The sun's rays are risky for all of us, above all for infants, toddlers, children and teens. Early exposure to too much sun and childhood sunburns can lead to skin cancer over time. Too much of the sun's ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) rays burn the skin, which in later years can lead to basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer. Several severe sunburns in a child younger than age 18 doubles the risk of melanoma later in life. Sunburns can also age the skin over time, bringing on wrinkles, liver spots, and white splotches.
By protecting your child's skin, especially in the summer, you can help prevent sunburn -- and greatly cut skin cancer risk later on. All children are at risk. While pale kids are most likely to burn, darker-skinned children can also burn if they stay in the sun too long.
When it comes to older kids and teens, sunscreen and cover-ups are just as important, even though getting that tanned look is as popular as ever. Tanning booths are strictly taboo. A safer alternative is a sprayed-on 'mystic tan' or one applied with a lotion and sold at drugstores and department stores. There are lots of self-tanners out there but beware because they are not necessarily sunscreens. You will still need to apply a sunscreen after self-tanning. Suntanning and tanning booths are just not safe.
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