Radiation Attacking Our Young

Birthdays are a special time, especially for children. Each one is significant for many different reasons but I wonder how many people realise that by the time a child reaches adolescence, nine out of every 10 will have had UV-related skin damage.

Childhood is the critical period during which UV Radiation can do the most damage. Often the signs won't appear till later in life and then they may be anything from pigmentation through to skin cancer, cataracts through to a suppressed immune system. You may even develop malignant melanoma and it might be sooner rather than later.

It only takes a few minutes for a child's skin to burn and that damage is permanent and cumulative. If you think of exposure to UV Radiation as beginning as an empty glass - even a drip at a time, the glass will eventually fill up. If it overflows than you've got a problem.

It has been found that adequate protection (appropriate clothing and the use of sunscreen) during childhood can reduce the risks of developing problems later in life by up to 78%. Protection will filter UV rays and help limit the total exposure. It's like making sure the glass never fills up.

When deciding on a fabric it is important to remember that the closeness of the weave is the crucial factor. The colour or weight of a fabric is not necessarily an indicator of greater protection. We recommend choosing a garment that is SPF rated with a minimum SPF 30+.