Increasing the Knowledge and Awareness Levels of Pediatricians and Family Physicians on Sun Protection Methods

Sunlight has very important effects on the body. In addition to its positive effects such as regulation of circadian rhythm, synthesis of vitamin D and regulation of mood, it also has negative effects on the skin such as sunburn, hyperpigmentation, photoaging and skin cancer formation. These negative effects are known to be caused by ultraviolet (UV) (10 to 400 nm) rays of sunlight.

UV waves reaching the Earth are divided into three as Ultraviolet A (UV-A), Ultraviolet B (UV-B) and Ultraviolet C (UV-C). Approximately 95% of the UV rays reaching the Earth's surface are UV-A (320 to 400 nm). UV-A is known to contribute to photoaging, play an important role in hyperpigmentation and cause the development of skin cancer. UV-B (290 to 320 nm) constitutes 5% of UV radiation and contains the most biologically active wavelengths. UV-B is known to cause sunburn, inflammation, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer development. It is known that UV-C (200 to 290 nm) cannot reach the earth due to the ozone layer.

It is known that skin cancers such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma may develop in adults as a result of excessive exposure to UV rays. It has been shown that the development of skin cancer is rarer in childhood. It has been found that approximately 324 thousand patients worldwide are diagnosed with melanoma and 1.2 million patients are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer each year. In Turkey, according to the latest data, 1477 patients were diagnosed with melanoma and 20,220 patients were diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer. According to Fitzpatrick skin classification, studies have found that the risk of cancer development is higher in light-skinned skin, while the risk of cancer development is lower in dark-skinned skin.

Although skin cancers are not common in the pediatric age group, exposure to UV rays is higher than in adults. It is known that this cumulative exposure that develops over time may lead to the development of skin cancer in later ages. Therefore, it is argued that effective protection from UV rays is important in the pediatric age group. Guidelines emphasize the importance of preventive counseling in early childhood for reasons such as high sun exposure in the pediatric age group, increase in cumulative exposure with advancing age, prevention of the known adverse effects of sun rays with simple precautions, application of sun protection trainings given to the child for the rest of his/her life and thus decreasing the incidence of skin cancers. The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasize the following 5 basic points about reducing UV exposure in early childhood:

• Avoid going outside between 10.00-15.00 when the sun is at its peak,
• Usage of broad spectrum sunscreen children over 6 months,
• Using a hat, clothing that fully protects the body, sunglasses, umbrellas when going outside,
• When spending time outdoors, spend more time in shaded areas,
• Avoidance of indoor tanning.