Childen's Hospital Boston 300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000
X
My Child Has:
Sunburns: Prevention
Programs that treat this condition or perform this procedure
This Health Topic is not associated with any programs or procedures.
Children can suffer burns when their unprotected skin is exposed to sunlight. In addition, excessive sunburns can lead to skin cancer later in life. In fact, most people receive 50 percent of their lifetime exposure to the sun by 18 years of age. The following steps have been recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer:
  • Protect children from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.), and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older.
  • Apply sunscreen, with at least a (Sun Protection Factor) SPF-15 or higher that protects against both UVA (ultraviolet A) and UVB (ultraviolet B) rays, to all areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.
  • Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or sweating.
  • Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the face. Hats should provide shade for both the face and back of the neck. Wearing sunglasses will reduce the amount of rays reaching the eye by filtering as much as 80 percent of the rays, and protecting the lids of the eyes as well as the lens.
  • Avoid exposure to UV (ultraviolet) radiation from sunlamps or tanning beds.
Remember, sand and pavement reflect UV rays even under the umbrella. Snow is also a good reflector of UV rays. Reflective surfaces can reflect up to 85 percent of the damaging sun rays.

Consult with your child's physician before applying sunscreen to babies under 6 months old.

X
X The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice,
which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional.
X
X Copyright © Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved.