Be Sunwise for your baby and toddlers
Your skin is the first line of defence against infection and allergies. Healthy skin keeps moisture in which makes you less vulnerable to infection and dehydration. Healthy skin improves the overall health of a human. An infant’s skin is very fragile and not fully developed and differs from that of an adult.
Children need to be protected from the sun’s rays, most sun damage occurs in childhood due to the effects of exposure build up over years. Persons with darker skin are less sensitive to the sun but are also at risk for sunburn.
Terminology:
By understanding the terminology of sunscreens will make it easier for you to choose the correct sunscreen for your family.
SPF stands for the sun protection factor and is the amount of UV radiation required to cause sunburn on skin with the sunscreen relative to the amount without the sunscreen. In easier terms, SPF indicates to you how much UVB light (burning rays) a sunscreen can filter out. AAD (American Academy of Dermatology Association) recommends an SPF 30 or higher.
UVA is (ultraviolet A) and UVB (ultraviolet B) are different kinds of ultraviolet radiation. Sunscreens protect against UVB radiation and not all sunscreens protect against UVA radiation.
Broadspectrum: give protection against UVA and UVB rays and helps prevent skin cancer, easy skin ageing and sunburn.
Chemical sunscreens: protect you by absorbing the sun’s rays It contains one or more active ingredients including Oxybenzone or Avobenzone.
Physical sunscreens: protects by deflecting the sun’s rays and contain active ingredient Titarium Dioxide and or Zinc Oxide.
Water-resistant: Most sunscreens are water-resistant and need to be re-apply for example low water-resistant needs to be re-apply after 40 minutes and very water-resistant after 80 minutes. You need to re-apply every 2 hours even if the skin stays dry.
Waterproof: no sunscreen is actually waterproof due to the fact that sweat and water do wash the sunscreen off your skin.
SPF classification %UV radiation blocked
15 Minimum protection 93.3%
30 Good protection 96.7%
50 / 50+ Excellent protection 98%
Symptoms of sunburn:
Observe carefully for warning signs and dehydration. Out of the sun immediately if any signs of sunburn present and apply cold compresses on affected areas. Usually, the sign of sunburn appears 6 to 12 hours after exposure and the most discomfort is experienced during the first 24 hours.
Skin becomes red
Warm
Painful
Fever
Chills
Headache
A general feeling of illness
Severe blistering
General Information:
It is generally assumed that only the bright sun rays are dangerous but the invisible ultraviolet rays are harmful especially on a foggy day when children tend to stay outside longer.
Exposure is greater at higher altitudes
Ultraviolet rays do reflect off sand, water, snow and other surfaces. Infants younger than 6 months of age must be kept out of direct sunlight
Prevention:
A big hat and umbrella is important but not enough on it owns therefor
use sunscreen for protection against the damaging ultraviolet rays
Keep out of the sun in peak ultraviolet rays which is between 10 am to 4 pm
Dress your child in lightweight cotton clothing with long sleeves and long pants
Keep your child in the shade as much as possible, use a beach umbrella or similar objects to provide shade
Apply sunscreen 20 - 30 minutes before going out in the sun, this will give the sunscreen time to bind with the skin
Reapply every two hours if the skin was dry all the time, reapply every 40 -80 minutes if skin becomes wet
Parents need to role-play the use of sunscreen
Protect head, face, ears and neck from the sun by wearing a hat
When choosing a hat lookout for the following guidelines:
A flap that protects the neck
The front piece and flap must overlap
A bucket hat with easy fit with a brim of 5 cm brim
The hat must cover the face, neck and ears
When choosing a pram:
Check if the hood can adjust to block out direct sun
Consider an umbrella attachment
Use removable mesh window shields to keep out direct sunlight from coming in
Babies 0 - 6 months:
Keep out from direct sunlight
Avoid using sunscreen
Babies 6 - 12 months:
Use sunscreen suitable for infant skin and one that won’t sting the eyes
Use a broadspectrum sunscreen
Test on a small area before applying
Apply all the preventative guidelines
Toddlers / pre-school age:
Educate your child to be sun wise
Practise all preventative methods
Make sure that there is adequate shade for the children when playing outside
The use of sunscreen:
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30
Apply protection half an hour before going out
Use a truly water-resistant sunscreen
Apply sunscreen generously
Reapply the sunscreen every 40 - 80 minutes when been in the water and every two hours when not been in the water
To avoid irritating your baby’s skin and eyes use a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
Avoid using products that combine sunscreen and insect repellent DEET due to the fact that sunscreen needs to be re-apply and an insect repellent not to re-apply
Treatment for sunburn:
When the skin appears red, feels warm and is painful, the treatment option will be applying cool compressors or a cool bath
Consult a doctor when the following is present: blisters, fever, chills, headache or a general feeling of illness. severe sunburn is treated as any serious burns; hospitalization in some cases
Store liquids in a cooler box
Hydrate your child, give breastmilk or formula every few minutes when you out in the sun
The following articles provide more information on fever management and dehydration:
Fever management:
Dehydration in babies, infants and onwards:
References:
Information supplied by Johnson and Johnson Studies
Steven P. Shelov, Caring for your baby and young child
Fact sheet on being sun smart with infants, toddlers and children: https://cansa.org.za/files/2021/01/Fact-Sheet-on-Being-SunSmart-With-Infants-Toddlers-and-Children-January-2021.pdf
Infant sun protection: How parents can keep their baby safe:
Sunscreen and sun protection for babies: What parents need to know:
Sun safety for children and babies:
How to decode sunscreen labels
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