Parental use of sun protection for their children—does skin color matter?

Excessive exposure to sunlight in childhood is a risk factor for skin cancer. The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of using ideal sunscreen between parents and children with shallow and deep skin and to explore their attitudes and beliefs on sun protection and sunscreen choice did.

Parents of children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years old responded to self-administered questionnaires on children's sun protection measures. Parents evaluate their children's Fitzpatrick photo type and are divided into brighter photos (Fitzpatrick pictures I-III) and dark skin photos (Fitzpatrick pictures IV-VI). I used the Sun Safety Guide of the Canadian Dermatology Association to identify the ideal sunscreen.

A total of 183 parents were included. Overall, 31 parents (17%) used the ideal sunscreen for children. As children grow, parents are less likely to use ideal sun protection measures (odds ratio = 0.69, 95% confidence interval = 0.53 - 0.90). Parents of a brighter skin group think that sun exposure is harmful (odds ratio = 17.2, 95% confidence interval) = more likely to use the ideal sunscreen for children (odds Ratio = 4, 95% confidence interval = 7 - 20.1). Those perceived by sunscreen (odds ratio = 11.4, 95% confidence interval = 3 to 39.0); people with darker skin believe that darker skin tones will bring more sunburn prevention (Odds ratio = 12.4, 95% confidence interval = 1 - 25.4)

Ideal parent sunscreen effect is generally low, especially for parents of children with strong skin color. Attitudes and beliefs confirmed for the safety of the sun may help to provide future sunscreen intervention, especially in multiethnic people.

Parents often report frequent use of children's sun protection measures even in states with high sun exposure and high skin cancer incidence. Less than half of parents reported using sunscreens to children. Sunscreens are the most common method used by parents using sunscreens for children. Avoid sunlight (by being indoors or in a cool place), or use a hat or protective clothing as a less used sunscreen law

All parents think that it is important to protect children from the sun and to take appropriate precautions, regardless of the type of skin. Parents give priority to the degree of sun protection, while others are very concerned about sun protection, some people are very concerned about sunburn prevention. Despite the different sunburn attitudes, parents are not actively seeking that their children are sunburning like theirs. In some cases, suntan is thought to be a natural outcome of summer outdoor time, even if the child is protected. If you do not have a positive attitude of sunburn, you will be kicked out of the danger of being exposed to sunlight, so we will not tell the children about how to protect. Therefore, tanning is not important.

There are few studies using parents' knowledge and attitudes about sunburn prevention as a determinant of child's sun protection behavior. Determining the characteristics of parents that affect the use of children's sunscreens is an important research field because parental interventions often succeed than their own interventions. In our study it is not uncommon for children to regularly use sunscreens. Mainly to use sunscreen instead of reducing exposure to sunlight (indoors or sitting in the shade, wearing a hat or wearing protective clothing). Infant parents tend to maintain undesirable ideas and attitudes about sunburn prevention. This is related to children's less use of sun protection measures.