Sun Safety for Illinois Families

Spending time outdoors is fun and healthy for children but can present challenges for parents when it comes to protecting their child from harmful sun exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of sun safety strategies such as wearing protective clothing, applying broad-spectrum sunscreen and seeking shade during peak sun hours¹. Even on cloudy days, children are at risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage, so daily sun protection measures are essential². It is crucial for parents to be proactive in teaching good sun safety habits, especially during outdoor play, sports and recreational activities throughout the summer³.

In this month’s Voices of Child Health Report, we highlight parents’ responses about sunscreen usage and other habits related to child sun safety. We surveyed over 1,000 parents from both urban and rural communities across the state of Illinois.  

Report Highlights 

• Sun protection measures come in many forms, including hats, clothing, sunscreen application (SPF 15 or higher; SPF 30 provides extra protection) and reapplication (every two hours), and activity in the shade; these strategies are best used together.
• Only 42% of parents always apply sunscreen when their children go outside, and only 20% reapply sunscreen every two hours.
• Parents of younger children use sunscreen most frequently, although all children are still vulnerable to sun damage, which increases risk of skin cancer as adults.

What kind of Sunscreen SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is best? 

Overall, 82% of parents surveyed use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, which has been proven most effective by dermatologists against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays⁴. At the store, identify labels that are “broad-spectrum” UVA and UVB protection, which protect from a wider variety of sun rays.The most effective sunscreens contain minerals zinc oxide or titanium dioxide⁵. Combine sunscreen use with hats, sunglasses and long sleeves or pants, and don’t forget small areas like feet, ears and necks.

Parents’ Habits of Sunscreen Re-Application

Illinois parents were also surveyed about their typical sun protection habits when their child spends time outdoors during the warmer months. We found that 42% of parents always apply sunscreen when their child goes outside, and 47% sometimes do. Additionally, 21% of parents always reapply sunscreen, and 57% sometimes reapply. Reapplication every two hours is important because sunscreen washes off with motion, sweat, and is absorbed into the skin⁵.

What to do During Peak Sun Hours

Survey results indicated it may be difficult to avoid the sun during its strongest hours, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the UV index is highest. Only 22% of parents said they always avoid the sun during this time, 52% sometimes avoid the sun during those hours. Thus, using multiple sun protection strategies correctly is important to keep children safe. For indoor activities outside your living space, take a trip to a library or shopping mall with air conditioning during peak sun hours⁶. If a sunburn does occur, it is especially important to stay hydrated and out of the sun.

Sun Protection by Age

Sun protection strategies may depend on children’s age, but it should always stay a priority, even for older children. Yet, there was a significant difference in sunscreen practices for families based on the age of their children. Survey results indicated that for families with younger children (all under 5 years), 35% avoid UV rays at peak sun hours, while only 11% of families with older children (at least one child above 11 years) avoided peak hours. Furthermore, only 37% of families with a child older than 11 always used sunscreen, compared to 49% for families without older children. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics⁷ outlines strategies for families based on their children’s ages:

• Infants under 6 months should be protected with alternatives to sunscreen. Keep them out of direct sunlight. Use shade, clothing and hats, and if needed, apply minimal sunscreen to small areas like face and hands.
• For all children above 6 months, it is crucial to reapply sunscreen every two hours and follow the instructions to ensure children are protected throughout the day.
• For older children, apply enough sunscreen — about one ounce for full-body coverage.

What if my child goes to camp or school during the day, so I cannot manage their sun protection?

Two strategies can be used when you cannot be with your child during outdoor activity: first, ensuring other adults know how to apply sunscreen to your child, or second, ensuring that your child can apply it independently. We found that 53% of Illinois parents with younger children (under 5 years) always make sure other caregivers know how to put sunscreen on their child. This number lowers to just 30–34% for all other families. We also learned that about 50% of families teach their children to put sunscreen on independently. Depending on the skill level of your child, determine the best choice for them.

Sun Protection by Race or Ethnicity 

Another significant difference in sunscreen practices between families was based on the parents’ race or ethnicity: 93% of Hispanic parents and 93% of white, non-Hispanic parents used sunscreen always or sometimes, while this was 70% for Black non-Hispanic and 77% for other non-Hispanic parents. Although non-Hispanic white patients make up most skin cancer cases, racial and ethnic minorities have more severe cases and poorer health outcomes when diagnosed with skin cancer⁸, so sun safety precautions are just as important for all families and children. 

Healthy Sun Safety Tips

There are many tips for parents that help to ensure families have a fun, healthy and skin-safe summer. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:⁷

• Stay in the shade whenever possible, especially during peak UV hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest.
• Dress for protection: choose tightly woven, lightweight fabrics, long sleeves, long pants, wide-brimmed hats (at least three inches) and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Use broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher (SPF 30 gives extra margin); apply 15–30 minutes before going outside and always reapply every two hours, more frequently after swimming or sweating.
• Lead by example — parents and caregivers should follow the same sun-safe practices to reinforce healthy habits in their children now and into the future.

Environmental Considerations for Summer Safety:

• Sunscreen and water — UV rays reflect off the water’s surface, increasing their effect (Figure 4). Sweat and water remove sunscreen quickly; dry off and reapply after being wet.
• Don’t rely on clouds — UV rays will penetrate through cloud cover and are still harmful.
• Extreme heat events — stay inside when possible, especially if air quality is poor. Be sure children are drinking water before, during and after being outside.

These measures protect young skin and eyes from harmful UV exposure — especially important because 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 18. Additional safety tips can be found from both the Skin Cancer Foundation⁹ and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention¹⁰.

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