PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM UV!!!

PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM UV!!!!

By: Michelle Chalmers

 

    One day during the high summer days, a family of four went to the beach, where it was hot, nice, and sunny and the water was just right. The parents of this family were just relaxing and letting their children play in the sun and water. This fun activity and trip to the beach would happen multiple times in the children's lifetime and even when the children grew up and moved out of their parents’ house. Well, the oldest child was given the news that they had skin cancer, and the doctor was asking questions on if the child had worn any sunscreen throughout their life. The child of course said no, which lets the doctor know that the skin cancer occurred because of the lack of sunscreen.  The doctor then looks at the child and lets them know that the lack of sunscreen is the cause of this skin cancer. The child then asks what needs to be done and what treatments are needed, and the doctor goes into detail. But the doctor lets the child know that if they know anyone that didn’t use sunscreen like them, those people need to be checked to see if they have skin cancer. The child calls their sibling and alerts them about the news and lets them know that they should go see a doctor to see if they have skin cancer. Few days pass and the sibling calls and lets everyone know that they too have skin cancer. So, both the children of this family of four ended up with skin cancer, which shows from the lack of using sunscreen lotion.

Now the reason that I talk about this is because of this picture    

(Personal Image) 


    These are my nephews, the oldest is 3 and the youngest is 1.  They are my whole world, and that story was talking about how the children got exposed to sunlight and had no protection on. This led to the children both having skin cancer. This led to me thinking about my nephews and how I want to make sure they are healthy and safe. So I told my brother and sister-in-law about this story, and they are starting to put sunscreen on my nephews to make sure they are safe for the long run. For all children they need to have a level of 30 SPF. With adults having more life experience, adults can handle higher levels than children. But like adults, children can have sensitive skin, or problems with skin that a more specific sunscreen is needed (Phadungsaksawasdi, Sirithanabadeekul. 2020). Both of my nephews have sensitive skin, so a lot of research is needed to be done to find the right sunscreen for them that both the parents are doing. But for all parents this information is important, don't be the parents in the story who didn't protect their kids from UV. You can make a difference by applying sunscreen on your kids. PARENTS!!!! FYI do not use banana boat sunscreen. Based on an ewg website which is government run, this website has done testing on banana boat products, and it is shown to be the worst toward protection and human health (Ewg 2023). I would highly use this website to get more information to make sure you get the right sunscreen for your children, which one is right for your kids and what you think is safe for them. Make sure also that you can afford it. My opinion on this matter is to use the sunscreen that is good on children and has good rating. A good example would be Earth mama, which has 4 products that have good ratings on human health and protection (Ewg 2023).  Earth mama is a decent price for highly effective sunscreen, which is something all parents want to be able to afford something for their kids.  

         So, parents please help your children prevent skin cancer. By getting children started at an early age on applying sunscreen and letting them know at an appropriate age what can happen to them if they don’t continue applying sunscreen in their life. CDC is even putting in place for parents a guide to help with preventable issues, like using sunscreen in appropriate times (Saraiya et al., 2003). Even you don’t want to apply sunscreen to your children all the time, make sure then that time is set aside for the children to rest in some shade (Saraiya et al., 2003). I share this information because also with children skin, their skin is more delicate and sensitive and if they develop skin cancer, it can be different to spot unlike when looking at adult skin. For Melanoma, which is a very serious skin cancer, for example has 300 to 400 cases of diagnosis in the United States and in those 300 to 400 cases it is rare for children (National Cancer Institute, 2018). Yes rare but did that say none? So, there is a slim chance that your child could be one of those cases that pop up for skin cancer! Ways to see if your child had melanoma is to see if they are having reddish, purple spots or new growths on their skin (National Cancer Institute, 2018). Another way to see if your child has melanoma is to see if those growths or spots are growing fast, or bleeding (National Cancer Institute, 2018). This is a serious thing to look for because skin cancer can happen at any age! Children don’t know better and shouldn’t have to deal with health issues that parents can help prevent in early stages! Now skin cancer may not show up on your children N now, but later in their life, when not given the protective measures, your children CAN GET SKIN CANCER and there is a HIGH CHANCE FOR IT! So, start now, don’t let your children be victims of the UV and later in life have health issues that you could have helped prevented from the start of their life! Spread the word parents!!! Tell your friends, tell coworkers, tell family members. PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM UV!!!

 

 

 

 

 

References:


Ewg Guide of Suncreen https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/about-the-sunscreens/?

    &category=beach+%26+sport+sunscreen&webscore=10&spage=2                                                                


Gasparro FP. Sunscreens. 2000. Skin photobiology, and skin cancer: the need for UVA protection and 

       evaluation of efficacy. Environmental Health Perspectives. (1): 71-80. 

        https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/abs/10.1289/eho.00108s171  


National Cancer Institute. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER). 

     "Cancer stat facts: Melanoma of the skin." 2018. Melanoma can look different in children,                                             wwwaadorg. https://www.aad.orf/public/diseases/skin-cancer/types/common/melanoma/different-        children.  

 

Phadungsaksawasdi P, Sirithanabadeekful P. 2020. Ultraviolet filters in sunscreen products labeled for use

        in children and for sensitive skin. Pediatric Dermatology 37(4) 632-640.

        https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pde.14170 

        

Saraiyn M, Glanz K, Briss P, Nichols P, White C, Das D. 2003. Preventing skin cancer. Findings of the

        Task Force on Community Preventive Services on Reducing Exposure to Ultraviolet Light. 52 1-2.

        https://www.cdc.gov/mmWR/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5215al.htm  

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