Photoprotection for Infants and Children

The skin's barrier protection is not fully developed in the first years of life, and UV-induced skin changes begin early.

Recommendations for photoprotection are part of clinical practice. This is particularly important for infants and young children, and special issues pertaining to this age group are the subject of a recent review. Infants (<1 year of age) and toddlers (1–3 years of age) have less endogenous protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation than adults; their skin contains less melanin; and the stratum corneum of the epidermis is thinner. Studies in infants who have been carefully protected from recreational sun exposure but not from incidental UV exposure (e.g., inside a car, in the shade, or on a cloudy day) demonstrate seasonal differences in the pigmentation of the outer, but not the inner, aspect of the arms, indicating that even incidental…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)