As parents, our kids’ health and wellbeing is our highest priority. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America. Around one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. While skin cancer isn’t common in children, it can occur. The best way to keep your child protected is to ensure regular skin checks and sun safety measures. Learn how to check the skin for cancer and the tell-tale signs to watch for. Plus, get some all-important tips on how to apply sunscreen — the right way.
Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer: What You Need to Know
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight is the leading cause of most types of skin cancer. What’s more, the damage from UV exposure is cumulative. In other words, repeated bouts of sunburn can increase your child’s risk of developing skin cancer in adulthood.
Sunlight contains UVA and UVB radiation, both of which contribute to the risk of skin cancer. UVA/UVB rays penetrate the skin, which can cause damage to our DNA cells. Some of this damage can be repaired by our body, but not all of it. The unrepaired damage increases over time, triggering mutations that cause the skin cells to quickly multiply. This can lead to cancerous tumors in the body (AKA skin cancer).
The degree of damage and the risk of skin cancer is linked to the intensity of the UV and how long the skin has been exposed to the sun without adequate protection. The good news is that with regular skin checks and sun safety measures you can help to manage your child’s risk of skin cancer.
What Does a Skin Check Involve?
A professional skin check, performed by a doctor or dermatologist, is a complete, head-to-toe examination of your skin. A dermatoscope (a hand-held microscope), is used to see under the surface of the skin and detect skin cancer in its earliest stage.
As it’s rare for children to develop skin cancer, professional skin checks aren’t usually necessary for kids under the age of 15 years. Although, at-home skin checks are a great way to keep a close eye on your child’s skin. The Scan Your Skin rule is a simple and useful guide for checking skin.
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SORE — Look for a spot or mole that is scaly, itchy, bleeding, or feels tender and doesn’t heal within six weeks.
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CHANGING — Keep watch for moles that change in size, shape, colour or texture.
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ABNORMAL — Is there an ‘ugly duckling’ that stands out when compared to your other spots and moles?
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NEW — If you notice a new spot or mole on your child’s skin, get it checked out to be safe.
Remember, some skin cancers can develop on areas of the body that aren’t frequently exposed to the sun. Be sure to check all areas of the skin. This includes the head, hands, fingers, soles of the feet, and toes.
A family history of skin cancer, fair skin, and a high number of moles can increase the risk for skin cancer. If this is the case for your child, you may like to discuss the option of skin checks with your doctor, especially once your child reaches around 15 years of age.
The Importance of Sun Safety
Alongside keeping an eye on your child’s skin, sun protective measures are essential for reducing your child’s risk of skin cancer now and in the future.
Protecting your child’s skin against sun damage is vital to keeping their skin healthy. Five important steps to take include:
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Ensure your child wears sun protective clothing (covering their arms and legs) when outside.
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Apply SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen when going outdoors.
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Pop a hat on their head.
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Keep your child in the shade when the UV index is 3 or higher (typically between 10am and 4pm)
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Protect your little one’s eyes with kids’ sunglasses.
Some skin check services may offer mole mapping and monitoring. This involves taking high-resolution digital images of your skin and mapping out your moles. This helps you and your doctor or skin specialist to identify new moles and to track and compare changes over time. During your skin check your doctor may also discuss your personal skin cancer risk and offer prevention tips to keep your skin safe.
How to Apply Sunscreen — The Right Way
The good news is that skin cancer is largely preventable, if we use all five forms of sun protection mentioned above. Yet, one big mistake people make is not applying sunscreen properly.
Did you know that it takes around seven teaspoons of sunscreen to cover the whole body? That means using one teaspoon of sunscreen for the face and neck, one teaspoon for each arm and leg, one for the front of the body and one for the back of the body. Here are a few other sunscreen tips.
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When choosing sunscreen for kids, look for fragrance free formulas suitable for sensitive skin.
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If choosing a sunscreen for a baby or switching to a new sunscreen, do a patch test. Apply a small amount of the product on the inside of the forearm and monitor for redness or irritation for 24 hours prior to full application.
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Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before your child goes out into the sun. Don’t forget to re-apply it every two hours.
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Check the use-by-date. Once sunscreen reaches its expiry date the ingredients may break down. This can affect the protection provided against UV radiation.
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Store your sunscreen in a cool area, out of direct sunlight. Extreme heat (or cold) can change the consistency and efficacy of sunscreen.
Remember, sunscreen is not a silver bullet. It should be used along with other sun safety measures.
Finally, set a great example for your child by taking sun protection measures yourself. Not only can you help to reduce your skin cancer risk but also keep your skin looking younger and healthier for longer.
