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Skipping Sunscreen - How Bad?
Filed under: Health
"Is that sunscreen in your hand?" Photo courtesy of stockxchange.com.
So when I got this question, I was eager to find out the answer: "How bad is it to leave off the sunscreen sometimes? I mean, if my kids run out the door for a few hours to play in the late afternoon, is that fine? Isn't vitamin D good for them?"
To find out, I called Dr. Fred Kemp, a dermatologist in Illinois at the Dreyer Medical Clinic, who often sees kids and families in his practice.
So, how wrong is it if the children run out the door without the 'screen now and again, I asked. Dr. Kemp was not supportive of this idea.
"Late afternoon is not as bad as mid-day," he says. "But it's better to use sunscreen all of the time. Sun damage is cumulative and the more you get, the more aging changes will develop over the years and there is also a greater likelihood to develop skin cancer." Dr. Kemp agrees that not all situations are equal -- fair skinned children are more at risk than those with darker skin, and that sun damage is more likely if you live closer to the equator.
But all risk factor talk aside, Kemp says you really should put sunscreen on the kids every day. Here are some tips for making that joyous activity less of a smackdown:
Make it a routine. On school days we do this and it really helps; every day we: brush hair, brush teeth, wash face, apply sunscreen. Remember Pavlov? They may not love it but at least they know what's coming.
Try the pump. Kemp recommends pump sunscreens (which are sometimes more pricey) because they're so much easier (and faster) to apply.
Be playful. If you're 'screening up more than one child, line them up and do their body parts assembly-style (this is also a lot easier with the pump sprays). You can also let your child "help" you, as long as you go over those same parts again yourself since kids tend to miss spots (leaving you with a tiny handprint-shaped burn outline, not that I've ever seen that personally of course).
Don't forget the scalp. A burn on the hair-part is no fun. And Kemp says if kids have a short haircut, the sun can penetrate those little locks leaving your child with a full-head burn (ow).
So: How bad to skip the sunscreen? It's not a good idea, according to Kemp, who knocked down all the theories about vitamin D ("they'll get enough through the sunscreen or if needed you can supplement with vitamins") and "it's just this once" (making it a habit sets them up for a lifetime of smart sun-protection). So there you have it. Sunscreen: On. Have a sunny day!
Have you had a less-than-perfect parenting moment and you're wondering, "How bad"? Send it to PrincessLvsPink@Gmail.com and it could get addressed in this column. If you know a smart way to get kids to wear sunscreen without complaining, please share in the comments!
Sabrina Weill is editor-in-chief of PrincessLovesPink.com.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
6-11-2009 @ 2:02PM
Sandyone said...He didn't address the problems caused by the chemicals in the sunscreen, and what kind of health problems they can cause with excessive use.
Reply
6-11-2009 @ 3:39PM
LS said...sssshhhhhhhhh, sandy!!! You're not supposed to think stuff like that!!! Don't you know that Sun Is BAD???? That's the end of the conversation. Now stop thinking for yourself and become one of the mind-numbed-drones.
6-11-2009 @ 4:54PM
Wolfster said...I never used sunscreen as a child. Never got sunburned because we knew when to go in the shade. It wasn't until I began using it regularly as an adult that I began to get sick, and that my vitamin D levels plummeted. Sunscreen is a damn good way to get cancer, if that is what you really want for your children. Instead, invest in a good UV monitor and keep the noxious UNTESTED chemicals off your skin.
Reply
6-11-2009 @ 5:08PM
Sandyone said...Wolfster,
Sshhhhh. See LS's comment above.
6-11-2009 @ 9:20PM
SKL said...I agree with the commenters here. The sun is the source of life, energy, and happiness. Sunscreen is the source of profits for consumer companies.
Everyone knows if you intentionally scorch your skin on a regular basis you increase the risk of cancer. This does not mean your kids are going to drop dead if they play outside. The docs always say you "can" get cancer even from doing what kids normally do in the sun - but what percentage of kids who never used sunscreen, have had few sunburns, and have never done what we call "tanning" have ever developed cancer? Come on, you know it has to be minute if not zero.
Sunscreens are known to cause lots of problems for people with certain types of skin, and some sunscreens are actually believed to cause cancer. Why do we so rarely hear of problems with sunscreen, even though the risk gets higher the more they insist that not using sunscreen is some type of child abuse?
You used to be able to find bonnets and sensible clothes to protect babies' skin from the sun. I can't remember the last time I saw a bonnet in a store. We're supposed to slather chemicals on our newborns. Don't feed them out of a plastic bottle, don't feed them eggs or nuts, but yeah, rub those nasty chemicals right into their pores several times a day.
I refuse to put sunscreen on my kids or myself, except on the unusual occasion that we are out in the beating sun all day long.
Reply
6-15-2009 @ 10:26AM
Tammy said...Wow, I am so surprised at the comments here. I thought I was the only 'bad" mom who thought and felt this way about suncreens.
Reply
6-15-2009 @ 3:15PM
Pierce Hibma said...The other important issue raised by this article is the importance of Vitamin D that comes from the sun and is not developed by the body as much when one wears sunscreen. Deficiencies in Vitamin D have been linked to increase rates of cancer, osteoporosis, and obesity just to name a few. It is not wise to always wear sunscreen but also it is not wise for a bad sun burn to occur. My advice would be save the sunscreen for the peak hours when you know you or your children will be out for over 30 minutes.
Reply
9-22-2010 @ 2:06AM
Jehnavi said...It’s unbelievable…even to me. But I would rather be careful for the sake of my skin. Mine is extremely prone to pigmentation. I have lots of spots on my body, even parts which are not exposed to the sun.
www.womenhealthcenter.net
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