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Keep them safe in the sun

As much as 80 per cent of our lifetime exposure to the sun occurs during childhood so it is vital that parents to make sure children are properly protected

Sun exposure and protection is a complex and contradictory area of child health. On the one hand, fresh air and sun are vital for the development of a child.

Sunlight, for example, is an important source of bone-building vitamin D. On the other hand, too much sun in childhood can seriously increase the risk of skin cancer in later life.

With this in mind, it is worrying that recent research published in the British Medical Journal shows that many parents still don't use sunscreens regularly to protect their kids.

There are also suggestions that adults and children who do use sunscreens may actually be at increased risk of developing skin cancer as they mistakenly believe applying it once will give them free rein to stay out in the sun for long periods.

So what is a parent to do?

If you've seen your child suffering the agony of severe sunburn, you certainly won't be blasé about protecting their skin in the future.

Skin cancer, like all cancers, is a slow developing disease, often with decades between the trigger (in this case overexposure to the sun) and the emergence of the symptoms. Research shows that six episodes of serious sunburn before the age of 18 doubles the risk of developing skin cancer as an adult.

On balance, despite the concerns raised above, if your child is going to be out in the sun for extended periods then suncream is essential.

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