HEALTHY FAMILY
to 12 hours to peak? Anticipate that a little
pinkness now may develop into something
much worse later. First-degree sunburn brings
red, sore skin. Second-degree sunburn pe-
netrates the skin’s layers, bringing blistering
and swelling. The Skin Cancer Foundation
warns that, on average, risk for melanoma
doubles with five or more sunburns, but just
one blistering sunburn in childhood more
than doubles melanoma risk later in life.

If you do get sunburn, Dr. Kahn suggests
the following: Apply cool compresses, take a
cool shower, drink lots of water, take Advil/
Aleve if very painful, use aloe-vera or a general
moisturizer (such as CeraVe). If you have
blisters, don’t pop them. Keep the affected
skin moist and intact.

Bug off, little creeps
Another skin issue in summer: Bugs.

Annoying insects such as mosquitos, ticks,
chiggers, gnats, no-see-ums, biting flies
and sand fleas can ruin an otherwise lovely
time outdoors. We’ve tried lots of different
repellant strategies, so I was excited to hear
about Dr. Kahn’s favorite, picaridin. I’m
hoping this is a game-changer, because I am
a mosquito magnet.

“Look for 20 percent picaridin, in spray or
lotion. Generic is as good as brand-name, but
if you want a brand to look for, Sawyer’s is
great,” Dr. Kahn says. “It’s safe for babies and
pregnant women, and lasts 8 to 12 hours.”
Apply at edges of clothing and on exposed
areas. Because Lyme disease is common in ticks
around here, it is important to do tick checks
after you’ve been outdoors. Getting ticks
off within the first 24 hours is important
to prevent a full blood meal and avoid
transmission of disease. Picaridin will help
repel ticks, but not as well as DEET, so it is
a good idea to add something with DEET
for more protection if you’re hiking. Be sure
to wash it off as soon as you come inside to
limit exposure. Remember, too, that asthma
and eczema are often triggered by seasonal
allergies—another good reason to change
clothes and wash up as soon as you come in
from outdoors in summer.

also brings along skinned knees and scraped
elbows, which can put a damper on outdoor
playtime. Skin injuries such as scrapes,
scratches and cuts require a few simple care
routines, according to Dr. Kahn—cleanse,
moisten and cover.

First, clean the injury with a gentle
cleanser, such as Dove soap, and pat the area
dry. Next, apply a clean ointment base—
could be just be plain Aquaphor or Vaseline
petroleum jelly, or if you feel the need for
antibiotic ointment, you can use Bacitracin
or Polysporin. While Neosporin has been a
first-aid kit staple for many years, but it really
should be avoided at best, or used very rarely
and sparingly at minimum. Not only are three
antibiotics unnecessary, but the neomycin
in it can cause allergic reactions that may
eliminate the potential to use certain other
antibiotics in the future.

Dr. Kahn adds that covering the skin injury
is a key step in promoting healing. “Sorry, but
Grandma’s advice about air-drying a wound
was wrong. Open to air delays healing,” she
says. “Keeping skin injuries clean, moist and
covered creates an environment where skin
cells can reproduce and fill the wound, and
also cause less scarring.”
dry (be careful about bottoms of feet so you
don’t slip). Some brands Dr. Kahn suggests
are Curel, Eucerin, Nivea and Jergens. Don’t
forget to also reapply sunscreen if you’ll be
heading back out.

Fight chemical dry skin
Check for damage regularly
Swimming, splashing, or soaking in the
pool is one of the best parts of summer.

The chlorine that keeps the water clear and
safe is actually a great cleanser. Dr. Kahn
notes that some of her patients with eczema
see improvements in their skin when they
swim. That said, pool chemicals can be
irritants, and it is important to rinse, cleanse
and moisturize skin after swimming. Pre-
coating skin before swimming can also help
reduce irritation.

When it comes to monitoring skin for
dangerous changes, one mantra Dr. Kahn
shared is “have your birthday suit checked
on your birthday,” a reminder to schedule
annual screenings from adolescence on. In her
pediatric dermatology practice, as she sees lots
of children with eczema and teens with acne,
and she finds opportunities to discuss skin
concerns in the midst of other treatments. But
at any age, if anything suspicious comes up, get
it checked ASAP.

In the U.S., more than two people die every
hour from skin cancer. Protect yourself and
your family by getting skin checks and being
vigilant about protection. We live and learn,
and when we know better, we do better. Even
Dr. Kahn used to do some sun worshipping
in her youth. But she says “you should see
me now on the beach,” as she has made skin
protection an absolute priority.

Luckily, kids today have the benefit of our
knowing so much more about importance
of protecting skin and so many options for
doing so. T
A good habit to start
There is a “three-minute rule” for moisturizing,
according to Dr. Kahn. The idea is to apply
moisturizer within three minutes after bathing,
while the skin is patted off but still slightly
damp, to lock in moisture. “The key is to keep
good stuff in and bad stuff out,” she says.

Alternately, you don’t even have to dry
off at all before using some newer products.

Skin injury care
Called wet moisturizers, water-activated or
With active young kids, shorts weather in-shower moisturizers, these are great for
brings out lots of fun. Often, however, it using just after washing and before toweling
Haircare counts, too
“Hair is specialized skin,” Dr. Kahn reminds
us. “There is sunscreen for hair, too.” Before a
beach trip, Dr. Kahn researched hair products
and discovered Reflect H20 Pre-Swim and
Sun Protecting Gel at sporting goods store.

She found it a welcome addition to her sun
protection routines. She also tipped me off
to Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa shampoo and
conditioner as gentle hair care favorites.

Dress to protect
There are fabulous catalogs of specialized,
sun-protective fashion such as Coolibar,
Solumbra, UV Skinz and Wallaroo hats. You
can also find general rash guards and sun-safe
clothing online and in local stores that will
do the job just as well, for less money. Don’t
think that wearing more clothing necessarily
means you’ll feel hotter. In fact, rash guards
can actually help you stay cooler, as they wick
away sweat and shield skin from the sun.

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