Did you know that every time a child gets a burn in childhood, their chances of getting a skin tumor later in adulthood increase? When, how and with what to protect the skin of children and infants from ultraviolet radiation and protect against sunburn, how often should the sunscreen be renewed and should it really be renewed after each swim? What should be observed if a child has atopic dermatitis? Let's get answers to these questions in collaboration with Derma Clinic Riga dermatologist Dr. Ilzi Koh and others.
Which sunscreen is best for a child/infant ? Where on the body should sunscreen be used ? What is the best way to protect a child's sensitive skin from the harmful effects of the sun?
I recommend choosing a pharmacy product with SPF50+ for babies – children from six months of age (sunscreens that indicate that they can be used from six months). Sunscreen should be applied to the child’s entire body from six months of age, as clothing does not fully protect against UV radiation. The best way to effectively protect a child’s sensitive skin from the sun is to choose a combination – staying in the shade as much as possible + avoiding being in the sun during the hottest part of the day – (approximately) from 10:30 to 15:30 + light, breathable clothing and a wide-brimmed hat + applying sunscreen to the body.
There is no data on how sunscreen works on infants under six months of age. Therefore, infants under six months of age should be protected from the sun with shade and clothing, but if sun exposure is unavoidable, sunscreen should be applied to exposed areas and washed off as soon as it is no longer needed.
Myskin.lv recommends protecting children's skin from the sun:
ISISPHARMA UVEBLOCK SPF 50+ Mineral very high protection mineral filter cream, 40ml
ISISPHARMA UVEBLOCK SPF 50+ Spray high protection spray for face and body, 200ml
BIODERMA Photoderm KID SPF 50+ protective milk for children 100 ml
How long after application can I stay in the sun? How often should I apply sunscreen to a child/ infant during the day ?
Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going out in the sun and reapplied every 2 hours.
The older generation is worried about using sunscreen on their grandchildren . Sometimes they even say that even if they are in the shade, they don't need to apply it. So what exactly is the point – how often should you apply the cream? Or is it better to wear long sleeves and/or in the shade ?
Children are mobile, moving from the shade to the sun. Sunscreen should be applied even when in the shade, because the skin is exposed not only to direct sunlight, but also to those reflected from the walls of houses, window panes, sand, and water. A thin T-shirt or clothing that blocks UV radiation is preferable. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours.
How often should a child's sunscreen be reapplied when they are often in the water and does it wash off in the water ?
Often, SPF cream is “water-resistant,” as indicated on the product packaging. The claim “water-resistant” means that the sunscreen will protect while in the water, as it is well known that water strongly reflects light, but as soon as the child comes out of the water and dries off with a towel, the sunscreen needs to be reapplied because some of it has been rinsed off and some has been rubbed off with the towel.
Which cream would be the most suitable for a child with atopic dermatitis ? Can a barrier cream be applied over a moisturizer ?
Creams available in pharmacies, SPF 50+, yes, can/should be used on top of a moisturizing day cream, it is advisable to take a 20-30 minute break between applying the creams.