Cave in Sun-bathing Children
In giving sun-baths to children and infants, much care must necessarily be taken to avoid overexposure. Their skins are delicate and easily affected by the ultra-violet rays—even more so than the sun-starved skin of adults—and there are, besides, great differences between them. Some possess the elements that permit them to bronze quickly and become pro¬tected against overdosage, while others have these elements in such small amounts that caution must be observed for a much longer time. As to the duration of the first sun-baths, much depends upon the time of the year and the time of day, the atmospheric conditions and other factors. But during the summer, when the sunlight is quite intense at mid-day, it is much safer to give the sun-baths lief ore ten A. M. or after three v. M., with an exposure of not more than five minutes. The exposures may increase in length from three to five minutes daily, depending upon the complexion of the child and other natural and individual factors easily determined.
Much will depend, of course, upon the reaction secured as to the dura¬tion of succeeding exposures. If erythema of more than the first or second degree develops, succeeding exposures must be shorter, or there should be a rest from the treatment. After tanning has begun, the exposures may be increased somewhat more rapidly, but, except with older children and those with an abundance of natural pigment, as revealed by their dark skins, hair, and eyes, there should be less rapid increase at any time than with most adults. With all children the head should be protected, and, in the case of infants, it is much safer to keep the head entirely out of the sunlight, as by having it be¬hind some opaque object, which may be the body of the mother or nurse.