☀️ Why Sun Protection in Childhood Matters More Than You Think

As a dermatologist — and as a mom — I spend my days on both sides of sun protection: counseling families about how to protect their kids, and diagnosing the consequences when we don’t. And let me be blunt: the stakes are much higher than most parents realize.

🌞 Childhood Sunburns Leave a Lifelong Mark

We tend to think of a sunburn as a short-term nuisance — a little redness, some peeling, maybe a few tears after a beach day gone wrong. But the truth is, those early burns are laying the groundwork for skin cancer decades later.

• Just one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person’s risk of melanoma later in life.
  
• The CDC estimates that 80% of a person’s lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 18.
  
• And damage isn’t just cumulative — it’s permanent. DNA changes from those childhood burns can’t be undone, and they increase skin cancer risk for life.
  
  

As someone who diagnoses skin cancers every single week, I can tell you this: melanoma is not just a disease of older adults. In fact, it’s now one of the most common cancers in people 30 and under. I have diagnosed melanoma in many people including pregnant women and young parents who assumed skin cancer was something they wouldn’t have to think about for decades.

🩺 Real Talk: I See It Every Day

In my first two weeks back at work after maternity leave this year, I diagnosed six new melanomas — along with countless basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Many of my patients are shocked when they get their biopsy results back, because they didn’t think they were “the type” to get skin cancer.

But skin cancer doesn’t care how young or healthy you are — if the damage was done early, it’s hard to predict when the consequences might show up. 

👕 Why UPF Clothing Is the Most Reliable Protection You Can Give a Child

Sunscreen is important — but it’s not foolproof. Most parents are surprised to learn just how easy it is to get it wrong:

• Studies show most people apply less than half the amount of sunscreen needed to reach the labeled SPF.
  
  
• Reapplication is often inconsistent, especially with kids who are sweaty, swimming, or constantly in motion.
  
  
• Even “water-resistant” sunscreen loses effectiveness quickly with towel drying, sand, or friction.
  
  

That’s why dermatologists like me are increasingly recommending UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) clothing as the foundation of sun protection — especially for babies and young children.

Here’s why UPF is different:

• 🧵 Consistent coverage: UPF-rated fabric blocks 98% or more of UV rays all day long — no reapplication required.
  
  
• 👕 No user error: A UPF 50+ hoodie works exactly the same whether you’re hiking, splashing, or napping in a stroller.
  
  
• ☀️ Full-spectrum protection: It shields from both UVB (which causes burns) and UVA (which causes aging and deeper DNA damage that also contributes to skin cancer risk).
  
  
• 🫧 Safe for sensitive skin: No chemical absorption or reactivity — ideal for babies, toddlers, and anyone with eczema or allergies.
  
  

It’s not that sunscreen isn’t valuable — it is. But sunscreen should be your finishing touch to any remaining exposed areas, not your first line of defense. UPF clothing eliminates most of the risk before sunscreen even enters the equation.

👶 Protecting Skin from the Start = Lifelong Benefits

Here’s the hopeful part: the flip side of all those scary stats is this — sun protection works. And the earlier we start, the more impactful and powerful it is.

Think of it like car seats or bike helmets: we don’t skip them just because kids might be fine without them. We use them because they work — and because prevention is always easier than treatment.

🌄 Why I Started Alpenshade

After years of diagnosing skin cancers — including melanoma in young parents and pregnant women — I knew we needed a better solution. Kids and adults weren’t wearing the sun-protective gear they should because it was often uncomfortable, boring, or just not designed for real life outdoors.

So I set out to design UPF 50+ clothing that’s different: lightweight, breathable, and fun enough that kids want to wear it. Clothing that parents reach for not just because it’s smart — but because it looks and feels great, too.

Because sun protection shouldn’t be a chore. It should be part of how we adventure.

☀️ The bottom line: Every sunburn matters — and the ones that happen in childhood matter most of all. Start protecting your kids’ skin now with UPF clothing, and you’re not just preventing a burn — you’re helping prevent cancer down the road.

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Written by Dr. Jenna Peart, Board-Certified Dermatologist & Cofounder of Alpenshade