Giving kids good skin protection habits can save them from the deadliest form of cancer

The summer sun often shines down on children at play, but it can cause lifelong health risks for those kids if precautions are not taken.

“Sun damage is cumulative over a lifetime and the tan or the sunburn that you get in childhood can have lasting effects,” says Dr. Robin Ashinoff, a dermatologist who notes one in five Americans develops skin cancer.

“A child has thinner outermost layers of skin and less melanin than adults, which puts them at higher risk for damage from UV (ultraviolet) rays,” adds Dr. Lovelle McFadden-Parsi, a pediatrician at CHOP Primary Care in Burlington Township.

And even if you don’t see a sunburn, exposure to the sun’s UV rays — still present on a cloudy day — can damage DNA in normal cells,.

“And that accumulates until a skin cancer develops,” says Ashinoff.

More: Here are more ways to keep your kids safe this summer

Indeed, Ashinoff says sun exposure is “the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer including melanoma, which is the deadliest form of cancer.”

She notes fair-skinned children are at highest risk, “but even very dark-skinned children can damage their skin and develop skin cancer as well as pigmentary problems.”

Why are children more at risk?

Doctors recommend children should wear a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a protection of at least 30 SPF.

Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

“If children refuse to wear sunscreen or are otherwise unable to wear sunscreen, parents can have the children wear cool, light-weight clothing that covers most of their skin, such as rash guards,” suggests McFadden-Parsi.

“They can also have the children wear big, floppy hats that protect the neck, ears and face,” she says.

Other sun-safety tips from McFadden-Parsi:

● Encourage the child to wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.

● Have them stay in the shade as much as possible.

● Avoid peak hours for sun exposure, usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Good habits start with the parents.

Ex-Phillies pitcher Jeff Singer, a Delran native, says the lessons and habits his parents instilled in him were crucial when going pro.

“My parents always made sure (sunscreen) was available and that I had it,” Singer says. “As you go through college and the pros, sunscreen is always around and available to use at all times.”

But fewer than 34 percent of Americans use sunscreen, according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology.

And only one in three sunscreen users reapply it every two hours, which is the recommended timeframe, says the AAD.

It reported another concerning statistic in 2023: One third of its survey participants reported having a child who was sunburned in 2022.

“I tell parents to make sure that their children are willing to apply sunscreen themselves,” Dr. Yasmin Kirkorian, a Washington, D.C., dermatologist, said in a press release about the survey.

“For their faces in particular, it’s often best to try a stick sunscreen because it’s easier to apply. I also recommend that they tell their children to go inside to rest during the times of the day when the sun is the strongest.”

Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, the Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times covering community news in South Jersey. Have any tips or stories? Reach out to [email protected]. Subscribe to stay in the loop.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Doctors warn a child’s sunburn or tan can have lasting health effects