UV Protection For Kids
3 On Your Side: UV Protection For Kids ReportingJim Donovan PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
We've all heard how protecting our skin from the sun's damaging rays is important, especially for children. But a new wave of products aims to ease the worries of parents. 3 On Your Side's Jim Donovan shows you how you can keep your kids safe in the sun.
It's summer, and that means kids will spend a lot of time outdoors. Whether it's at the beach, the pool or in the yard, the sun can do real damage to a child's skin.
Mary Wark is a mother of four and her kids love to swim. And that means lots of sunscreen, especially for her two redheads, who are fair skinned and freckled.
"They need lots of extra protection, a couple times a day, especially after they get out of the pool," Mary said.
Eva Silva worries about sun damage with her kids too.
"We use the highest SPF that they sell and I apply it as often as I can," Eva said.
"We've seen the rate of skin cancer go up dramatically," said Dr. James Treat, a pediatric dermatologist with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Treat says a child's skin is much more delicate than adults because young kids haven't developed their full amount of melanin, the dark pigment in skin. The more fair you are, the easier you'll burn.
So companies are coming out with sun protection products like swim shorts and tops, hats and sunglasses designed to help in the fight against skin damage, including skin cancer.
"If you're out there in sun protective clothing that has an SPF factor associated with it, it really can make a huge difference" Treat said. And these products have a 50-plus protection factor which means they block over 98-percent of the sun's rays.
"I can't wait to take my daughter to the beach in her outfit because I don't think I'll be half as afraid as I am," Eva said excitedly. The sunglasses offer 100-percent UV protection for young eyes and mesh stroller covers are great for shielding the sun. "I think it's great, very cute, fashionable and it protects them, that's the number one thing," Mary said.
It takes about 10 minutes for the sun to do damage to your skin. So the bottom line, if you're going to be outside, cover up, no matter what your age.
SUN FACTS AND SAFETY TIPS : Facts About Sun Exposure* FACT: Unprotected exposure to the sun in the first 15 years of life more than doubles the chances of getting skin cancer as an adult. FACT: Nearly 80-percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 18. FACT: 90-percent of all skin cancers can be attributed to UV ray damage to skin cells. FACT: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the USA today. FACT: UV rays cannot be felt and are present whether or not it is hot outside. FACT: It takes less than 11 minutes for the sun to irreparably damage your skin. FACT: The ear, nose, lip and eye areas are very susceptible to skin cancer. FACT: A sun tan is a sign that the skin is already damaged. A sun tan does not protect the skin from further sun damage. FACT: Sun tans and sun burns increase your risk of skin cancer.
http://cbs3.com/consumer/3.On.Your.2.793757.html
We've all heard how protecting our skin from the sun's damaging rays is important, especially for children. But a new wave of products aims to ease the worries of parents. 3 On Your Side's Jim Donovan shows you how you can keep your kids safe in the sun.
It's summer, and that means kids will spend a lot of time outdoors. Whether it's at the beach, the pool or in the yard, the sun can do real damage to a child's skin.
Mary Wark is a mother of four and her kids love to swim. And that means lots of sunscreen, especially for her two redheads, who are fair skinned and freckled.
"They need lots of extra protection, a couple times a day, especially after they get out of the pool," Mary said.
Eva Silva worries about sun damage with her kids too.
"We use the highest SPF that they sell and I apply it as often as I can," Eva said.
"We've seen the rate of skin cancer go up dramatically," said Dr. James Treat, a pediatric dermatologist with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Treat says a child's skin is much more delicate than adults because young kids haven't developed their full amount of melanin, the dark pigment in skin. The more fair you are, the easier you'll burn.
So companies are coming out with sun protection products like swim shorts and tops, hats and sunglasses designed to help in the fight against skin damage, including skin cancer.
"If you're out there in sun protective clothing that has an SPF factor associated with it, it really can make a huge difference" Treat said. And these products have a 50-plus protection factor which means they block over 98-percent of the sun's rays.
"I can't wait to take my daughter to the beach in her outfit because I don't think I'll be half as afraid as I am," Eva said excitedly. The sunglasses offer 100-percent UV protection for young eyes and mesh stroller covers are great for shielding the sun. "I think it's great, very cute, fashionable and it protects them, that's the number one thing," Mary said.
It takes about 10 minutes for the sun to do damage to your skin. So the bottom line, if you're going to be outside, cover up, no matter what your age.
SUN FACTS AND SAFETY TIPS : Facts About Sun Exposure* FACT: Unprotected exposure to the sun in the first 15 years of life more than doubles the chances of getting skin cancer as an adult. FACT: Nearly 80-percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 18. FACT: 90-percent of all skin cancers can be attributed to UV ray damage to skin cells. FACT: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the USA today. FACT: UV rays cannot be felt and are present whether or not it is hot outside. FACT: It takes less than 11 minutes for the sun to irreparably damage your skin. FACT: The ear, nose, lip and eye areas are very susceptible to skin cancer. FACT: A sun tan is a sign that the skin is already damaged. A sun tan does not protect the skin from further sun damage. FACT: Sun tans and sun burns increase your risk of skin cancer.
http://cbs3.com/consumer/3.On.Your.2.793757.html
posted by Bruce at 11:32 AM
0 comments
