The 2012 edition of The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal features medically reviewed, reader-friendly articles such as tanning, the increasing incidence of skin cancer diagnoses among young women, & the prevalence of melanoma among white males over 50.
Video games, television, and computer use have made our children more sedentary. Responding to the rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes spawned by this inactivity, pediatricians are urging children to go outside and play. However, sun exposure is strongly linked to all forms of skin cancer.
that substantially screens out UVR, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants. You can even choose clothes with a high ultraviolet protec- tion factor, or UPF, listed on them. [See "Ready to Wear Sun Protection: Clothing Fits the Bill" on page 70.]
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t On weekends, encourage your children to play outside before 10 AM or after 4 PM, when the sun is less intense, and look for children's athletic programs at indoor gyms and swimming pools.
t Be aware that some
medications increase the skin's sensitivity to light. There are many, ranging from non-steroidal anti-infl ammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to antibiotics like tetracycline. Ask your children's doctor which medications increase their risk of sun damage.
t Talk to children about sun protection. Sharing your concerns early on may help children understand why sun protection is so important, take responsibility for protecting themselves, and avoid risk-taking behaviors as they get older.
t Keep infants younger than six months out of sunlight and covered with UVR-protective clothing and hats. Sunscreen may be applied on sun-exposed areas when sun avoidance is impossible.
t Make sure children obtain 400-600 International Units (IU) of vitamin D a day safely — from food and supplements rather than UV exposure. [The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends 400 IU a day for infants and 600 IU daily for adolescents and children over 1 year of age.]
t Become a catalyst for action — urge local schools and communities to adopt sun protection policies, such as providing shade coverage for playgrounds. Parents can also contact local offi cials about banning access to tanning parlors for children under age 18.
Publicizing and improving adherence to all these guidelines should greatly reduce the known risks of sun expo- sure for children.
MARIBETH BAMBINO CHITKARA, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Stony Brook Long Island Children's Hospital. Her areas of expertise include care of the medically com- plex hospitalized child and pediatric medical education. In 2004, after losing her younger sister, Melissa, to metastatic melanoma, Dr. Chitkara founded The Melissa K. Bambino Melanoma Foundation, which advocates for early detection of skin cancer and supports research and educational projects aimed at melanoma prevention and treatment. Dr. Chitkara is a member of The Skin Cancer Foundation's Amonette Circle.
References available on p.97. SUNSCREEN ISSUES
Sunscreens, the most popular form of sun protection, vary in their protection against different wavelengths on the UV light spectrum. To achieve proper protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, most commercially available preparations contain a range of both chemical and physical sunscreens. Some evidence suggests that sunscreen ingredients may be absorbed into the bloodstream and other bodily systems, as ingredients have been found in both human milk13
and urine.14 This is a
theoretical concern, e.g., for young nursing infants given the increased permeability of their skin. However, no studies have ever shown toxicity from absorption of sunscreen ingredients in infants and children or any other humans, so sunscreen remains an important part of a complete sun protection program for children over the age of six months.
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