Cancers of the skin are the most common cancers in many parts of the world. Malignant Melanoma MM is the least common of these but accounts for three quarters of all deaths from skin cancer. Currently it is the most rapidly increasing form of cancer and it is one of the few cancers that affect the young, and amongst 20-34 year olds it is the third most common cancer in women and the fourth most common in men.

It appears that sunburn in babies and children is related to the development of skin cancer in later life. Please remember that you do not have to be abroad to get sun burnt, it happens here in the UK too as up to 80% of ultraviolet rays are reported to pass through light cloud, haze and fog.

The most important risk factor that has been identified is exposure to sun, especially in childhood. No one wants to stop people going into the sun altogether but it is important to take care. It is known that several episodes of sunburn before teen or adolescence years increase the risk of developing a melanoma later in life. It is important to limit overall exposure to the sun, and to always avoid sunburn especially in children.

Darker skins have less of a problem with sunburn, although black skin can burn, too much UV exposure can cause polymorphic light eruption in black skin. This is often misdiagnosed as prickly heat and affects 15% of the UK population. Using a Sun Lotions should help.

It is very rare for children to get skin cancer but severe sunburn may cause MM to develop after puberty. The greater the level of protection that is taken at an earlier age, the lower the likelihood of skin cancer incidence in adulthood.

Is sun good for children?

Most people enjoy being in the sun and children are no exception. Strong sunshine, however, will damage and weaken a child's delicate skin, rather than protect and strengthen it. Many cases of MM link back to sunburn in early childhood. Even if exposure does not cause obvious sunburn, damage still occurs and accumulates over the years.

Can children play in the sun at all?

Children have very sensitive skin, which burns easily. They should use an SPF 15+ sunscreen, which should be reapplied regularly, and they should never be left unprotected in the sun. Whenever possible, and always at the hottest times of the day, children should stay in the shade. Only about half of UV rays are estimated to come directly from the sun, the rest is reflected. Water is judged to reflect 100%, sand 20-30% and grass 4%.

At other times they should wear loose, closely woven clothing. If the fabric is stretched the protection of the close weave is diminished. T-shirts offer a SPF of around 15 and half of that if wet, unfortunately standard clothing does not protect your child from deeper penetrating UVB rays. Hats need to be worn, not baseball caps that leave the ears and the back of the neck exposed. UV rays are reported to penetrate water to a depth of 10 metres when the sun in overhead.

Sunglasses should have both UVA and UVB filters as only these provide proper protection for children's eyes. Look for the British Standard BS2724: 1987 on the label.

- standard sunscreens should not be applied to the lips because of the likelihood of ingestion.

UV protection for babies and children travelling in prams pushchairs or strollers

24 September 2008

Margaret Cox, Chief Executive of the National Eczema Society, comments in relation to the research paper, Early introduction of fish decreases the risk of eczema in infants published in the Archive of Disease in Childhood.
The National Eczema Society welcomes all research surrounding the causes of and treatments for eczema as it is vital that we learn more about this very common and debilitating condition which is so often wrongly dismissed as trivial.
The exact causes of eczema remain to be fully identified but we are aware that there is often a significant genetic component and that, as this Swedish study shows, your child is more likely to have eczema if you already have the condition in your family, particularly the immediate family.

We can not change our genetic inheritance but for those of us whose families are predisposed to eczema we may be able to lessen the impact by taking care of our children’s skin from the very start: in particular by avoiding soap, detergents and other harsh products and maintaining a good skin care regime using emollients (medical moisturisers) and soap substitutes.

George Du Toit, Consultant in Paediatric Allergy, said: The connection between diet and eczema is complex. Eczema, particularly severe eczema, is commonly associated with the presence of food allergy. Parents of young eczematous children may therefore wish to consult with their Doctor prior to the introduction of foods that commonly cause allergy e.g. cow’s milk, peanut and even fish. The National Eczema Society is proud to support studies which seek to determine if the early consumption - or avoidance - of foods serves as the best strategy for the prevention of food allergy, for more information visit www.leapstudy.co.uk.

If in any doubt or for further advice and support, contact the National Eczema Society helpline on 0800 089112 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday or visit the Society’s website www.eczema.org.