Tag Archives: eichenfield

Preventing skin cancer in children begins with the right sunscreen

"Young, developing skin may be particularly vulnerable to UV rays," said Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. "If your child is getting intense sun exposure playing outdoors, she’s in danger of developing melanoma — the most serious type of skin cancer — even if she has what appears to be a healthy tan." Parents should consider the following to make the best sunscreen choice: •Sun Protection Factor (SPF) — Pick an SPF of 15 or higher. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection from sunburn caused mostly by UVB rays, not UVA. Also, the higher SPF does not increase the length of time for sun exposure…