How to Protect Your Child From the Sun

The sun gives off powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much exposure to these rays can damage your child’s skin. This can cause painful sunburns.

Even more important, damage from the sun that occurs during childhood can lead to skin cancer as an adult. This makes it critical to protect your child from the sun’s rays.

With a few simple steps, you can help protect your child from sun damage and future health problems.

Why is sun protection important?

• Children who get regular sun exposure without protection have a greater risk of wrinkles, freckles, and dry skin.
• Sunburns can result in hot, red skin that is painful to the touch. Bad sunburns can cause fever and blisters.
• Regular sun exposure without protection—even when it does not result in sunburn—can increase your child’s risk of skin cancer later in life.
• Several bad sunburns at a young age puts your child at greater risk of developing melanoma as an adult. This is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer, and it can be deadly.

What steps can I take to protect my child from the sun?

Consider the sun when planning outdoor play

• Encourage your child to play outside at times when the sun is not as strong, such as before 10:00 in the morning or after 4:00 in the afternoon.
• Make sure there is enough shade from trees or tents in the areas where your child wants to play.
• Remember that your child can also be exposed to the sun’s UV rays on cloudy or hazy days, not just on sunny days.

Use protective clothing

• Use clothing to help protect your child from the sun. This may include long pants, long-sleeve shirts, and broad-brimmed hats.
• Give your child sunglasses to protect his or her eyes from the sun.

Use sunscreen

• For children age 6 months or older, use a sunscreen with SPF 15 (sun protection factor 15) or higher.
• Use an adequate amount of sunscreen to cover exposed areas of skin.
• Apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before heading outdoors.
• Reapply the sunscreen:
  • Every 2 hours during sun exposure.
  • More often if the child is sweating a lot while out in the sun.
  • After the child gets wet from swimming or playing in water.
• For children under 6 months old, do not use sunscreen. Instead, provide protection through shade, clothing, and low sunlight hours.

What sunscreen products should I use for my child?

After your child reaches the age of 6 months, it is generally safe to use sunscreens.

• Make sure the sunscreen is labeled as broad spectrum. This means it protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. Use SPF 30 or higher if your child will be in bright sun.
• Consider using sunscreens that can be seen on the skin, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, for areas that are more prone to sunburn. These areas include the shoulders, nose, and neck.
• If you use spray-on sunscreen, spray it into your hands first and then rub it onto your child’s skin. Do not spray it directly onto your child’s face. Spray-on sunscreens can get into your child’s lungs.
• If you dress your child in clothing with built-in sun protection, choose options with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of at least 30.

When should I seek medical care?

Contact your child’s health care provider if:

• Your child has a sunburn and is younger than 1 year old.
• Your child has a sunburn and is in pain.
• Your child’s sunburn includes blisters and open sores.
• Your child has a sunburn and fever or chills.
• Your child has a sunburn and a headache.