It is said that getting more sun exposure can supplement calcium, but do children still need sunscreen?

Summer is coming, and many people are using sun protection, such as umbrellas and sun hats. Sun protection is a familiar topic, after all, it has become a daily standard for many people. However, today we are going to talk about a niche topic: Do children need sun protection?

01. About children's sun protection

I guess many people are confused. After all, on the one hand, we have been taught since childhood to let children get more sunlight exposure, because sunlight can promote the synthesis of vitamin D, which is very beneficial for the baby's calcium absorption and further height growth. But on the other hand, common sense tells us that everyone is equal in front of ultraviolet rays, so in theory, both adults and children should protect themselves from the sun.

In fact, many people are struggling with this issue. For example, a survey of parents on children’s sun protection knowledge (14 points), attitudes (14 points) and behaviors (7 points) showed that [1]

(Image source [1])

Most parents only have about half of the knowledge about sun protection, which shows that sun protection is something that many people face.

Therefore, this brings us to the question: Do children need to wear sunscreen?

02. Do children need sun protection?

First of all, let's get this straight: yes. In fact, children need sun protection more than adults. Why? The answer is that children's skin is more susceptible to UV burns.

Before adulthood, children are always in a state of growth. This growth is not only the growth of internal organs and the growth of height and weight, but also the growth of skin as a surface structure. The thickness of the skin also shows a process of gradually getting thicker with age.

For example, a study using 13MHz high-frequency ultrasound to detect the thickness of children's skin allows us to perceive the increase in skin thickness [2]. In this study, 191 healthy children aged 1-18 years old were selected for skin thickness testing and found that the total thickness of the children's skin ranged from 0.092cm to 0.229cm.

From early childhood to preschool, school age and even adolescence, the overall thickness of children's skin shows a trend of gradual increase. For example, in male children, this is true for the epidermis, dermis and full-thickness skin.

Interestingly, the thickness of the skin on different parts of a child's body is actually not the same. The thinnest skin is on the face, with an average thickness of only 0.010cm, while the thickest skin is on the back and buttocks, with an average thickness of 0.021cm, more than twice that of the facial skin.

As a result, the skin thickness is the smallest in the areas most exposed to sunlight, and the thickness of the skin is directly related to the effects of UV rays. Because children have thin skin, less hair, and insufficient barriers, they are more susceptible to UV burns from the same amount of sunlight[3].

Therefore, sun protection is essential for children.

03. How do children protect themselves from the sun?

So, how should children protect themselves from the sun? In fact, sun protection is nothing more than physical sun protection and chemical sun protection, and children and adults are the same in this regard.

First is physical sun protection, which is familiar to everyone. It mainly involves blocking the sun. For example, common sun protection clothing and sun umbrellas are used. For children, since the skin on their faces is thinner, sun umbrellas are more effective. Of course, if it is inconvenient, wearing a hat to block the sun is also a good choice.

The second is chemical sunscreen. Compared with physical sunscreen, chemical sunscreen is more convenient. After all, chemical sunscreen is mainly sunscreen, which is a substance applied to the skin, so it can cover those places that are not easily covered by physical sunscreen, such as the face.

For sunscreen, a common reference value is the sun protection factor, which is the familiar SPF (sun protection factor).

(Photo source: Internet)

Basically, the SPF value is generally divided into the above accumulation, corresponding to different PA "+" levels. When choosing in daily life, you can choose the corresponding sunscreen according to the nature of the activity.

04. How to choose children’s sunscreen?

However, there are some special aspects in choosing children's sunscreen, that is, the difference in ingredients.

According to the "Guidelines for the Application and Review of Children's Cosmetics" issued by the State Food and Drug Administration in 2012 [4], certain principles should be followed for children's cosmetics, as follows:

(1) The types of raw materials used in the formula should be minimized.

(2) When selecting flavors, colorants, preservatives and surfactants, the principle of using less or no flavors should be adhered to while maintaining their effectiveness. At the same time, attention should be paid to their possible adverse reactions.

(3) Children's cosmetic formulas should not contain ingredients with effects such as whitening, freckle removal, acne removal, hair removal, antiperspirant, deodorant, hair growth, hair dyeing, perming, bodybuilding, and breast enhancement.

(4) Cosmetic raw materials with a history of safe use should be selected, and the use of raw materials prepared using genetic technology, nanotechnology, etc. is not encouraged.

(5) The source, composition, impurities, physical and chemical properties, applicable scope, safe dosage, precautions and other relevant information of the raw materials used in the formula should be understood and kept for reference.

As a type of cosmetic, sunscreen also needs to comply with the guidelines, so there are some differences in ingredients between children's sunscreen and adult sunscreen.

A typical example is the use of fragrances, which are added to many sunscreens to make them smell better. However, the use of fragrances in children's sunscreens should be reduced as much as possible or eliminated.

It also includes organic solvents such as ethanol. Ethanol is a common cosmetic ingredient, mainly used to dissolve various organic substances, but ethanol itself is also irritating to the skin and may even have other health effects. For children with delicate skin, the amount used should be reduced.

In general, it can be seen that children not only need sun protection, but also need more sun protection because their skin is thinner than that of adults. When choosing sunscreen, you cannot directly use adult sunscreen, but should choose sunscreen specifically for children, avoiding the use of fragrances, ethanol, etc.

I also took a look here and looked at some children's sunscreens that meet the standards. They all focus on physical sun protection and avoid common chemicals that may have adverse effects on children.

[1] Li Chen. Study on the cognition and behavior of children and their parents on children's sun protection in Chongqing[D]. Chongqing Medical University, 2013.

[2] Zhang Yuebin. Preliminary study on ultrasound measurement of children's skin thickness[D]. Chongqing Medical University, 2006.

[3] Wei Jie, Li Xuezhu, Chen Xiaopeng, Lin Guangxin. Discussion on the key points of developing children's sunscreen cosmetics[J]. China Detergent Industry, 2020(06):168-173.

[4]. Food and Drug Administration releases "Guidelines for Application and Review of Children's Cosmetics"[J]. Light Industry Standards and Quality, 2012(06):16+11.