Sun care
How this topic helps your child's learning
People are increasingly aware of the dangers of over-exposure to the sun. The information on suncare in the pupils' section is an important part of the PHSE (Personal, Health and Social Education) curriculum in England and the Health Education curriculum in Scotland.
Suncare information has been provided for four age groups, with activities related to the relevant Science curricula, as indicated below.
5-7 yrs
There are interactive jig saw quizzes which introduce basic facts concerning ourselves and the heat of the sun. There are also simple games reminding children of the importance of sun block at the beach.
7-11 yrs
The above themes are featured at a more demanding level for pupils.
11-14 yrs
The sun as an energy source - providing "fuel" for plant and animal life, or making electricity. Quiz on the sun and suncare.
14-16 yrs
Skin and the sun's effect on it - a more detailed examination of the science behind tanning and burning (see The basics). Two sample exam questions engage pupils to test their knowledge of the topic.
The basics
Sunlight in moderation can be good for us as it improves our mood and makes us feel better. Sunlight helps the skin to produce vitamin D and it can also improve some skin conditions such as psoriasis or acne although this sort of treatment can only be recommended by a qualified medical practitioner.
The sun stimulates the production of the pigment melanin in the skin. Melanin makes your skin turn darker or tan and provides protection against the rays of the sun. Fair-skinned people produce only small amounts of this pigment, so their skin is not naturally protected against the sun.
This is important because the sun also has damaging effects on the skin. These may be short-term and mild, such as slight sunburn, or long-term and serious, such as skin cancer.
Those most at risk of damage from sunlight include babies and children, people with pale or freckly skin, people with red hair and people with lots of moles. The sun's rays are strongest in the middle of the day, in countries which are nearer the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer and at high altitudes. This is why it is important to use an appropriate sunscreen when you are taking a summer or winter holiday.
Useful things to know
Sunscreen
You will see the letters SPF (Sun Protection Factor) marked on suncare products. This refers to the level of protection from the sun's burning rays which are predominantly ultraviolet (UVB) rays. These are short wavelength rays which are responsible for burning and tanning on the surface of the skin. The SPF gives you an indication of how much longer you can stay in the sun before burning if you use the sun protection product rather than having no protection.
A minimum SPF of 15 is suggested for adults, even in a moderate climate such as the UK's. Children need an SPF of 25 or higher because they are more vulnerable to burning. Choosing the correct SPF for your own use will depend on the length of time you will be in the sun, your skin type, whether or not you tan easily, the country you will be visiting, etc.
Sunscreens now aim to protect against UVA rays as well. These are long-wave rays which are responsible for ageing and wrinkling as they cause damage deep in the skin. The level of protection against UVA is shown by a star rating, with four stars indicating the maximum protection category.
Organic chemical sunscreens form a film on the skin, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Physical sunscreens form an opaque film over the area where they are applied so that ultraviolet radiation is reflected away from the skin. These preparations prevent both UVA and UVB from hitting the skin.
Sunglasses
Ultraviolet rays can also damage your eyes and cause cataracts. Wear good quality sunglasses to protect your eyes and the delicate skin around them. When buying sunglasses, always check what level of protection they provide against UVA and UVB.
The British Standard for sunglasses has five 'Filter Categories', ranging from 0 (the lightest) to 4 (the darkest).
NB - Boots do not sell any category 0 filter sunglasses as we believe they transmit too much light to be suitable for general use. Nor do Boots sell any category 4 filter sunglasses as we believe they are too dark, therefore making them unsuitable for road use.
Tips & treatments
Skin allergy or irritation from a sunscreen is very rare, but to ensure that you are not one of the very small number of people who might react, do a patch-test on a small area on the arm a few hours before applying it to the whole body.
Sunscreens are only one component of skin protection and should be combined with wearing protective clothing and avoiding the midday sun.
Sunscreen should be:
- Applied up to 30 minutes prior to exposure
- Reapplied after swimming or exercise
- Reapplied every two hours in sunlight
Sources of help and information
Information on sun care and key sun products are available at:
New Suncare Tips Leaflet
Things you and your children should know and do about sun
Suncare Tips leaflet (PDF 92k)
The Met Office
Monitors the UV Solar forecast for the UK and Europe, as well as real time
UV data. This information is available at:
www.metoffice.gov.uk
Department of Health
Official guidelines on sun care are available at:
www.dh.gov.uk
Cancer Research UK
One of the world's leading cancer research organisations. For information on
cancer visit their web site at:
science.cancerresearchuk.org
HEA guidelines PDF
The use of sunscreens in schools: A good practice guide (PDF 92k)
For Pupils
Use the links below to view the pupil material for this topic:
PDF files
Some of the resources on this page require Adobe Reader.
Click the button below to download it.
The information contained on this web site does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.