using it properly is a huge step that parents and children of all ages can take to prevent dangerous sunburns while enjoying outdoor summer activities like swimming, biking and hiking. The American Academy of Dermatology urges parents to help their children avoid future sun-related health problems by insisting the kids wear sunscreen while exposed to the sun. Experts advise that sunscreen should be applied in the spring, well before the weather heats up, and that parents slather sunscreen on their kids early in the morning, before the bike rides and the dips in the pool All areas of exposed skin should be covered liberally, including “forgotten” spots like the neck, ears, hands, and the backs of the legs. One application of sunscreen is rarely enough, especially if youngsters are swimming or running around outside and sweating it off, experts say. Sunscreen should be re-applied throughout the day, and even sunscreens that claim to be water-resistant should be applied again each time after swimming. “The key is just getting in the habit of it,” says Dr. Afsahi. Experts recommend using a sunscreen or sunblock with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Dr. Afsahi prefers those that also contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to block the rays. There are many sunblock products available today that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and are nearly invisible, unlike the white zinc products used by the past generation. “It’s not your mother’s sunblock,” Dr. Afsahi says. Applying sunscreen to a squirming youngster might seem as hard as herding cats, but it can be done. Here are some suggestions for the application of sunscreen and fun: • Play connect-the-dots. Place dots of sunscreen on your child’s body and have him connect the dots by rubbing it in. • Have older children apply the sunscreen themselves and give them lots of praise for doing such a great job. • Give the kids a reward such as a sticker every time they put on sunscreen. Let them squeeze the bottle so they feel they have some control. • Let your children put sunscreen on mom and dad. After all, adults need it too. Time of day Dr. Afsahi says the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so it’s best to avoid being in the sun during those hours especially without sunscreen and a hat. When at the park, steer your children toward the play equipment in the shade, if possible. Many parks have multiple playground set-ups, one that is shaded and one in the sun. Don’t assume that a cloudy day makes it safe to ditch the sunscreen. Clouds and water won’t protect skin 60-80% of the sun’s rays can get through clouds and reach swimmers at least 12 inches below the surface of the water. Clothing Protective clothing also helps prevent sunburn. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends a wide-brimmed hat with a 6-inch brim all around to protect the face, neck and ears. While many kids may prefer baseball caps, they don’t protect the back of the neck or the tops of the ears. So shop for fun wide-brimmed hats the kids will like, such as Army camouflage-style hats for boys or colorful, pretty hats for girls. Children should also wear protective clothing in the sun and in the water, such as long-sleeved shirts made of tightly woven fabric or shirts made with special material and sold by a surf company. Girls and Boys Dr. Afsahi says it’s a common misconception among girls and women that wearing make-up or foundation in the sun will protect their skin. Foundation alone even those that claim to contain sunscreen are inadequate, he says, adding that girls and women still need to wear sunscreen or sunblock. Boys, on the other hand, don’t like to wear oily or greasy-feeling sunscreens because they fear getting acne. Dr. Afsahi recommends boys look for products that are “non-comedogenic,” which means they are meant for acne-prone skin and not likely to cause blackheads or whiteheads. Babies Babies have the most sensitive skin, so extra care has to be taken to cover them up. Doctors advise parents to keep infants and babies out of the sun as much as possible, especially during the first six months of life. Babies should be covered with a hat, long-sleeved shirt and long pants. For a newborn, a carriage with a hood or canopy offers good protection. Parents may also apply a small amount of sunscreen to exposed areas such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands. Choose a waterproof product that is moisturizing and not alcohol-based, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Longtime journalist Amy Bentley lives in Temecula with her family. Website resources The following websites include articles and information about sunburn, treatment and prevention: www.aad.org (American Academy of Dermatology) www.Familydoctor.org (American Academy of Family Physicians) www.dermadoctor.com www.ahealthyme.com www.healthlinkusa.com Skin cancer, defined Our skin has a big job - to protect our bodies against heat, light, injury and infection. Our skin also helps us regulate our body temperature, store water and fat, and produce vitamin D. Unfortunately, it’s also vulnerable to attack by a disease we all dread: cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States with more than 1 million new cases diagnosed each year. The occurrence rate of melanoma, the most dangerous form, has increased by 1,200% since the 1930s; in teenagers, it has increased by 100% in the past 10 years alone, according to Renata Mullen, a physician with the Dermatology Department of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. There are three main types of skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (together referred to as nonmelanoma skin cancer), and melanoma, the most deadly form. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common forms, and sun exposure is to blame for at least 90% of those skin cancers, according to Dr. Vince Afsahi, a Tustin dermatologist. The good news is that skin cancer is usually curable when treated in its earliest stages. It also is highly preventable. Studies have suggested that reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning salons decreases the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer. People whose skin tans poorly or burns easily after sun exposure are particularly susceptible to nonmelanoma skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. |
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