How to protect children in the sun
~Remember that infants must be kept out of the sun entirely, while children with light skin will burn easily.
~If the child is not exposed to direct sunlight, sunscreen is not usually necessary.
~Children should be encouraged to play in the shade, wearing good protective clothing.
~Sunscreen use does not allow an increase in the time spent in sunlight.
~Sunscreen must have sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Anything less is useless.
~Make sure you use enough sunscreen; half a handful (approximately 20ml) is usually enough for the child's entire body.
~Remember that some sunscreens come off through contact with water, sweating or rubbing with a towel.
~Re-apply sunscreen every couple of hours during a day in the sun, especially if they are in and out of water.
~Keep children out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when the sun's rays are at their strongest.
Five things to remember
~Small children should always be kept in the shade.
~Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm.
~Stay in the shade as much as possible.
~Good protection is provided by light clothes and a hat.
~Children should be given sunscreen with a high SPF (at least 30).
What you should know about sunscreen
There are several different ways to specify a lotion's SPF, so remember to check which system is being used when you buy a sunscreen.
For example, American SPF numbers are usually twice as high as the SPF numbers on European products.
This means that an American SPF 8 sun cream is in fact equivalent to European SPF 4. Ask the pharmacist if you are in doubt.
~Re-apply suncreen several times during the day.
~Remember that even when it is cloudy, 30 to 50 percent of the ultraviolet rays can still reach us, depending on how overcast the weather is.
What to do if a child gets sunburn
~Always consult a doctor if a small child or baby has been sunburnt.
~Consult a doctor if blisters or a rash appear.
~Consult a doctor if the skin is very red and painful. Consider calamine lotion to cool sunburn.
~Cool the sunburnt area in tepid water (approximately 25ºC) for 30 minutes to an hour.
~Be careful the child does not get cold.
~A pharmacist will be able to provide advice about aftersun products, some of which may be useful for cooling and remoisturising the skin.
