Our behavior in the sun is the main cause for the rise in skin cancer rates in recent decades. An increase in popular outdoor activities and changed sunbathing habits often result in excessive UV exposure. Many adults today consider intensive sunbathing to be normal and unfortunately, even many children and their parents perceive a suntan as a symbol of attractiveness and good health.
However, a suntan is merely a sign of UV damage and represents the state of the skin's defense to prevent further harm.

Why do Children need protection from Ultraviolet Radiation?

Children are in a vibrant state of growth, and as a result are much more susceptible to environmental threats than adults. Vital functions and body systems such as their immune system are not fully developed at birth, thus unsafe environments have the potential to interfere with their normal development. Thankfully, today most environmental hazards are preventable!
By reducing exposure to harmful UV radiation we can effectively help protect a child’s health.


So why are children more susceptible to harmful UV radiation?

Children require special protection as they are at a higher risk of suffering damage from exposure to UV radiation than adults. This is simply because:
• A child's skin is thinner and more sensitive and even a short time outdoors in the midday sun can result in serious burns.
• Studies have constantly demonstrated that frequent sun exposure and sunburn in childhood set the stage for high rates of melanoma later in life.
• Children have more time to develop diseases which progress slowly, more years of life to be lost and more suffering to be endured as a result of impaired health. Increased life expectancy further adds to people's risk of developing skin cancers and cataracts.
• Children are more exposed to the sun. Estimates suggest that up to 80 per cent of a person's lifetime exposure to UV is received before the age of 18.
• Children love playing outdoors but usually are not aware of the harmful effects of UV radiation.

What exactly is UV radiation?

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one component of solar radiation and it is gradually filtered as sunlight passes through the atmosphere, in particular by the ozone layer.

So why is UV radiation so harmful?

Most of us are already aware that UV radiation causes sunburn and skin cancer. It also accelerates skin ageing.
Overexposure to UV radiation can also lead to:
• Inflammation of the cornea (crystal clear portion of the surface of the eye that lets light enter) and the conjunctiva (a thin membrane that covers the surface of the inner eyelid and the white part of the eyeball).This can cause or accelerate cataract development.
• A health issue of growing concern is that UV radiation can reduce the effectiveness of the human immune system.
• As a result, overexposure to the harmful UV radiation may enhance the risk of infection and could limit the efficacy of immunization against disease.
Unfortunately, as many developing countries are located close to the equator and hence exposed to very high levels of UV radiation, it is the children of some of these poor countries that are most at risk.

Does the ozone layer not provide us with enough protection?

Lately with so much press about global warming we have come to realize that as the ozone layer is depleted, the protective filter activity of the atmosphere is reduced and more UV radiation, in particular the more harmful UVB, reaches the Earth's surface.
Did you know that in the year 2000, the ozone hole over the Antarctic reached its biggest size ever, covering 11.4 million square miles - an area more than three times the size of the United States of America!
For the first time it also stretched over populated areas exposing local residents to extreme levels of solar UV radiation. This led to local authorities in Southern Chile to warn their residents that they could sunburn in less than seven minutes and should avoid spending time outdoors in the middle of the day.
The fact is that continual ozone depletion and increased levels of UV radiation on Earth will carry on aggravating UV effects on the human skin, eyes and immune system. For example, a 10% decrease in total ozone is predicted to result in an astounding 1.6 to 1.75 million additional cases of cataract per year worldwide.
Children are at the highest risk of suffering damage from exposure to UV radiation.

What does this mean with regards to skin cancer and melanoma?

Between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and approximately 132,000 malignant melanomas occur globally each year. With a sustained 10% decrease in stratospheric ozone, an additional 300,000 non-melanoma and 4,500 melanoma skin cancers could be expected world-wide, according to UNEP estimates.
Currently, one in five North Americans and one in two Australians will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime.

Do only fair-skinned people need to be concerned about overexposure to the harmful rays of the Sun?

While it is true that darker skin has more protective pigment, the skin is still susceptible to the damaging effects of UV radiation. The incidence of skin cancers is lower in dark-skinned people; nevertheless, skin cancers do occur and are often detected at a later, more dangerous stage.
The risk of other UV-related health effects, such as eye damage, premature ageing of the skin and suppression of the immune system is totally independent of skin type or color.

So how can we care for our children in the sun?

According to an Australian study, four out of five cases of skin cancer are preventable by sensible behavior. Encouraging children to take simple precautions will prevent both short-term and long-term damage while still allowing them to enjoy the time they spend outdoors.
Parents have an obligation to serve as role models, and it is their responsibility to ensure that their children are protected adequately.

What sensible steps can we take to help protect our future generations?

Here are some practical things we can all do:
• Always keep infants of less than 12 months in the shade and make sure your children:
• Cover up with protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses.
• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15+.
• Limit their time in the midday sun.
• Seek shade.
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours.

Shade, clothing and hats provide the best protection for children -- applying sunscreen becomes necessary on those parts of the body that remain exposed like the face and hands. Sunscreen should never be used to prolong the duration of sun exposure.
Remember that Sun protection is not only necessary on the beach or at the swimming pool but applies to all outdoor settings.
Did you know that in many situations sunburn arises because people do not realize the need for protection? Children can be exposed to intense sunlight on the balcony at home, on weekend trips or a visit to the zoo, during breaks at kindergarten or school, and during outdoor sporting activities.
UV levels increase by approximately 8 per cent with every 1000 meters altitude. Although UV radiation is most intense under cloudless skies it may be high even on an overcast day. Many surfaces such as snow, sand and water reflect the sun's rays and add to the overall UV exposure.

Is there any place for herbs or vitamins?

BETA-CAROTENE
Taking beta-carotene orally seems to modestly reduce the risk of sunburn in individuals who are sensitive to sun exposure. There is some evidence that 25 mg of mixed beta-carotene daily for 12 weeks reduces skin redness after exposure to UV light in sun-sensitive individuals. However, beta-carotene is unlikely to have much effect on sunburn risk in most people. Also, it doesn't seem to reduce the incidence of skin cancers associated with sun exposure.
MELATONIN
Applying melatonin topically seems to prevent sunburn from ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. When applied prior to UV light exposure, melatonin seems to significantly decrease sunburn. In one study, topically applied vitamin E in combination with vitamin C and melatonin, provided modest photo-protective effect when used prior to UV exposure, but had no effect when used during or after UV exposure

VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) and VITAMIN E
Taking vitamin C orally in combination with vitamin E seems to prevent ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced sunburn. This effect is not found when vitamin C is used without vitamin E. Applying vitamin C topically, in combination with vitamin E and melatonin, also seems to prevent ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced erythema (sunburn). Topical vitamin C in combination with topical vitamin E and melatonin seems to provide modest photo-protective effects when used prior to UV exposure.