The sun radiates light to the earth, and part of that light consists of invisible ultraviolet (UV) intense rays of the sun. When these rays reach the skin, they can cause tanning or burning which can be visible right away. Skin damage includes liver spots or deep wrinkles which can worsen over time. With frequent sun exposure, skin damage can even develop into cancerous tumours.

Unprotected sun exposure is even more dangerous for children with:

• moles on their skin (or whose parents have a tendency to develop moles)
• very fair skin and hair
• a family history of skin cancer including melanoma

The bottom line is that you must protect yourself and your family from the sun's rays. All people, regardless of age, should take the necessary steps to protect their skin.

To help prevent sun damage while still having fun outdoors, take the following precautions:

Avoid the sun during high-intensity hours.
The sun's rays are most damaging from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reduce the time you spend outdoors during these hours. Even on cloudy, cool, or overcast days, UV rays travel through the clouds. Children are often unaware that they're developing sunburn on cooler or windy days because the temperature or breeze keeps skin feeling cool on the surface.

Wear protective clothing.
Cover your skin with clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats.

Use protective eyewear.
Not all sunglasses provide the same level of ultraviolet protection.  Darkened plastic or glass lenses without special UV filters just trick the eyes into a false sense of safety. Purchase sunglasses with labels ensuring that they provide 100% UV protection.

Use sunscreen.
Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors so that your skin has time to absorb the sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that states on the label that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays (referred to as "broad-spectrum" sunscreen). Infants have thinner skin and underdeveloped melanin so their skin burns more easily than that of older children but sunscreen should not be applied to babies under 6 months of age, so they must be kept out of the sun whenever possible.  

Sunburn treatment
When people get sunburned, they usually experience pain and a sensation of heat which becomes more severe several hours after sun exposure. You should not scratch or peel off loose skin because skin underneath the sunburn is exposed to infections.  Try the following remedies:

Take a cool (not cold) bath, or gently apply a cool, wet cloth or sponge to the skin to help alleviate pain and heat.

Apply pure aloe vera gel (available in most pharmacies or taken directly from within the leaves of the plant) to any sunburned areas. It is excellent for relieving sunburn pain and helping skin heal quicker.

Take pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and spray on over-the-counter "after-sun" pain relievers. (Do not give aspirin to children or teens.)

Apply topical moisturizing cream to rehydrate the skin and help reduce swelling. (Do not use petroleum-based products, because they prevent excess heat and sweat from escaping. Also, avoid first-aid products that contain benzocaine, which may cause skin irritation or allergy.)

 If the sunburn is severe and blisters develop, call your doctor.

"You don't need to hide away indoors to protect your skin. Just be smart about your sun exposure and take precautions to keep your skin healthy for years to come", MayoClinic.com.

For more information, click the following links. 

•        CDC
•        Kidshealth
•        Ecostinger
•        Berkeleyan skin protection tips

Page Updated: 24 November 2011