As Brits. we are obsessed with the weather aren’t we? We wait for months for the sky to turn blue and for the temperature to rise and probably most years we get caught out on the first sunny day and turn a bit pink. We know that sunburn is harmful to our skin – it’s also painful and makes us miserable. For children, sunburn is dangerous so do your utmost to avoid it.

Expert advice on sun protection

The British Association of Dermatologists warns, "There is increasing evidence that excessive sun exposure, and particularly sunburn experienced when under 15 years of age, is a major risk factor for skin cancer in later life."

Dr. Catherine Harwood, a consultant dermatologist for Cancer Research UK, "We get around 80 per cent of our exposure to the sun before the age of 21,"

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Sun protection for reluctant children

It can be tricky to persuade your children to keep on their hats, let you reapply their sun cream and take a break in the shade. Here are our top tips for managing this situation:

• Let your child choose his own sun hat – it may be hideous but if he keeps it on, its ok.


• Always apply sun cream before you leave the house in the morning – when you get to the beach, your child wants to run off and play not stand still having cream rubbed in.


• Let your child choose a sun protection T shirt or suit. If your 6 year old feels “silly” he won’t wear it but there is some very cool sun protection clothing out there.


• Take some shade with you if you plan to be outside all day. A parasol or tent will provide respite from the sun and can be the basis of a fun game.


• Let your child choose his own sunglasses. They should be comfortable and preferably have a strap which wraps around the back of the head (especially useful for very young children)


• Don’t forget the extremities! Feet burn in the gaps left by sandals, necks are vulnerable areas as are ears. Young children with thin hair need scalp protection.
  
  Cancer Research UK has a SunSmart Sun Protection code:
  • Cover children up in cool, close-weave baggy clothing. Remember to change clothing after playing in water, as wet clothing can lose up to half of its UV protection.
  
  
  • Make use of shady areas, such as under trees, canopies or umbrellas.
  
  
  • Watch out for bare shoulders and necks - they can burn easily.
  
  
  • Get children to wear wraparound sunglasses.
  
  
  • Encourage children to wear hats, preferably with wide brims.
  
  
  • Use sunscreen that is factor 15 or more and remember to apply it generously 15-30 minutes before they go outside.
  
  
  • If children are swimming, remember to re-apply sunscreen afterwards, as it washes off.
  
  
  • Don't forget that it is possible for children to get burnt by British summer sun, so take care at home as well as when abroad.

  Sun facts

  The ultraviolet (UV) rays that come from the sun are classified into different wavelengths, namely UVA and UVB (there's also UVC, but this gets filtered out by the ozone layer and never reaches the earth). The majority of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface is UVA with a small component of UVB. During the British summer UV radiation is most intense between 11am-3pm British Summer Time (BST) or 10am-2pm Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
  
  It's the UVB rays that mainly affect the outer layers of the skin and are mostly responsible for causing sunburn. Compared to UVA, they consist of shorter wavelengths and are mostly absorbed by the epidermis, or the outermost layer of skin.
  
  In contrast, UVA rays consist of longer wavelengths than UVB and penetrate deeply into the skin, triggering the production of melanin, the pigment that causes the skin to tan

Have fun in the sun

Sunshine is also good for us; in some Scandinavian countries children are stood in front of light boxes during the long winter months in order to increase their vitamin D levels. We all know that a sunny day makes us happy and sociable and we all look better with a little colour in our cheeks. Just remember the scout motto of “Be Prepared” – sun cream, sun hat, sunglasses.

Have a great summer!