Children CAN get sunburned in the shade

Expert busts the 6 most common summer sun myths

With sweltering temperatures predicted again this summer, and the world recently recording its hottest day ever globally on 3rd July, it’s clear we need to make sun safety a real priority.  

Here are ‘six most common summer sun myths busted’ by Marie Tudor, CEO of national skin cancer awareness charity, SKCIN, charity partner to Shady® – which can also help keep you and your child safe this summer.

You can’t get sun damage through a car window – WRONG!

Whilst most windscreens are made from laminated glass that filters out ultraviolet light, side vehicle windows are typically made from non-laminated glass which filters out UVB radiation, but NOT UVA. 

UVA remains at fairly consistent levels during daylight hours, every day of the year and is able to penetrate cloud cover, fog and glass – meaning all-year-round protection is advisable. 

The sun’s UVA rays penetrate the skin at deeper levels than UVB causing cumulative and irreparable damage that can lead to skin cancer in later life. And this includes when kids are travelling in the car too – particularly for longer journeys as they can also accumulate sun damage through windows.

Shady® is a car sunshade designed specifically to protect youngsters from the sun on the go. It is the only shade that can be wound down with the window open and protects against up to 86% of the harmful UV rays of the sun. Shady’s car sunshade has been specifically designed with babies’ cognitive development in mind  – aka how children think, learn, explore, remember, and figure things out – with the bold black and white design.

Getting sunburn once, won’t increase your risk of skin cancer – WRONG!

Sunburn, reddening and even tanning of the skin is a clear indication of sun damage. Cumulative sun exposure is the main cause of non-melanoma skin cancer, whilst sunburn plays a clear role in the development of melanoma – the most serious, life-threatening form of skin cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, getting sunburn just once every two years can triple your risk of melanoma, compared to never being burnt.

Sunburn is particularly harmful when sustained at a younger age – even one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma in later life. Skin damage builds up over time starting with your very first sunburn – the more often you burn the greater your risk becomes.

Babies can’t get sunburnt in the shade – WRONG!

As this parent found, babies and children, especially if sitting poolside or on the beach, can fall victim to the sun’s harmful rays being reflected off water. 

Light coloured concrete and sand back onto their face or body, despite being sat in the shade under a sunshade or umbrella. 

It is essential to protect the delicate skin of babies and children by covering them with UV protective clothing, a wide brimmed sun hat and ideally an SPF 50 sunscreen formulated for children’s delicate and sensitive skin.

You can be out in the sun for up to an hour without getting burnt – WRONG!

Sunburn is a radiation burn to the skin. Sunburn can occur in as little as 11 minutes of unprotected sun exposure and whilst the visible signs may not become apparent immediately – damage is already occurring beneath the skin’s surface.

Our skin turns red within 2-6 hours of being burnt and damage continues to develop for the next 24 to 72 hours depending on the severity. When the skin burns, the superficial layers of the skin release chemicals that cause our blood vessels to expand and leak fluid causing swelling, pain and redness. Without sun protection, UV radiation penetrates deep into the layers of the skin causing cumulative and irreparable damage to the skin cells – once the redness fades, the damage remains and can result in serious consequences over time.

Skin types that tan easily and rarely burn are not at risk of skin cancer – WRONG!

It’s a common misconception that people with darker skin tones are immune to sun damage and skin cancer, but this is not the case, and all skin types should take steps to protect their skin. 

Although skin cancer is more common in fairer skin types that burn more easily, people of all skin types, including those with dark brown and black skin, can get skin cancer. Even if you never sunburn, you can get skin cancer.

Darker skin types that tan easily have more melanin, the natural pigment responsible for the colour of our skin, hair and eyes. The skin produces more melanin when it’s exposed to UV radiation, causing it to tan – but be warned that this happens in response to injury!

Even if we tan rather than burn, the simple fact that our skin changes colour is a sign of damage – it’s a warning sign that our body is working hard to defend itself from the harmful effects of the sun. As with sunburn, damage to the skin cells from tanning builds up over time, is irreversible and increases the risk of skin cancer. 

Put simply, when it comes to sun exposure – there is no such thing as a safe tan!

You only need sun protection when it’s hot and sunny – WRONG!

Solar UV radiation emitted by the sun’s energy cannot be seen or felt, is not related to temperature, can pass through cloud cover and glass – and is the direct cause of around 90% of skin cancer cases! 

Being aware of the daily UV Index is a vital step in managing your skin health and the level of protection required to prevent sun damage. The UV Index is an international standard measurement of the strength of sunburn producing UV radiation at the earth’s surface at a particular place and time. 

It is categorised by five number and colour coded values – the higher the number, the stronger the UV and the less time it takes for sun damage to occur.

When the UV Index reaches 3, steps should be taken to protect the skin and eyes.

For all the advice, tools, tips and tricks you need to help you learn more and take charge of your families skin health and surveillance, install the SKCIN app for free on your mobile device: Go to app.skcin.org (using Safari on iOS or Chrome on Android) tap ‘INSTALL’ and follow the 2 tap instructions to add the app to your home screen.

See https://sunshady.co.uk/ for Shady’s bold black and white sun shades to protect youngsters from the sun on the go.