More than 6000 melanomas are diagnosed in New Zealand every year and almost 300 Kiwis will die of this form of skin cancer annually. Though melanoma rarely occurs in children, it’s important to set up safe sun exposure practices early to help decrease the likelihood of developing skin cancer later in life. With the weather warming up, many parents are gearing up for the daily challenge of getting their kids to apply sunscreen and remember to pack their hats.
And with term four under way, schools too are putting their sun safety policies into full effect – no hat, no play! According to Plunket New Zealand, “gentle sunlight is good for children in small doses because it provides vitamin D. Vitamin D is important because it helps their body absorb calcium and promotes bone growth”. Plunket recommends 10-15 minutes daily of sunlight exposure to the face, arms and hands of tamariki.
It also acknowledges those with darker skin who tan more easily and burn less may need 20 minutes to get a sufficient amount of vitamin D. Beyond this, we need to be protecting skin, young and old, from UV rays, which can cause sunburn and premature ageing. Here are a few timely reminders and considerations to make when updating your child’s sun protection for the season ahead.
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