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Why should we protect the skin of our children from the sun this year more than the previous ones

2021-04-21T21:43:55.608Z


After a winter of closed parks and masks, the sun of the next few months can be somewhat more dangerous than usual for children


Late in April, the sun is becoming increasingly dangerous for the skin. Especially for the kids. Even more so this year when they have spent more time at home and less in parks, closed in many cities due to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If you were in doubt as to whether your skin could tell a difference from previous years, the answer is yes. It is what Magdalena de Troya, a dermatologist member of the Healthy Skin Foundation of the Spanish Association of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) calls “confined skin”, which is characterized by being “more vulnerable to UV radiation, since it has not activated the natural defense mechanisms that are awakened by sun exposure ”and that consist of thickening of the epidermis and production of melanin. Faced with this perspective,the chances of getting sunburned increases. So the doctor recommends being even more cautious than in previous seasons.

More information

  • Keys for a good protection of the skin of children in summer

  • Skin cancer: the keys to good sun protection

To make matters worse, the use of masks does not help. To begin with, as Aurora Garre, medical director of ISDIN assures, specialists in child photoprotection, do not protect from the sun's rays: “None of the masks currently on the market have been tested or manufactured in order to prevent the penetration of solar radiation. Depending on the type of fabric, it will let through more or less amount of solar radiation, but they do not prevent it from penetrating ”. To continue, they do not protect, but they do hide, so that area, according to Troya, is going to be the most "sensitive and susceptible to burning" when we remove it from the beach or pool. So much so that it is likely that our little one already has the mark of the mask on his face, from the time he spends in the yard or doing some sports practice outdoors.

Therefore, as indicated by the ISDN expert, it is convenient to use protection cream every day and all over the face, including the part covered by the mask: “The nose, forehead and cheeks are the areas with the highest risk of suffer burns due to the anatomy of the face and our way of exposure to the sun. With the masks we have only managed to prevent the nose from burning more. Sun damage is already accumulating specifically in those areas without a mask ”.

Faced with this perspective, we are condemned to take extra care with our children's skins in the coming weeks and until after the summer: "The sun's rays are more dangerous for the skin between the month of April to September," says the dermatologist from the AEDV. And the best way to do this is by avoiding exposure in certain situations: “The most effective protection is to avoid exposure during risky hours, guaranteeing shade and dressing them in loose-fitting garments. Sun creams are a complementary measure and should not replace the previous recommendations ”, to which you can add caps, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.

Since sunscreen is an essential supplement, it is important to know which one to choose. And yes, children need to use specific children's products. The reasons are told by Aurora Garre: “Child photoprotection has a different formulation due to various considerations. On the one hand, the lower innate defense capacity against burns. In addition, they are usually formulated without perfumes or using those free of allergens. They have a greater staying power on the skin, since children's games and activities involve a lot of movement and interaction with the environment. They are resistant or very resistant to water, since an important part of the time that children dedicate to beach and pool activities is in the water. They have good extensibility and leave little residue on the skin,what helps to a correct and uniform distribution of the solar filters ”.

And furthermore, “the maximum concentration of the solar filters may be different. Physical filters acquire a greater preponderance in these photoprotectors, especially in babies under 3 years of age ”. On the other hand, moisturizing ingredients are usually added to prevent transepidermal water loss and dehydration of the superficial layers of the skin, while minimizing the risk of erythema. And something else: "The format must be adapted to the age of the pediatric population to which it is directed to avoid or minimize the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion," concludes Garre.

If we do not want to have the bathroom full of different creams, one for each age of the cohabitants, it is possible to use the same by adults and children of all ages. "There is no problem in which an adult uses infant cream, but not vice versa", confirms the medical director of ISDN. The AEDV dermatologist adds that, using a children's one, “without a doubt, we will be safer under the sun's rays. But possibly we are not satisfied with the texture or the effect that they are going to leave on our skin ”. Certainly they tend to be somewhat more pasty, with the intention that they cover more.

On the other hand, the dermatologist from the Healthy Skin Foundation confirms that the skin should not only be protected during the months of more radiation. "Sun damage is cumulative throughout life, so it is advisable to acquire good sun protection habits from childhood and apply them throughout the year." Not forgetting that the sun is necessary for the synthesis of vitamin D and that we must not deprive children of moderate exposure. "Nor should we limit their physical activity outdoors for this reason, taking into account the benefits that sports practice has for the health and development of minors." It's about protecting yourself from the sun, not hiding from it.

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Source: elparis

All news articles on 2021-04-21

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