The idea of protecting children from the sun might not be top priority for many parents at the moment with parts of the UK still recovering from last week’s torrential rain and floods. But if you’re heading abroad on holiday, where temperatures in southern Europe in particular have hit record highs this year, it’s vital to be prepared. Even in the UK, the sun can be stronger than you think when it appears between showers.

A child’s skin is much thinner than an adult’s and children are therefore more prone to skin damage and sunburn. This carries well documented risks including skin cancer and premature aging.

Protecting children is especially important at the seaside where sunlight is reflected and intensified by sand and water. Most skin cancers are caused by damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight or from sun beds. The most important thing to remember is that too much sun, especially if it leads to burning, can be dangerous.

Rebecca Russell, manager of SunSmart, the UK’s national skin cancer prevention campaign which is run by Cancer Research UK, says: “Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, and the number of people diagnosed each year has more than doubled since the early 80s. Up to eight in ten could be prevented so it's very important to be aware of how to enjoy the sun safely.”

Who’s most at risk?

A baby’s skin is five times thinner than an adult’s. It’s recommended that babies aged 12 months and under are kept out of strong sunlight. On hot days it’s best to keep your baby completely in the shade. All children and teenagers up to the age of 18 are generally more susceptible than adults to sunburn and also long-term skin damage. Fair and red headed children and those with very pale skin are especially at risk, as are children with lots of moles, freckles, and a family history of skin cancer.

You could use the UV index (an indication of what the intensity of UV light is likely to be that day - often given with the weather forecast) to find out when your children will most need of protection.

What factor sun lotion should I be using?

A baby’s skin is more vulnerable in the sun than an older child’s, but they both need plenty of protection.

It’s important to protect babies even in the shade. For babies and older children, choose either sun block or a sun lotion with a high protection factor (SPF) between 30 and 60. The SPF indicates the degree to which the lotion protects against ultraviolet rays from the sun. For instance, an SPF of 30 means it will take 30 times longer for skin to burn compared with unprotected skin. It’s a good idea to look at the range of protection offered by a particular brand of sun lotion too and choose one that is ‘broad spectrum’, protecting against both UVA and UVB sunlight.

Don’t forget to check the ‘use by’ date. Most sunscreens have a shelf life of 2-3 years.

Similar standards for SPF were introduced recently in Europe, the United States and Australia, but if buying elsewhere it’s best to ask a pharmacist’s advice on the sun lotion’s effectiveness.