National Poll: Many Parents Not Using Best Practices to Protect Children from the Sun

Many parents don’t use best practices when protecting their children from the sun, suggests the findings of a new C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at Michigan Medicine.

“Children are spending more time in the sun and possibly at beaches and pools as families enjoy outdoor summer activities. But too much sun exposure can be dangerous and damage the skin,” says Mott Poll co-director and Mott pediatrician Gary Freed, M.D., M.P.H in a press release.

The data the researchers examined is based on responses from 1,120 parents of children ages 5-12. It shows that most parents have used sunscreen on their kids and feel it helps prevent sun burn and skin cancer. However, the data indicate parents weigh several factors when deciding whether to use sun protection, including how long their child will be outside, how it is and whether the children will be around water, as well as skin complexion/tone.

Also, parents base their decisions on the situation. The researchers observed that 81% of parents would try to re-apply sunscreen within two hours if the children are playing in water, 50% if not playing in water, 25% if it were a cloudy day, and only 20% if their children are playing in the shade.

“Parents should be aware that UV rays from the sun can reach their children on cloudy and hazy days, not just on bright and sunny days,” Dr. Freed cautioned. “Children need protection regardless of the amount of sunshine.”

Dr. Freed recommends parents use sunscreens with an SPF of 15 to 30 that “broad-spectrum,” meaning protective against the two harmful types of UV radiation – ultraviolet A & B. Dr. Freed also recommends parents try to limit sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the peak of the sun’s intensity.

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“Parents may believe their children are adequately protected from the sun but if the SPF is too low or they’re not reapplying often enough, kids are still at risk of sunburns,” Dr. Freed says. “Sunscreen is a key preventive tool against burns and skin cancer, but it must be used properly to be effective.”

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