Children need our protection
Why Children's Skin is Particularly Vulnerable
DISCOVER CHILDREN UV PROTECTION CLOTHING
As a child develops into an adult, their natural protection against the sun also increases. While adults, depending on skin type (link to skin types), usually have a certain level of protection against UV radiation, allowing us to spend some time outdoors without protection, babies cannot do this at all, and children have very limited capability. Only with growth does the skin's ability to produce the pigment melanin and store it in various layers increase. This means for your:
- Baby (up to 2 years): no natural protection, making sunbathing without health risks impossible
- Child (up to 8 years): low natural protection, therefore only short stays in the sun are recommended
- Child (up to 14 years): moderate natural protection, hence only a maximum of 5-10 minutes unprotected sun exposure
- Youth (up to 18 years): already developed natural protection, but still no sunbathing beyond 15 minutes is advisable
In short: bring enough sunscreen for arms and legs, and the face on vacation. Even if your child complains, the cream must be applied generously and continuously. The dermatologist-recommended rule of thumb is 2 milligrams per square centimeter. This means two tubes for your child for at least a two-week vacation. A more cost-effective option is to dress your child in sun protection clothing, also known as UV clothing. This is available especially for babies and toddlers with long arms and legs, yet it is not too warm even in the heat, as certified, high-quality UV protection clothing is ultra-lightweight and breathable, and should even have a cooling effect.