HSE reminds parents to protect children's skin and be SunSmart for the return to school

New research from the HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) suggests that parents are more vigilant about protecting their children’s skin when abroad than at home in Ireland.

Furthermore, 26% of parents surveyed for the NCCP Attitudes, Behaviours, Knowledge and Awareness of Sun Protection in Ireland survey reported that their child were sunburnt in 2024 and nearly half (47%) of parents reported that their child has experienced multiple instances of sunburn in their lifetime.

Dr Triona McCarthy, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE NCCP says: “Playing and spending time outdoors is such an important part of childhood, but it is crucial that children are protected. Sun protection is essential not just when travelling abroad, but also at home in Ireland, between April to September. The sun’s rays continue to be strong enough to cause skin damage throughout September, so be sure to protect your children's skin by following the Healthy Ireland SunSmart steps.”

Prof Anne Marie Tobin, Consultant Dermatologist, Tallaght University Hospital says: “Children’s skin is very sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun which causes sunburn. Sunburn during childhood increases the risk of getting skin cancer as an adult. If your child is badly sunburned more than 3 times before the age of 20, they more than double their risk of skin cancer as an adult. It is not enough to use sun protection measures on sunny days alone. Even on cloudy days, UV radiation from the sun can still reach our skin without us realising it”.

Return to school

Now that children are preparing to return to school after the summer holidays, the HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in collaboration with Healthy Ireland are reminding parents and guardians to be SunSmart and protect children’s skin throughout September, even on cloudy days.

In Ireland, UV from the sun is strongest from April to September between 11am-3pm, even when it is cloudy. The UV index is a good indicator of when the sun is most dangerous. It measures the strength of the sun’s UV rays so that you know how and when to protect your skin when outdoors. The higher the UV index, the higher the risk of skin and eye damage.

Free SunSmart resources for schools

Primary and post-primary schools can use the SunSmart School Accreditation toolkit to remind students, parents and teachers of the importance of protecting skin from Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The toolkit has been developed to provide information and tools for students, teachers, parents and guardians on how to become a SunSmart accredited school, as well as providing learning opportunities on sun protection.

Protect yourself and your children by being SunSmart as part of your daily routine from April – September, even when it is cloudy:

• Slip clothing on children that covers skin such as long sleeves, collared t-shirts
• Slop on sunscreen on exposed areas, using factor 50+ for children
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat
• Seek shade - Sit in cover of trees to avoid direct sunlight and use a sunshade on your buggy or pram. Keep babies and children out of direct sunlight
• Slide on sunglasses to protect their eyes.

For more information on how to protect children’s skin visit the SunSmart hub at www.hse.ie/sunsmart.