PARENTS & CARERS
There are so many health stories in the news about young people that a parent, guardian or carer can often feel overwhelmed. Children by their very nature also want to take more control over their lives as they get older, and it is hard to balance concern with feeling overly intrusive.
Here at SAVE YOUR SKIN, there are two facts that we really want you to be aware of:
• Most of the skin damage caused from the sun’s UV rays are incurred before a child reaches 15.
• Malignant melanoma is the second most dangerous form of cancer affecting 15-34 year olds in the UK.
We hope that by looking at this site your children will learn more about how to look after their skin in the sun, but wherever possible we suggest they discuss concerns with you, and with a GP, where appropriate.
As a parent, guardian or carer, what can I do to protect my child from skin cancer?
• Talk to your child about any concerns they have, and read up about skin cancer either by using specific health sites or by browsing the rest of this site.
• Lead by example. If you use sun beds (allowing yourself to burn and neglecting your skin) then your children will follow your bad example! If you practice safe-sun habits and look after your skin, you are protecting their health for their future.
• Make sure your child has access to an appropriate sun screen – read our section on sun screens for more information. You do not need to use the most expensive brands, and look out for 2 for 1 offers at supermarkets or chemists. Make sure they are using a broad spectrum sun screen that contains UVB and UVA protection.
• Encourage your child to put on their sunscreen before they go out in the sun, and regularly throughout the day. As far as is possible, try to keep them out of the sun in the middle of the day when the sun is at its strongest.
• Try to get your child to get to know their skin type and work with it. If they have pale hair and skin they are never going to have a deep tan, and are only going to hurt themselves trying. Conversely, darker skinned people can have a false sense of security. They can still burn and cause skin damage.
• Under no circumstances allow your child to use a sunbed at home or at a salon.
• If your child uses the mole checking system advised by SAVE YOUR SKIN, and comes to you about a change in a mole, do not panic and reassure them that it is probably an innocent change. Do get advice from your GP though. A child does not need to check their moles more than once a month.
• If your child wants to use a fake tanning product, it is up to you to decide, along with them, what you feel is the best course of action. Parents, carers and guardians are under increased pressure at the moment when it comes to finances and so it really depends on what you can afford as a family. Fake tanners do provide a great way to get a tan without the sun, and we suggest that young people can buy a product between them as a group and try it out together if they so wish.
• If your child does spend too long in the sun and comes to you with sunburn, you need to make a decision about how serious it is.
• We are aware that children are often scared of the word ‘cancer’ and may have suffered loss in their family due to cancer. We are passionate at SAVE YOUR SKIN about educating everyone about skin cancer because it is so much easier to prevent than you would think. By following our simple guidelines, everyone can really reduce their risk of developing skin cancer. If your child becomes aware of the issue at a young age they can learn to look after their skin and learn to love it.
