How to prevent baby skin problems
caused by the sun.

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Many baby skin problems caused by the sun may lead to developing melanoma in the future. Babies under 6 months should not be exposed to the sun at all because they have much thinner skin and burn more quickly. Keep babies should be kept in the shade and dressed with lightweight clothing

A moderate amount of sunshine every day is healthy for our children. But when they are exposed to the sun for a longer period we need to protect them from the harmful UVA and UVB radiation.

Use sunscreen to protect baby's skin.

Most sunblock products advice that they are not to be used on infants under 6 months. However the American Academy of Dermatologists recommend that if adequate shade and clothing are not available you may use a small amount on baby's face and hands to prevent baby skin problems.

Always use a sunblock that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide are physical sun blocks and are recommended by pediatricians for babies under 6 months of age.

Before covering your baby with sunscreen first test a tiny amount on the inner arm for irritation or allergic reaction. Avoid baby skin problems by using fragrance-free, non irritating and hypoallergenic products specialy designed for babies.

Learn more about baby sunburn symptoms and when to call a doctor.

Use sun protective clothing.

The use of uv protective clothing is another way to avoid baby skin broblems.
Tight weaved t-shirts give the best protection from the sun. But in the swimming pool or on the beach you can keep your child safe from the sun with special Coolibar UPF 50-Sun Protective Swim wear , that comes with a built-in sun protection factor 50. This gives parents some peace of mind because they don't have to reapply sunscreen every time their child goes in and out of the water.

Protect your baby's head with a wide rimmed baby sun hat. For older children you can get baseball style caps with a flap to protect the neck.

Check out these adorable baby sun hats to protect your baby's head from the harmful sun rays. Some are made from special UV protective fabric.

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Use a Baby Canopy for shade.

Many baby skin problems can easily be prevented with a sun canopy attached to the pram or buggy. This will protect your baby from direct sunlight.

If you like to take your baby in the swimming pool, the Baby Spring Float with Sun Canopy is a safe and enjoyable way to introduce your baby to the water.
While you and your baby enjoy the water a removable canopy protects baby from the sun.

Protect baby's eyes with baby sun glasses

Baby's eyes need to be protected from the sunlight so they are less lickely to develop cataract in later life. Use baby sun glasses with both UVA and UVB protection.

Babies and children under 10 years of age are at an increased risk for retinal injury because the transmission of the lens to damaging UV light is greatest during this period.

One of the most serious baby skin problems is a baby sunburn and should be avoided at all times. A sunburn is not only very painful for your baby but it also increases the risk of developing melanoma in later life. This deadliest form of cancer kills about 7000 people in the US every year.

The following factors for baby skin problems ask for extra care with sun protection .

Family history of skin cancer.
The chances of developing melanoma is 50% higher for children with one of the parents suffering from melanoma than for children without a family history of skin cancer.

Moles.
The more moles a child has the more change of getting melanoma sometime in life.

Bad sunburns.
Sun damage on skin caused by sunburn causes genetic changes in the skin and raises the change of cancer.

Blond or red hair and fair skin.
Children with light skin have 4x more change of developing skin cancer than dark colored children.

Where you live.
If you live in a sunny state or equator country using a daily full spectrum sunblock is necessary. And also if you live in the mountains, closer to the sun, children need extra protection.

Children active in sport.
Children that are active in sports like football or baseball are exposed to the sun for longer periods. Excessive sweating makes it necessary to reapply sunscreen more often. children active in watersports like surfing should wear sunprotective swimwear and sun glasses.

Does the use of sunscreen cause shortness of vitamin D?

No evidence exists that rigorous sun protection through clothing and sunscreen interferes with the levels of vit D in the blood. Every healthy child that plays outside gets enough sunlight to produce enough of this vitamin. And nowadays many products like fruit juices and milk products have extra supplements of vitamin D added.