Families Frying Together:
Sunbathing Habits of Parents and Children

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SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 2, 1996 -- Gone are the days when we send children outside to play to get a little color in their cheeks. We know too much about the dangers of unprotected sun exposure to hazard the development of skin cancer in our children. Or do we?

A recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology showed that 30% of parents with children under 13 reported that their children had a sunburn last summer. The same parents also reported having sunburn themselves.

Despite the fact that 58% of the parents remembered "hearing something in the past year" about protecting their children from the sun, children are still playing outside without sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.

"This speaks to a continued need to repeat sun safety messages until they are heard and integrated into everyone's behavior," commented dermatologist W. Mitchell W. Sams Jr., MD, President of the American Academy of Dermatology.

"Sunburn is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer, including malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. We can't change our skin type or family history, but we can change our sunbathing habits. Parents should know that even one or two blistering sunburns can significantly increase a child's risk for developing melanoma/skin cancer later in life. Freckles aren't cute, they're a sign of sun damage."

This survey also revealed that 58% of young adults under 25 reported "working on a tan" as part of sports or other outdoor activities, and 26% said they "lay out in the sun." In fact, 49% of young adults under 25 reported having had a sunburn this past summer. Of the 1,009 adults polled, 62% said people look better with a tan."

Dr. Sams added: "Changing society's collective belief that being tanned connotes health and beauty continues to be a challenge. But by the year 2000, Americans will have a 1 in 75 lifetime risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. We have to replace that notion with the belief that staying out of the sun is smarter. It's never too late to change the odds."

• Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  
  
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15
  
  
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days
  
  
• Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and pants
  
  
• Wear a 4-inch wide broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses, with UV protective lenses
  
  
• Stay in the shade whenever possible. Avoid reflective surfaces, which can reflect up to 85% of the sun's damaging rays
  
  
• Protect children by keeping them out of the sun, minimizing sun exposure and applying sunscreens beginning at six months of age

CONTACT: Donna Stein of the American Academy of Dermatology, 847-330-0230, ext. 341, or e-mail, dstein@aad.org