Today the American Academy of Pediatrics issued an alarming statement and policy urging parents across America to limit their children’s sun exposure. The AAP policy released “Ultraviolet Radiation: a Hazard to Children and Adolescents,” published in the March 2011 print issue of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 28), offering guidance to parents and pediatricians on skin cancer prevention and safe sun exposure practices. It stated, “Lifelong sun protection is recommended starting at an early age. Education about UVR exposure is important for all children, especially those at high risk for developing skin cancer: children with light skin and eyes, who freckle or sunburn easily, or have a family history of melanoma. Pediatricians should advise children, parents and teens about the dangers of UVR exposure.” It is important as parents that we teach our children to be responsible about the sun – it goes a long way in preventing signs of skin cancer!
Their recommendations for children were to:
- wear proper clothing and hats, timing outdoor activities to minimize peak midday sun (10 am-4 pm) when possible
- apply sunscreen
- wear sunglasses
- Infants younger than 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight and protected with clothing and hats.
The policy also urges support of a new legislation that will prohibit children under 18 from using tanning devices or going to tanning salons.
According to Thomas Rohrer, M.D., Secretary of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, “melanoma is the most common skin cancer in children. In addition, only six severe sunburns in a lifetime increase risk of melanoma by 50 percent. It is important that parents, teachers and physicians encourage sun avoidance and protection by monitoring their children’s moles and freckles for the ABCDEs—asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, diameter, and evolving; encourage children to wear at least 30 SPF sunscreen and reapply it every 2 to 3 hours spent outdoors…One study estimated a 78% drop in skin cancer risk if parents protect their children from significant sun exposure in the first 18 years of life.”
Scarily the AAP’s report also discusses that people of all ages continue to overexpose themselves to harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun, especially in tanning salons. According to the AAP’s report, “The use of tanning salons is a common practice among teenagers, especially females. In a national survey, 24 percent of non-Hispanic white teenagers 13 to 19 years of age used a tanning facility at least once. The intensity of UVR radiation produced by some tanning units can be 10 to 15 times higher than the midday sun. Along with the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Dermatology, the AAP supports legislation prohibiting access to tanning salons or use of artificial tanning devices by children under the age of 18.”
Do you think that minors tanning in tanning salons should be illegal and banned? If it is illegal to smoke before the age of 18 due to cancer and other health risks, shouldn’t tanning salons for minors be illegal too?
Take the proper steps and protect your children! Le Top offers swimwear (note: with no UV protection), but also cover-ups and hats to help protect your children’s delicate skin from the sun. Be safe and enjoy your vacations this spring!
(clockwise for top left) Le Top "Ship Ahoy-boys" terry hooded cover-up, "Beach Keen Monokinis" hibiscus beach dress and sunhat, "Sunny Duck-boys" cover-up shirt, swim trunks and hat, "Beachy Keen Monokinis" waves and bubbles beach dress and sunhat.
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