Although predominantly an adult disease, skin cancer can even affect children. If you are a parent looking for ways to protect your children from skin cancer, keep reading. Here are five tips to help you protect the health of your child's skin:

1. Avoid sunburns

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, if your child gets just one sunburn, that doubles his or her risk of getting skin cancer later in life. Do not take this risk. When your child is going to be in the sun, cover them with a high SPF sunscreen.

2. Embrace alternatives to sunblock

Although sunblock is an essential element of fighting sunburns, it should not be used exclusively. The longer someone sits in the sun with sunblock on, the riskier the sunblock becomes to their skin. The sun destabilizes the zinc oxide in the sunblock, releasing free radicals into the skin. As the free radicals try to bond with other molecules, they can damage cells which can lead to skin cancer.

For that reason, minimize the amount of time your child spends in the sun. Try to be outside when the rays are the least direct (in the early morning or late afternoon), and use things like sunhats, full body swimsuits or shade umbrellas to block sun.

3. Schedule well child check ups

It can be tempting to skip well child checkups when you "know" your kid is healthy. However, you should attend these annual appointments. Pediatricians look at everything during these meetings including the skin, and you don't want to risk overlooking something.

4. Know how to spot dangerous skin marks

As well as taking your kid to the doctor, remember to educate yourself about the possible harbingers of skin cancer. If your child's skin bleeds very easily in certain areas, if they have an asymmetrical mole or a mole that changes color, take them to a dermatologist. If you have a genetic propensity toward skin cancer in your family, you need to be especially vigilant about checking your child's skin. Also, remember to educate your child about the risks and signs of skin cancer.

5. Advise young adults to watch for signs of skin cancer

Even when your baby moves out and becomes a young adult, you still want them to be as safe as possible. Since 1970, the number of young people under forty getting skin cancer has increased by eight times. Call your child and make sure they understand potential risks and how to spot common indicators of skin cancer, and advise them to contact a professional like one from Vail Dermatology if they have concerns.

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