Careful sun protection for children is an absolute must
The majority of sun damage to the skin occurs during childhood. Unfortunately, sun damage acquired at an early age is particularly dangerous: It damages the skin more permanently, causes it to age prematurely and significantly increases the likelihood of developing skin cancer later on. This is why sun protection for children is a particularly important issue.
80 percent of all sun damage occurs during childhood and adolescence
There are three reasons why 80 percent of all sun damage is caused before the age of 18:
1. Children’s skin is particularly sensitive
Children’s skin is less protected against sunlight than adult skin because children’s skin is several times thinner, it is not yet able to form light calluses and it produces too little melanin to be able to provide sufficient self-protection. The skin’s own protection only builds up slowly from the age of two. In addition, children’s skin cannot sufficiently “repair” sun-related damage. This makes sun protection all the more important for children.
2. Children spend a lot of time outdoors
Children spend much more time outdoors than adults, e.g. when playing or doing outdoor sports.
Children are therefore excessively exposed to UV radiation. On Summer vacation, a third of all children spend an average of 15 hours a week in swimming trunks and bikinis. In addition, the radiation dose increases as water and sand additionally reflect the UV rays. It is therefore important to think about sun protection for children every day.
3. Children are not yet able to assess the dangers
While adults often notice that a sunburn is on the horizon and can still take action, children usually only express their discomfort when damage has already occurred. This is why adequate sun protection is particularly important for children.
For example, use the UV index of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, which provides you with a reliable forecast of the strength of UV radiation in your region. You can then specifically advise your child to stay in the shade, for example in the nursery garden or school playground.
Sun damage that occurs during childhood is particularly dangerous
Studies show that just three severe sunburns during childhood are enough to increase the risk of skin cancer in later adulthood by three to five times. As parents, you therefore have a very special responsibility to ensure that your children have adequate sun protection every day. By using Sola, you can safely manage your child’s sun exposure and reduce the risk of overexposure and sunburns. Keep their daily sun exposure within the recommended range not to exceed 70% of daily UV dose, allowing their skin to avoid unnecessary harm.
