Majority of Canadian parents concerned about sun protection for children, CDA survey

Almost all Canadian parents (92%) are concerned about sun protection for their children, a new survey for the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) shows.

Parents identified their top three concerns as:

• lack of shade in playgrounds, parks, playing fields and outdoor pools,
• sunscreen ingredients,
• lack of adequate sun protection, including shade, at elementary schools and daycares

The May 16, 2011, Vision Critical survey questioned 800 parents across Canada with kids aged 12 and under.

Other findings include:

• Half of all Canadian parents (50%) with children 12 years old and under want to see mandatory wearing of hats when outside at schools or daycares in spring and summer, as is the case in Australia.
• 89% of parents want to see the inclusion of shade in new and renovated public playgrounds, parks, outdoor pools and playing fields.

"Parents are calling for sun safe environments to be created at school, daycares and public areas," says Dr. Cheryl Rosen, national director of the Canadian Dermatology Association's Sun Awareness Program. "Awareness is growing that skin cancer is a highly preventable disease."

Skin cancer remains the most common cancer in Canada with 74,000 new cases expected this year.

Addressing concerns about sunscreen ingredients, she said the risks associated with certain ingredients have not been seen with human use.

"The use of nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium oxide in sunscreens has led to concern about the absorption of these particles. At this time, there is no evidence that these products penetrate beyond the outer layers of the skin."