Sunny weather forecasted

Summertime means fun in the sun, right? Think again. The sun's harmful rays can cause cancer and cataracts, so the recommendation is to limit children's exposure to sunlight and to use protective clothing, sunglasses, hats and sunscreen, says a local expert.

Limit exposure to sunlight especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the rays are most intense, said Mary Ellen Luchetti, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist who has recently opened a new practice in Yuma.
"You want to avoid direct sun exposure; i.e. lying in the sun ... Limit your exposure as much as you can." That's been the recommendation of the American Academy of Dermatology for years, and people cannot be too careful, she said.
What has changed, however, is the recommendation for sunscreen use in infants up to six months of age. While parents were previously advised not to use sunscreen on infants under the age of six months, the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends using a "very small amount" of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher on their hands and faces because those exposed areas are so small, Luchetti said.

It's important, however, to avoid getting any sunscreen in or near the eyes, she stressed. Though the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher up to six months of age and a SPF of 15 thereafter, Luchetti recommends that everyone always use a SPF of 30 or higher, especially here in the desert.

SPF is only a measure of protection against ultraviolet B rays - not ultraviolet A rays - although both of them cause skin cancer, she said. So she recommends reading sunscreen labels to find products, such as Neutrogena brand products, which protect against both ultraviolet A and B rays, she said.

Zinc oxide (yes, the diaper rash stuff!) and titanium dioxide are also good for protecting skin against the sun's harmful rays, she said.

Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outside, and reapplied every two hours thereafter, she said. It should be reapplied even more frequently if people are swimming, or if the sunscreen washes off some other way, she said.

Besides limiting sun exposure and using sunscreen, people should also wear protective clothing, she said. Normal clothing only has a SPF of about eight, she said. "The tighter the weave, the more it protects, but an average cotton shirt has a SPF of about eight."

But clothing with sunscreen is available on many Web sites, she said. "All you have to do is Google ‘sun protection wear' and you'll get a million different companies coming up. They make incredible things, now, even bathing suits for kids with sunscreen in it."

Hats should be worn to protect the face and neck, and sunglasses should be worn to protect the eyes, she said. "Sunglasses are very important because they protect your eyes from cataracts, which are very common." While cataracts are not common in children, they should start wearing sunglasses as early as possible to prevent cataracts later in life, she said.

Certain medications and health conditions can cause photosensitivity, so parents should discuss any concerns with their children's pediatricians, she said.

Despite a parent's best efforts, children may still get an occasional sunburn. In that case, there are things they can do to help. "Apply something cool, like aloe," Luchetti said. Cortisone creams, cool baths and cool compresses also help, as do over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, she said.

Children over the age of eight years and adults can take aspirin for sunburn inflammation, she said. But aspirin is not recommended for children under the age of eight because it can cause Reyes syndrome.

Redness with sunburn indicates a first-degree burn, which parents can treat, but blisters indicate second-degree burns, which should be looked at by a doctor, she said.

Luchetti opened her Yuma practice in early May, and she welcomes pediatric as well as adult patients. "I did a pediatric residency, so I'm very well versed in taking care of kids," she said. "But that doesn't mean I specialize in pediatric dermatology. I see everybody from zero to my oldest patient, who was 107, I think - a woman, of course!"

Luchetti's practice, Dermatology of Yuma, is located at 2270 S. Ridgeview Drive, Suite 201, and the number is 783-0169.