Stephanie Fsadni learns from paediatrician Victor Grech that children need to be protected at all times as sunburns in the early years increase the risk of skin cancer in adulthood.

If the sun’s rays harm adults, they can damage children’s tender skin much more easily. And sunburn in the early years raises the risk of skin cancer in adulthood.

“Skin damage at the DNA level accumulates over the years, leading not only to skin damage and premature ageing, but also to the risk of developing skin cancers,” explains paediatrician Victor Grech.

One should also bear in mind that the sun is present everywhere, not only at the beach. Playing on rooftops, in playgrounds or bathing in garden pools may cause as much harm as if one were at the beach, if proper protection is not taken.

“It behoves us to protect our children at all times,” states Grech. “UV is always harmful, even at low doses, so it is sensible not to be complacent and to try to mitigate against its effects with proper precautions: protective clothing, hats and sunscreen, even at low UV index levels if exposure is in any way prolonged.”

Staying in the shade does not suffice, especially at the beach.

“Staying in the shade on a beach for three hours is equivalent to one hour of direct sunlight due to reflections from sand and sea,” says Grech.

Parents who have children with low or absent pigmentation in part of the skin or all of it – the extreme would be albino children with no skin pigment whatsoever – should be more alert as the risk of skin damage is increased when these children are exposed to the sun.

Some sunscreens are particularly formulated for the young ones and one should ask the pharmacist for advice on what’s best for his child.

Children should also be kept well hydrated during the hot summer months. While there is a general guideline for adults to drink one to two litres of water a day, a child’s intake of fluids would depend on the weight of the child and the degree of sweating, among other factors.

“Just ensure that they continue to pass good volumes of urine as a rough but very objective measure of good levels of hydration,” Grech suggests.

Asked whether one should avoid certain drinks for hydration purposes, Grech says that it’s not really the case.

“But in principle, one should avoid soft drinks, fruit juices and iced teas, as these greatly predispose one to obesity.”

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.