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Sun protection for all children

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A child’s skin is more sensitive to products and filters as their skin is still developing and its natural defences are weaker than in adults. The epidermis (outermost layer of the skin) is also thinner in children than in adults.

Too much sun is detrimental to children, but a certain amount of exposure is necessary for the production of vitamin D, which is essential for health. The answer is to be sun wise; children only need 10 minutes of sun exposure for production of vitamin D to take place.

It has been suggested that sunscreen could lead to a deficiency of vitamin D. Recent research has however shown that the body is still able to produce vitamin D, even when sunscreen has been applied.

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