Sunscreen for infants ‘necessary’

The American Academy of Pediatrics advised mothers to use an adequate amount of sunscreen on babies less than six months old.

It said the general notion that infants do not sunburn is false and that UV-induced pigmentation, starting with baby’s first exposure to summer sun, may contribute to the development of skin cancer later.

According research conducted by Dr. May Paller, skin on the backs or outside of babies’ arms changes in pigmentation when they are exposed to UV light. Therefore, parents are advised to keep their babies from sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; wear protective clothing and use sunscreen with gentler, moisturizing ingredients for babies, the team said.

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