It’s taken a long time for science to quantify what mothers have always known: the skin of babies and toddlers is very different from the skin of older children and adults. Babies’ skin is softer because the outermost protective layer, the stratum corneum, isn’t mature until at least age two. In babies and toddlers the total epidermis is also thinner, with increased absorption:

Ultraviolet radiation can penetrate more deeply.

This can damage skin DNA, trigger inflammation, accelerate aging, and suppress the immune system in the skin. (Our skin is a key, active part of our immune system – not just the physical barrier we’ve long assumed.) Radiation-induced skin changes can start accumulating during a baby’s first summer.

Sunscreen chemicals penetrate more easily as well.

Many of the chemicals used in sunscreens to absorb radiation act like estrogen hormones. These could end up throughout a baby’s body in the blood, and later be detected in the urine. This hasn’t been proven to cause a problem. Or proven safe.

How do you balance the health of young skin, where just a few sunburns can double the melanoma risk later in life? I recommend a few simple steps:

1. Avoid midday sun, when practical.
2. Choose sun-protective clothing for everyday wear when babies or toddlers will be outside. K&J clothing has a UPF of 50+, using no chemicals. And it’s adorable! In contrast, a typical tee has a UPF of only 5 or 10.
3. Seek shade with your little one.
4. Use a mineral sunscreen to physically block UV radiation. Zinc and titanium are the two common mineral active ingredients. Micron-particle-size minerals are small enough to go on clear and large enough not to be absorbed through the skin.

And don’t forget a pair of stylin’ baby sunglasses!

Paller AS, Hawk JLM, Honig P, Giam YC, Hoath S, Mack MC, and Stamatas GN. “New Insights about Infant and Toddler Skin: Implications for Sun Protection.” Pediatrics. 2011; 128(1):1-11.

• Makes: 8 Pops (8 Servings)
• Ready In: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 5-10 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Rooibos is a very high antioxidant tea and really boosts your immune system. It is an herbal tea, which means there is no caffeine and is completely natural. Rooibos tea is completely pure, as it contains no additives, preservatives or colorants. These pops taste amazing and can be your kids new favorite.

• Makes: 6-8 Servings
• Ready In: 10 mins
• Prep Time: 5-10 mins
• Cook Time: 5-10 mins

This sauce will be one of your favorites.  It’s quick and easy and tasty too. You can use it on chicken, beef, or even in beans.

After a long, cold winter, parents everywhere throw open the windows, soaking in the sunshine and spring temperatures, and utter the most thrilling four words in the parent lexicon: “Go outside and play!”

As you release your children out into nature (and out of your hair for an hour or two), bear in mind these few tips about keeping them safe and healthy as they tumble down grassy hills, bury themselves in sand, and get good and dirty!

Swim in clear waters. Beaches are a favorite summer destination, but the water at them can be polluted with chemicals, fecal matter, or other contaminants.

• Look for the cleanest beaches. Pick a beach that is tested regularly for cleanliness and that notifies you when it is unsafe to go in the water. The Natural Resources Defense Council rates the top 100 beaches, but for smaller beaches you’ll need to do some hunting. Contact your local or state environmental protection office or public health agency. Oftentimes you can do an on-line search of your favorite beach’s name with the words “water quality” to find information
• Wait at least 24 hours after a heavy rainfall before swimming. Heavy rains can stir up polluted sediment and cause sewage systems to overflow into storm drains.
• If possible, choose beaches that are away from urban areas or that have good water circulation.
• Avoid swimming near storm drains.
• Check out the surrounding environment. What’s adjacent to the water? Farmland or golf courses could mean high levels of pesticides are running off into the water. If there’s an industrial facility upstream, you could be swimming in their effluent.
• Avoid getting water in your mouth.

Keep the bugs from bugging you. Nothing spoils a day outdoors like bug bites. And, some bugs can leave more than just an itchy red spot. Parents need to be aware of the risks of Lyme Disease, West Nile virus, and other infectious diseases – while also being aware of the risks of chemical repellents like DEET and permethrin.

• Keep as much skin covered as possible by wearing lightweight fabrics.
• Go indoors at dusk when mosquitoes come out to play.
• Use the safest, least toxic repellent for your situation and read the label carefully. Wash off skin and change clothes after returning indoors.

Breathe easy. For millions of children with asthma or allergies, air quality is nothing to sneeze at. And, for every child’s developing lungs, you should schedule outdoor playtime at times when the air is clearest.

• Check ozone and air particulate levels at airnow.gov. You can also sign up for email alerts by entering your zip code.
• Relax during peak heat. During the late afternoons of the hottest days are typically when air quality is worst. Avoid heavy exercise or anything that causes heavy breathing.
• Warmer weather also means seasonal allergies. Check your local pollen levels at Pollen.com.

Keep off the Grass. Okay, not entirely, but be aware of yards and parks that may have recently been sprayed. Every year 90 million pounds of pesticides are showered on American lawns (between 7-10 times more pesticides than on food crops). The result is an immediately green lawn, but also long-term pollution of air, water and unknown potential impact on the health of our families.

• Watch for signs. Most public spaces are required to post signage when they have sprayed pesticides, but private lots and homeowners are not always so communicative. Find out from your local Park and Rec when and what they spray (and encourage them to switch to IPM – to save money and protect health and the environment). When you’re on walks, keep kids on the sidewalk.
• Kick off your shoes. When you get home, leave potential pesticide residue, lead dust, and dirt at the door by having everyone remove their shoes. If you can’t keep the shoes from crossing the threshold, have a straw mat and encourage everyone to do a thorough wiping.

This post originally appeared online at Cookie Magazine.

More infants and children are bitten by mosquitoes than by any other insect. But parents often don’t notice the bites on babies and young children because they don’t look like they do on teens and adults.

When a mosquito stabs her needlelike mouthparts through the skin of her victim, she injects her saliva, which is teeming with digestive enzymes and anticoagulants. The first time a person is bitten, there is no reaction. With subsequent bites, he or she becomes sensitized to the foreign proteins, and small, itchy, red bumps appear about 24 hours later. This is the most common reaction in young children. After many more bites, a pale, swollen hive, or “wheal,” appears, and it’s followed by the red bump 24 hours later. This is a familiar reaction among older children and adolescents.

Preventing mosquito bites is the key to preventing illnesses such as West Nile virus, which has spread throughout the continental U.S. Despite this alarming/troublesome fact, most Americans don’t wear insect repellent or put it on their children. For those who don’t use repellents because they don’t want chemicals on their skin or don’t like the smell or feel of DEET repellents, oil of lemon eucalyptus may be just the ticket.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus, a natural, plant-based repellent was recommended as mosquito protection in 2005 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can be about as effective as DEET, but products containing oil of eucalyptus lemon may need to be applied more often than conventional insect repellents (especially those that contain a high concentration of DEET). Concentrations don’t differ in how much they work, only in how long they work. Oil of lemon eucalyptus usually lasts from two to five hours, but it should be reapplied right away if mosquitoes resume biting. Certified organic formulations are available at health food stores like Whole Foods and Wild Oats.

If your kids are ten or younger, don’t let them apply insect repellent themselves; instead, apply it to your own hands and rub them on your kids’ exposed skin, avoiding the eyes and mouth. Forgo their hands if they are often in their mouth.

Here are some additional tips for avoiding mosquitoes.

• Many species of mosquito prefer biting at dusk, early evening and dawn. It gets worse when the weather is hot or humid. Avoid playing/being outdoors during your area’s peak biting hours.
• Mosquitoes are attracted to things that remind them of mammal flesh and nectar, their two primary food sources. When outdoors, wear clothing that covers most of your body and avoid bright florals. Khaki, beige and olive hold no special allure for mosquitoes.
• However, mosquitoes are attracted to certain body odors, so be aware of the fragrances in your soaps, shampoos and lotions.
• Citronella candles may be useful when your children are playing outside.
• Help reduce the number of mosquitoes in areas where your children play by draining sources of standing water such as flowerpots, birdbaths, swimming-pool covers, buckets, barrels, old tires and clogged rain gutters.

• Makes: 4 Servings
• Ready In: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

A lower fat option to meat burgers, this tasty recipe is a healthy substitute for all those summer barbecues!

It’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere – and hot, really hot, in many areas.  We are warm-blooded. Our bodies produce heat. When a muscle contracts, only about 25 percent of the energy is used for the muscle work. A surprising 75 percent of the energy is turned into heat to keep our temperature up. If we didn’t have a way to get rid of extra body heat, our temperatures would keep on climbing.

Strenuous exercise would raise the body temperature by about 2 degrees every five minutes, reaching fatal levels in only about 20 minutes. We get rid of extra heat by radiating it to the cooler surrounding environment, by evaporating extra fluid, and by letting air currents carry it away through convection. If the surrounding air temperature is hot, if the air is not moving, and if the person is getting dehydrated, heat becomes dangerous.

Whether it’s a baby at the beach on a hot day, a toddler left in a sweltering car, or a budding young athlete at an exhausting practice in the sun, heat injuries are more common than people think and prevention is easier than treatment.

I came across an interesting article in the June 3, 2003 Boston Globe. “Water bottles are not all created equal.” The article quotes Ryan Jordan, a biofilm engineer, who explained that softer plastic bottles can create a safe haven for bacteria and lead to infections when people head off for summer fun at picnics, hiking trails, and campsites. After relating a number of tips for keeping water clean, the article makes a profound, off-hand statement.

Surprisingly, the main cause for infections on the trail is not bacteria or parasites in rivers, streams, ponds, or water bottles. Instead, the problem comes when people enjoying the outdoors don’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom!

This is especially true before preparing or eating a picnic meal or an outdoor snack. Soap and water may not be practical on the go, but alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers are portable, healthy, effective ways to get the hands clean even without soap and water.

What a great tip for enjoying the sun or the stars or summer family fun.

Related concepts:

Tanning, Radiation damage

Introduction to sunburn:

Even though skin cancer occurs in adults, the serious skin cancers are caused by the radiation damage (particularly the sunburns) that occurred in our youth. Similarly, adult cataracts can result from too much sun in the eyes during childhood.

What is sunburn?

Sunburn is visible radiation damage to the skin.
Most of the damage is caused by UVB radiation, although UVA radiation can also contribute to the damage. Radiation risk has increased greatly over the last twenty years.

Who gets sunburn?

Children are at the highest risk. More than half of a lifetime’s sun exposure usually happens during childhood.
The lighter the complexion, the greater the risk of radiation burns from the sun. Higher elevation also increases the risk. Some medicines also make the skin more susceptible to damage.
UV radiation reflects off of snow, sand, water, cement, and even grass, increasing the potential for damage. People often feel safer on a bright cloudy day, but significant sun damage can still occur.

What are the symptoms of sunburn?

In mild sunburn, the skin is red, hot and painful. Usually, the symptoms are noticed 6 hours or more after the first exposure and peak within 24 hours.
Moderate or severe sunburn often begins the same way, but continues to progress –often peaking in the second 24 hours. Symptoms may include radiation-induced blistering of the skin, nausea, fever, chills, headache, and even heat stroke.
Dehydration can result.

Is sunburn contagious?

No – although the behavior leading to sunburn is often contagious.

How long does sunburn last?

Mild sunburn usually lasts 3-5 days. Moderate or severe sunburn usually lasts at least several days longer.
The effects of each episode of this radiation damage, however, are long lasting. Each sunburn increases the risk of early wrinkles, premature aging, senile skin lesions, and skin cancers.
One of my college roommates met a tragic early death from malignant melanoma. He was a sports enthusiast who frequently spent hours unprotected in the sun — he always had a tan. Unfortunately, he’s not alone. The risk of developing malignant melanoma has more than tripled since 1980 — from one in 250 to one in 71. A person dies every hour from melanoma in the US. Skin cancer was once a disease of the middle-aged and elderly, but it is becoming a disease of people in their 20′s and 30′s. The skin damage that will result in melanoma most often happens during childhood — but kids have a hard time imagining 20 years in the future. It’s our job as parents to protect them. Who would have guessed that a cool hat could be a lifesaving gift for our kids!

How is sunburn diagnosed?

Sunburn is diagnosed based on the history and physical exam.

How is sunburn treated?

The radiation damage from sunburn is irreversible. No treatment exists.
Cooling the skin and keeping it from drying out can prevent further damage. Thus, cool compresses are the first line of treatment. Brief, lukewarm Aveeno baths may also be helpful. This can be followed by an alcohol-free moisturizer cream or lotion. Vitamin E or Aloe can be helpful ingredients. Topical anesthetics do not provide much relief and can lead to unpleasant reactions.
Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, can reduce redness and pain.
If there is blistering, fever, or dehydration, the child should see a physician for further evaluation and treatment. Sometimes topical or systemic steroids are needed. In very severe sunburns, children may need to be hospitalized.

How can sunburn be prevented?

Sunscreen, loose clothing, and hats help protect children’s sensitive skin.
Try to avoid the sun’s most intense rays by staying out of the sun during the middle of the day. And don’t be lulled into complacency by overcast days, since most of the sun’s harmful rays will get through the clouds. Be especially careful if you are around water, sand, snow, or any surface that will reflect and therefore intensify the sun’s rays. Remember, the sun’s rays are more intense the higher you get in elevation.
The AAP used to recommend not putting sunscreen on infants under six months of age. This is no longer the case, because the danger from sunburns outweighs the risk of sensitivity to sunscreens.
When purchasing sunscreen, select a PABA-free brand with an SPF of at least 15. In general, infants’ skin is much thinner and more sensitive to the sun than adults’ skin, even in individuals with darker complexions. The amount of sunscreen needed depends on how light the child’s complexion is and I would recommend using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater for fair-skinned children. Sunscreen is most effective if first applied 20-30 minutes before sun exposure. Use sunscreen whenever you expect to be in the sun for thirty minutes or more, and re-apply after swimming. Even waterproof sunscreens should be re-applied every 80 minutes or so, after being in the water.
Parents often think to apply sunscreens to exposed areas of skin, such as the face, but feel safe about areas under the clothes. Ultraviolet radiation, however, can penetrate clothes. Prolonged exposure can damage the skin. Typical cotton T-shirts offers sun protection equal to only SPF 7.
One solution for long outdoor days: sunscreen under the clothes.
A less messy solution: sun-protective clothing.
Sun protection depends on the fiber, weave, and fabric color. Sometimes a substance that blocks UV radiation is added to the fabric. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of fabrics is similar to the SPF of sunscreens. A high UPF (40 to 50) is nice, because the ongoing sun protection is affected by stretching, shrinking, wetness, laundering, and the normal wear and tear of childhood.
Sunglasses protect children’s eyes from the UV rays and decrease the risk of cataracts in adulthood.
Most children love to be outdoors. By all means, take your children outdoors and enjoy. While you are giving your children a good time, though, you can also give them the gift of future good health by being careful. Protecting your children’s eyes from the dangerous rays of the sun and protecting their skin from sunburns is a gift that will last their whole lives.

Related A-to-Z Information:

Cataracts, Dehydration, Headache, Heat Stroke, Lyme Disease, Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac, Vomiting

Related concepts:

Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat prostration

Introduction to heat stroke:

Whether it’s a baby at the beach on a hot day, a toddler left in a sweltering car, or a budding young athlete at an exhausting practice in the sun, heat injuries are more common than people think.

What is heat stroke?

We are warm-blooded. Our bodies produce heat. When a muscle contracts, only about 25 percent of the energy is used for the muscle work. A surprising 75 percent of the energy is turned into heat to keep our temperature up.
If we didn’t have a way to get rid of extra body heat, our temperatures would keep on climbing. Strenuous exercise would raise the body temperature by about 2 degrees every five minutes, reaching fatal levels in only about 20 minutes.
We get rid of extra heat by radiating it to the cooler surrounding environment, by evaporating extra fluid, and by letting air currents carry it away through convection.
If the surrounding air temperature is hot, if the air is not moving, and if the person is getting dehydrated, heat becomes dangerous.

Who gets heat stroke?

The smaller the child, the less likely he is to be able to tolerate heat, especially if he is already a bit dehydrated or has a fever, and if there is poor air circulation.
Heat injuries can occur at any age. Sports and physical activity are generally beneficial and healthy for adolescents; nevertheless, heat injuries are among the leading causes of sports deaths.
People who have a prior history of heat injury, who are taking medicines or drugs (including antihistamines, Ritalin, thyroid hormone, some colic medicines, bed-wetting medicines, diuretics, or laxatives), or who have underlying illnesses (such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, vomiting, diarrhea, bronchiolitis, or a variety of skin disorders) are at higher risk.

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

Children’s skin can be quite sensitive to heat. Nursing mom’s often discover this, especially in the summertime, when their baby’s face turns red where it is against the mother’s skin. This redness comes from blood vessels in the area dilating to cool the skin down. Cooling the skin usually makes the rash disappear within hours, or even sooner. Prickly heat (miliaria rubra) is a type of heat rash that lasts.
Heat cramps are common with physical exertion. They usually affect the calf or hamstring muscles.
Heat syncope is fainting due to heat/dehydration.
Heat edema is swelling of the hands or feet from heat. People sometimes get this condition when initially exposed to hot weather.
Heat tetany is tingling, especially of the wrists. Hyperventilation in hot weather can cause heat tetany.
Heat exhaustion usually entails a body temperature of 101 to 104, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fainting. It is important to recognize and treat heat exhaustion immediately.
Heat stroke is very serious. A person’s temperature rises over 104 degrees and he or she has an altered mental status. 50 percent of those with heat stroke die from it. There are two types of heat stroke: exertional, with profuse sweating; and classic, in which the skin is hot and dry. Classic heat stroke builds up over days and is most common in infants and in the elderly. It is a true emergency.

Is heat stroke contagious?

Although the desire to appear “tough” on a sports team can be contagious, heat injuries themselves are not contagious.

How long does heat stroke last?

Heat injuries generally last until the body temperature and fluids have been corrected, and any complications treated.

How is heat stroke diagnosed?

The diagnosis is suspected by paying close attention to temperature, airflow, exertion, and hydration. Watching for early symptoms is the key to prompt diagnosis.

How is heat stroke treated?

Heat cramps usually respond to gentle stretching and to re-hydration, especially with an electrolyte solution.
Heat syncope usually responds to cooling (a sponge bath), lying down, and drinking fluids.
Heat edema often goes away on its own, as the person adjusts to the heat.
Heat exhaustion is an emergency. Treatment includes cooling, fans, drinking liquids, and applying ice over the groin and armpits. People typically respond well but prompt treatment is necessary in order to prevent the condition from progressing to heat stroke where treatment may no longer be effective.
Heat stroke is very serious. Call 911. Initial attention should be paid to basic CPR (airway, breathing, and circulation). Aggressive cooling is important, with cooling fans and ice. The patient needs liquids as soon as possible, preferably IV fluids.

How can heat stroke be prevented?

Heat injuries can be prevented. Ensuring good hydration and air circulation are vital. Children should never be left alone in a car. Take care when spending time outdoors in the hot sun.
Children should drink before exercise or sports, and every 20 minutes throughout. Cool liquids are better than warm. Water is fine for exercise up to an hour, but electrolyte solutions are better for exercise that is more strenuous. Keep in mind that most children will not drink this frequently on their own while playing or exercising – they need frequent reminders to ensure that they stay well hydrated.
Lightweight clothes that breathe are preferable, and athletes should have time out of helmets at least every 30 minutes.

Related A-to-Z Information:

Dehydration, Diarrhea, Headache, Miliaria, Vomiting