The five keys to protect the skin of children in summer

This week will be practically open all the pools and many families will begin to enjoy, at last, the first rays of sun, which also means taking into account a series of precautions to take care of our health. Above all you have to protect the little ones from the sun. Dr. Virginia Sánchez, Head of Dermatology at Sanchinarro Hospital, explains what care and precautions we should apply with our children:

The skin of children has characteristics that differentiate it from the skin of the adult. Although it is a softer skin, it actually has a thinner outer layer of protection (corneal layer), so the probability of erosion, infection or sunburn is considerably greater than that of adults. The lack of hair also contributes to the fragility of the child's skin. Adults have a greater amount of cutaneous sebum and specific antibodies in the skin that protect them against external aggression, while the child's skin is much more exposed due to these deficiencies.

1. What are the basic care of the child's skin?

-The first and most important is the hygiene of the skin. Taking into account that the skin of the child has less natural defenses against infections, we should not neglect the daily bath. There is a false myth that recommends not to bathe children every day but this is not true. What is advisable is that the bath is short, with warm water and with soap "without soap" or "syndets" (without detergents). In this way, while we clean the skin, we hydrate it.

- Immediately after the bath and with the skin still wet, it is necessary to apply a moisturizing substance that can be in any texture: oil, lotion, milk or cream. It is not necessary to be specific for children but do not wear perfumes or substances other than those designed to moisturize the skin.

Avoid sun exposure. And this is fundamental because in childhood 50-80% of the solar exposure of a lifetime is received. Children's skin is more susceptible to sunburn and sunburns in childhood multiply the risk of melanoma by two. Healthy sun exposure habits up to age 18 significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer.

2. What are these healthy habits of infant solar exposure?

- Do not expose children to the sun from 12 to 16 in summer: Outside of these hours, remember that the best sun protection is clothing (the thicker and darker the more it protects).

There are differences between children with lighter skin and those with darker skin. The first ones should always use sunscreen, since with the rays that pass through the sun filters they have more than enough for their synthesis of vitamin D and the rest of the beneficial effects of the sun. Dark-skinned children may not use filters during the hours of lower intensity of solar radiation (before 10 o'clock in the morning and after 6 o'clock).

-The ideal filters for children are physical filters, since chemicals present greater risks of irritation and allergies. Newborns and children under one year old should not be exposed directly to the sun if the ultraviolet index is greater than 5. This is a useful and easily accessible measure on the internet that helps us decide the hours of sun exposure for our family ( always less than 5-6).

-The first solar rays of the season are the most dangerous for two reasons: because he caught us off guard, without a filter, without a hat etc ... and because the skin has not yet synthesized the melanin that will protect it later, the rest of the summer.

-We must clarify that the sun is the same in the school yard as on the beach, playing in the park with the sand or in the pool, running to the pilla-pilla or climbing the slide ...

-Put them always hat and sunglasses.

3. Should we protect them every day of the year?

In winter: if the child has clear skin it is advisable to put the filter in the morning or before going to the playground. If the skin is dark it is not so important.

In summer: you have to filter them all in the morning and half an hour before going to recess (especially at noon).

In Spain, the increase in the incidence of melanoma in the last 20 years has been 200% (more frequently in women). In the United States and Australia, the incidence is double and triple that in Spain respectively. Mortality from melanoma worldwide continues to rise ...

4. When to visit the dermatologist?

Children begin to develop moles and spots from four or five years. Although the risk of melanoma in childhood is very low, it is not non-existent, so it is convenient to review them once a year.

5. In addition to the protection with sun creams, are there other ways to have a healthy skin always?

The best care is to avoid sun exposure in the central hours of the day and especially in the summer months. The use of a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are habits that will help us keep our skin healthy and beautiful. In addition, cleaning and moisturizing the skin every day helps to maintain its protective lipid mantle in optimal conditions.

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Baby Kids Eyes Colors

What color will the eyes have?

Many parents long for their children to be born with blue or green eyes, and although many do so with an undefined gray-blue color, not all of them retain it as they grow up. What does the color of a person's eyes depend on? Can my child have clear if I have brown?
What does it depend on?


The color of the eyes varies from one person to another. This is due to the genetic information transmitted by parents and grandparents through chromosomes 15 and 19. Therefore, eye color is a polygenic trait that is determined by the amount and type of pigments present in the iris of the eye. the eyes.


Although there is always talk of three types of colors (brown, green and blue), humans have many phenotypic variations in the color of the eyes. It is a complex process in which several genes intervene in the final result, and we have cases like violet eyes or people with one eye of each color.


For a pure color to be given, all genes have to be the same. If not, a mixed color will appear. Also, keep in mind that the brown color is dominant over green or blue, so in countries like Spain, most children are born with dark eyes.


Between a brown-eyed father and a green-eyed mother, a mixed color is very unlikely because the brown color brings a large amount of melanin and very little green (only 2% of the world population has green eyes). The greater amount of melanin is the one that, in the end, determines the color of the eyes.


 Protect your baby's eyes from the sun
Protect your baby's eyes from the sun
The use of sunglasses is recommended throughout the year, although it is in summer when it is essential because ultraviolet radiation is greater. In addition, eye pathologies increase by 20% at this time of year, since the luminosity and sun exposure are greater and are the main factors that can damage the eyes.

And what is melanin? It is the brown or black pigment molecule that gives color to the skin, hair and eyes; It is a protein and its type and quantity is encoded in our genes. The color of the eye therefore depends on the transparency of the iris stroma and the amount of pigment it contains. The iris is the colored part of the eye that controls the amount of light that enters it. Irises that contain a lot of melanin are brown or black. Less melanin results in blue, green, gray and light brown irises.

Types of eyes

Brown eyes: Contain large amounts of melanin inside the iris that serve to absorb light. A person with brown eyes has at least one brown allele on chromosome 15 (blue and brown alleles), and can have any combination in 19 (blue and green alleles). Most of the original inhabitants of Africa, Asia and America have brown eyes. This color is also frequently found in Europe, Oceania and North America, although within European populations they are not predominant to the same extent. In this population, brown eyes are genetically linked to brown or black hair. Brown eyes are considered the most dominant color in the whole world.

Blue eyes:

 A person with blue eyes has aa couple on both chromosomes (15 and 19). Blue eyes are relatively common in many areas of Europe and outside Europe in areas with populations of European descent, such as Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. In the rest of the world they are rare, the world population with blue eyes does not exceed 150 million. Blue eyes contain low amounts of melanin inside the iris. This color appeared by a genetic mutation of a single individual about 6,000 years ago.


The Nordic countries have a large percentage of blue eyes, with 80% in Sweden, Finland or Denmark. The British islands also have high percentages of blue eyes, 50% in the United Kingdom and 60% in Ireland. In France 40%, while in Spain, the Balkans and northern Italy is 20%. In Russia, Germany, France, the Netherlands and other countries in central and eastern Europe, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, blue eyes are present in a large part of the population. People with this type of color are more likely to get ophthalmic diseases.

Green eyes:

They are the product of moderate amounts of melanin, can be produced by the mixture of melanin of the parents if one has blue eyes and the other chestnut or hazel. A person with green eyes, has the aa pair on chromosome 15 (brown and blue alleles), and can have any combination in 19 (blue and green alleles) that includes at least one green allele.


In Europe they are present to a lesser extent than blues and chestnuts, except in Hungary, where green eyes make up 20% of the population, due to the presence of the Finno-Hungarian (89.9%) and German (2.6%) race. ) in the population. They are more common in people with European roots such as Irish Celtic (usually linked to a reddish-blond hair), Germanic (usually linked to golden blond hair), Slavic (usually linked to a blond hair) and Atlantic Mediterranean (usually linked to a hair between blond and brown that could look coppery). They appear, to a lesser extent, in several countries in southern Europe (Portugal, Greece, Italy, Spain and southern France). Less frequently it is still possible to find them in populations of Afghanistan and Iran, and some areas of the Middle East, mainly Israel and Lebanon.



Honey or hazel eyes: Describes eyes that contain elements of green, gray, and light brown eyes, sometimes passing on the edges of green to gray brown around the pupil in well-defined colors. They should not be confused with those that show a clear ring of brown, yellow or copper around the pupil, known as light brown.


They are commonly found in European countries such as Romania, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Canada and the United States, among others. It is also present, although to a lesser extent, in some areas of the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America, with a certain frequency in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil.

Gray eyes: 

Contain the least amount of melanin than any of the other types. An example of gray eyes may be the case of an albino person. OCA1A is the most complete form of albinism, and most of those belonging to this group have gray eyes, while the OCA1B group (the next less severe form) has light blue eyes. This type of eyes has the lowest percentage of yellow and brown in the iris, these mixed colors are those that result in green or blue eyes. They are common in European Russia, Scandinavia, and the Baltic countries.

Black eyes: 

They are really rare, very rare because they occur by an anomaly called aniridia (a disease that causes the total absence of iris). They should not be confused with dark brown eyes.


Eyes of various colors: They occur due to marked differences in melanin in certain areas of the iris. It presents a heterogeneous aspect in which colors are seen separately without mixing between them.

 Red eyes:

 The eyes of a person with albinism may appear red under certain lighting conditions due to the very small amount of melanin. True red eyes also exist in albino populations, but they are extremely rare.

Violet eyes: The appearance of violet eyes is due to the combination of red and blue illuminations. Violet eyes are a form of blue eyes. Some albinos have eyes that look violet.

When is the eye color definitive?

Many babies are born with clear eyes, an undefined color that looks rather blue or gray. But this color is not usually the definitive one. Many newborns have blue eyes because melanin has not completely deposited in the iris or has not been darkened by exposure to ultraviolet light.

It is thought that exposure to the sun after birth activates the production of melanin in the iris of the eye. Up to three years of age, the eyes produce and keep enough melanin to change their initial color. Changes in the color of children's eyes are common. This change could occur even in adults, as a result of repeated exposure to the sun, since sunlight activates the production of melanin in the eye, as it does with the skin.

The final color is usually formed around 6 months, although it is better determined at one year of age. At 6 months you already have a better idea of ​​the final color because the pigmentation begins to form and more babies appear with brown or darker eyes, but some experience changes even in adulthood. When the eyes are dark from the first months, the color is definitive; however, light colored ones may persist or change.

Did you know…?
 

- The most common color is brown, and the least, green. In fact, less than 2% of the world population has green eyes. Turkey is the country with the highest percentage of population with green eyes, up to 20%. On the other side, there are countries, in Asia and South America, where there is not a single person with this type of eye color.

- There are people with one eye of each color. This rarity is called Heridchromia Iridium and can be congenital or acquired. In the first case, it appears from birth and can be associated with a strange congenital disease (such as the Claude-Bernard-Horne Syndrome or the Warrdenburg Syndrome), be hereditary or appear due to an alteration in the expression of the genes involved in the color of the eyes

If it is acquired, it can appear as a result of a strong blow to the eye, a melanoma, an eye drop or some other disease.

- The most famous example of acquired heterochromia is the singer David Bowie, who has left greenish brown and blue right. Bowie was born with both blue eyes, but in a fight in the schoolyard, a student stuck a compass in his eye. It is therefore heterochromia due to deposition of iron secondary to trauma. In our country, the actress Elena Anaya also has an eye of each color, in its case by a congenital heterochromia.

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Food for the brain: these foods make us smarter

Food for the brain: these foods make us smarter

A varied and complete diet in certain nutrients, such as omega-3 (salmon, sardines or tuna), contributes to the intellectual performance of a person is greater. The studies say, like the one carried out by Alexandra Richardson, of the University of Oxford. "Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for brain functions, as are other essential nutrients that must be monitored, such as iron, iodine and vitamin B12, which interact in cognitive development and of which, part of the population, may present deficiencies. It has been seen, for example, that when people have iron deficiency anemia or very low levels of iodine or vitamin B12, their neuronal, concentration or assimilation functions are affected, "says nutritionist Alma Palau, president of the General Council of Dieticians-Nutritionists of Spain. Neuroscientist Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor at the University of California, continues: "What is special about omega-3, particularly a component called DHA, is that it is part of the brain's original structure. It turns out that the membranes, which are like the outer layers of nerve cells, are also made of that substance. Not in its entirety, but in part of its structure they do have DHA, which is very important for many cognitive functions. "

FOOD SUPERPOWERS

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At this point, if you have eliminated fish from your diet for ethical or spiritual reasons, do not be alarmed, because the sport also works. "In the latest research, we have found that, for example, physical exercise helps the brain to strengthen itself from omega-3 and even to train it even though it does not come from the diet," explained Professor Gomez-Pinilla. of physical activity can fill this gap, "he adds.

Broccoli and red fruits

As all the experts indicate, when it comes to taking care of the diet for a great mental health, you should use several foods, not just one because it is powerful. As advised by the doctor and professor at the University of California, you have to think about a balanced diet. "A phrase used in biology and neurology reads: 'Too much of a good thing is bad.' There are many positive foods, but if one exaggerates they become negative, so the best recommendation is the balance. Complementary, "he says, so in addition to fish, what foods can help us read Joyce or Proust lightly?

Broccoli, despite its dark side, is the star of vitamin K, along with Brussels sprouts and green leafy vegetables, and has given very positive results not only in its already known and indispensable function in the coagulation of the blood, but also in treatments for Alzheimer's. An investigation by the University of Montreal in Canada showed that older people who had more presence of vitamin K1 elaborated better speeches, progressed in their verbal expression and had greater retention of information.

Almonds and walnuts, on the other hand, get the award for hypercomplete foods. Both contain precursors of omega-3, vitamin E and magnesium, which allow you to maintain the level of concentration for a while without a quick slump, as could happen after a snack with sugar. In addition, they provide a large amount of proteins, which, among other things, stimulate the so-called orexin neurons, which are responsible for keeping us awake and attentive.

There are many positive foods, but if one exaggerates, they become negative. The best recommendation is the balance: several good and complementary products "(Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, neuroscientist)

And some red fruits, such as blueberries and strawberries, are great allies to increase attention and fix memory. The researches of the doctor and investigator Elizabeth Devore, professor of the Harvard Medical School in Boston, affirmed that the constant ingestion of these fruits helps to stop the memory loss. And the research of Dr. Jeremy Spencer, from Reading University in England, found that cranberries favored concentration for several hours, so if you study or oppose, get off these products.

Chocolate for mental agility? With nuances
We start from that "the brain is quite plastic and flexible", as the neuroscientist points out, but even so, it is not eternal, and over the years suffers an inevitable deterioration. "It has a tremendously high level of energy consumption, and almost all of these energy production processes produce a lot of oxidative stress," explains the specialist. This is where another important element in the diet appears that must be taken into account: the flavonoids,

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Baby Food Tips

Baby Food Tips

When to incorporate solid foods stage by stage: from birth to 12 months

 Baby eating
In this article
From birth to 4 months
From 4 to 6 months
From 6 to 8 months
From 8 to 10 months
From 10 to 12 months
Check this guide to find out the type of food as well as the appropriate amount you can give your baby, from birth to one year (if you have a child over one year read this guide to feed your child more than 12 months). Do not worry if your baby does not eat the exact amounts listed below. Remember that these are approximate. And do not forget that before you start giving your baby the first paps, it is important to talk with your pediatrician about your decision.

Keep in mind that it is not necessary to introduce solid foods to your baby in a certain order. If you want to give pasteurized soft cheese at 6 months, you can do it, even if the food appears in the 8-month-old baby food section (just remember that if your baby still can not chew well, you have to crush the food or give them in papillas).

In most cases, you will not have to delay the introduction of foods that can cause allergies (such as eggs, fish and wheat). Read our section on food allergies and talk to your baby's doctor to be sure.

Read also our suggestions of some more daring foods for your baby.
From birth to 4 months
How it feeds
The baby has an instinctive reflex that makes him turn his head in search of the nipple when something touches his cheek.

Foods that you can give
ONLY breast milk or formula

How much milk should you drink per day
How to know if your baby gets enough breast milk
How to know how much formula your baby needs

Other tips
Your baby's digestive system is developing, so you should not give him solid food for now.
From 4 to 6 months
Signs that you are ready to eat solid foods

Whether you breastfeed or formulate your baby, you should not rush to offer solid foods. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP for its acronym in English) recommends that babies receive only breast milk until 6 months. If you want to start giving some porridge before that age, keep in mind that your baby will probably not show all these signs that he is ready to start eating solid foods. Here we offer you a list of the signs to which you must be attentive:

He can keep his head upright on his own.
You can sit well in your high chair to eat.
He is able to make chewing movements.
It shows a significant increase in weight (it has doubled the weight it had at birth) and weighs almost 6 kilos (13 pounds).
Shows interest in food.
You can close your mouth when you put a spoon in your mouth.
You can carry food from front to back in your mouth.
You can move your tongue from one side to the other.
You are losing the reflex of taking food out of your mouth with your tongue (extrusion reflex).

Note: Keep in mind that one of the causes of childhood obesity, which is common among Latino children, is to interrupt breastfeeding too soon and introduce solid foods before 6 months. Therefore, before adding them to your baby's diet, check with the pediatrician and make sure that your baby shows several of the signs mentioned above.

Foods that you can give
Breast milk or formula, in addition to:
Mashed vegetables or porridges (sweet potato or sweet potato, pumpkin)
Mashed fruits (apple, banana, peach or peach)
Pureed meats (chicken, pork, beef)
Semiliquid cereal fortified with iron.

How much you should eat per day
To start, give about 1 teaspoon of puree (fruit, vegetable or meat) or cereal. Mix 4 to 5 teaspoons of breast milk or formula with the puree or cereal (the consistency will be very liquid).
Increase little by little until you get to give 1 large spoonful of puree or cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, twice a day. If you give cereal, you can gradually thicken its consistency (what you can achieve if you add less liquid).

Other tips
If your baby does not accept the porridge the first time you give it, wait a few days before offering it again.
Introduce the new foods one by one, with two or three days of separation between them. (Wait three days if there is a history of food allergies in your family.) It is also important to write down the new foods you give your baby. Thus, if you have an allergic reaction, you will easily find the culprit food.
The order in which you present new foods to your baby usually does not matter, but many parents prefer to start with vegetables, cereals and fruits, and then meats. Get advice with your pediatrician.

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