Summertime means soaking up the sun. Sun safety is important for your child’s skin health. Clothing precautions, sunscreen and preparation for sunburn will help your kiddo throughout the summer.
Dress your tiny babies in long sleeves and pants. Limit sunscreen on babies under six months of age. Shade is best between 10 am and 4 pm. Little kids can wear hats for shade. There is new clothing available with rash guard for sun protection. Sunglasses are also helpful for children.
Spray sunscreen works well for bodies. Use cream, lotion or a sun stick from the shoulders up. For older kids and last-minute situations, use sunscreen wipes for arms and faces. Reapply when coming out of the water.
When your teen doesn't want to use sunscreen, enlist examples of premature aging to educate her. Appeal to the vanity.
If your child becomes sunburned, you can use pain relievers, cold compresses and aloe. Check in with your pediatrician if there are blisters. The greatest concern with a bad sunburn is infection. It's important to stay out of the sun until the burn heals.
Listen in as Dr. Corinn Cross explains what you need to know about sun safety.
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Safe Fun in the Sun
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Dr. Corinn Cross was born and raised in New Jersey. She attended Barnard College where she graduated cum laude and majored in philosophy. She went on to attend the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, NJ, where she was selected for the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Cross did her internship and residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Cross has continued to work at CHLA as a general pediatrics attending.
Dr. Cross is actively involved in her local AAP, Chapter 2, where she is an obesity champion. She is co-founder of the Fit to Play and Learn Obesity Prevention curriculum. Through a collaboration between AAP Chapter 2 and the L.A. Unified School District this curriculum is being used to educate at-risk students and their parents on the risks of obesity and to help them to lead healthier lives. Dr. Cross is an AAP Spokesperson and speaks to children throughout the L.A. school district about obesity, healthy lifestyles and the benefits of walking to school.
Dr. Cross is a member of the Executive Board for the AAP's Council on Communications and Media. She is the Editor of the Council on Communications and Media's blog.
Corinn Cross, MD
Dr. Corinn Cross was born and raised in New Jersey. She attended Barnard College where she graduated cum laude and majored in philosophy. She went on to attend the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, NJ, where she was selected for the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Cross did her internship and residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Cross has continued to work at CHLA as a general pediatrics attending.Dr. Cross is actively involved in her local AAP, Chapter 2, where she is an obesity champion. She is co-founder of the Fit to Play and Learn Obesity Prevention curriculum. Through a collaboration between AAP Chapter 2 and the L.A. Unified School District this curriculum is being used to educate at-risk students and their parents on the risks of obesity and to help them to lead healthier lives. Dr. Cross is an AAP Spokesperson and speaks to children throughout the L.A. school district about obesity, healthy lifestyles and the benefits of walking to school.
Dr. Cross is a member of the Executive Board for the AAP's Council on Communications and Media. She is the Editor of the Council on Communications and Media's blog.