Skin cancer risk from UV radiation To protect your children from too much sun

Skin cancer risk: It is imperative to protect children from dangerous UV radiation

More and more people in Germany are suffering from malignant black skin cancer. The main risk factor is ultraviolet radiation. Children and adolescents are particularly at risk. Physicians therefore always advise to protect yourself from the sun on a small scale. Health experts have some tips on what parents should pay particular attention.

Protect children from too much sunshine

Even though the temperatures have eased a bit in the last few days, on many days it is summer enough to enjoy your time outdoors. However, one should exercise caution and not underestimate the sun's rays, it threatens a sunburn. And this increases the risk of developing cancer. Every sunburn is added to your own skin account, dermatologists say. Especially in children should be thought of sufficient sun protection.

In the summer, the children's life takes place especially outside. All the more important in this time of consistent protection against strong UV exposure and sunburns. (Image: candy1812 / fotolia.com)

Main risk factor for skin cancer

It has long been known that ultraviolet (UV) radiation is carcinogenic and is the major risk factor for skin cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has proven this to be the case since 2009 after comprehensive and clear study results have been reviewed.

Nevertheless, the number of new cases of skin cancer in Germany has continued to increase in recent years. Children and adolescents are particularly at risk.

The Cancer Information Service of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) provides tips in a recent communication on how parents can protect their children from the dangerous UV rays.

Consistent protection against strong UV exposure and sunburns

Whether on vacation, at the playground or in your own garden - in summer, children's life is especially fun outdoors. All the more important in this time of consistent protection against strong UV exposure and sunburns.

Because children's skin is much thinner than the skin of adults, explain the experts. The pigments, which form a body's own protection against UV rays are not fully produced in childhood.

With each sunburn of the child increases the likelihood of developing adult skin cancer.

According to the Cancer Information Service, around 21,200 people in Germany contracted the malignant black skin cancer in 2014. Skin cancer screening detects many tumors at an early stage.

"Nevertheless, we should protect ourselves and, above all, our children from the dangerous rays of the sun, so that it does not even come to a disease later on," Dr. Susanne Weg-Remers, Director of the Cancer Information Service of the German Cancer Research Center.

Practical tips for parents

As the DKFZ writes, infants and toddlers should not be exposed to direct sunlight until about the age of two.

If the sun can not be avoided, head protection and UV-resistant textiles are a must. Especially in fair-skinned toddlers can be applied additionally a sunscreen. Even a parasol on the stroller should be thought.

Between eleven and three o'clock, when the UV radiation is highest, children should not go out in the sun at all in the summer. Basically, the blazing sun should be shunned and the shade often visited.

Do not forget: Always drink enough! The experts also recommend that children should always wear clothing, headgear and sunglasses to protect them from UV rays. The glasses must be marked with UV-400 or 100% UV protection.

Use of sunscreen with at least SPF 30 - especially nose, forehead, ears, hands, shoulders, knees and back of the feet should be provided. Fair-skinned children need the SPF 50 in midsummer and in southern countries.

Basically, you should not save creams. At least every two hours should be re-creamed.

Apply sunscreen again after swimming, even if it is a waterproof product. This also applies to sweating and drying.

In the car, UV films, window blinds or sun visors can be attached to the rear side windows, as they may, unlike the windscreen, let through UV-A radiation.

Important: Think about sun protection even on cloudy summer days: Up to 90 percent of the dangerous rays penetrate the cloud cover.

In addition, the experts urge: Children and adolescents under 18 years under no circumstances belong in a solarium - this is prohibited by law in Germany.

Finally, the Cancer Information Service recommends that parents should lead their children by example. Both for your own protection and for the children to get used to the least risky behavior in the sun from an early age. In this way, sunscreen can become a positive automatism in the long term. (Ad)