While winter is renowned for its chilly weather and often stormy and dry wind, summer is synonymous with bright and sunny weather and trips to the beach. And who doesn’t love spending time out in the sun? In fact, we all look forward to touring some wonderful places for summer vacation with our kids and family.
But here comes a challenge: the bright summer sunlight that keeps our bodies warm and provides us with vitamin D is also very dangerous to our skin. Scientifically backed studies have established that the ultraviolet rays from the sun can burn the skin, and can cause skin cancer.
This is why sunscreen is so important. There are many choices of sunscreen for both kids and adults that can be used during sweltering hot or even just plain sunny weather.
Select the Right Sunscreen
Sunscreens are available in foams, lotions, sticks, gels, or sprays. They are applied directly to the skin to either absorb or reflect the UV rays from the sun that can cause damage to the skin. They can also be used to get rid of wrinkles and other skin blemishes.
But what type of sunscreen is appropriate during summer? Researchers have observed that the America Cancer Society (ACS) advises to use a labeled broad spectrum sunscreen.
Broad spectrum means that the sunscreen protects from both UVA & UVB rays. AS per FDA regulation, all sunscreen producers have been mandated to indicate whether their product is a broad spectrum or not. So, you can check the bottle before purchasing, and see if it says on it that it’s broad spectrum.
Time Your Outings
There are peak periods of the day when the sun’s radiations are at the highest; during these hours, it’s best to remain indoors. The intensity of the radiation and prolonged exposure can limit the effectiveness of the sunscreen.
So, if your kids or any family member wants to enjoy a nice time out there at the beach, encourage them to do so at the early or late hours of the day when the sun is not at its peak to prevent sunburn or other skin issues. In fact, children that are between the ages of 0 and 6 are advised to stay away from the sun altogether. Their skins are too sensitive to adapt to even the little rays that sunscreen permits to passing through.
Check SPF and Apply Sunscreen Appropriately
The SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it represents the amount of protection that your choice sunscreen provides. The higher the SPF rating, the better the sunscreen. Pediatricians advise that an SPF of thirty is okay for summer sunscreens. As such, when making purchases, you should put this factor into consideration. A single application should be up to the size of one glass shot for a grown adult.
Similarly, try to apply the sunscreen on your skin regularly if you spend a lot of time outside. The recommended timeframe is every 2 hours. If you stay longer than this before applying the next sunscreen, it is possible that you would no longer get the sun protection you desire.
Use Sunglasses When Outside
It’s not only the skin that needs protection during summer; eyes do, too! And since applying sunscreen to one’s eyes is foolhardy at best, a better way to protect this area from harmful radiation is to wear sunglasses.
Luckily, these items are readily available in different styles and colors, and can even be custom-made. Make sure your sunglasses cover your eyes effectively, and actually offer protection from UV rays. (Not all sunglasses do.)
Conclusion
Skin burn can be prevented if you put some of these sun protection tips in place. Since it is not realistic that your kids would stay indoors all through these sunny days, the best thing to do is to get them the right sunscreen and teach them to apply it regularly.
However, as mentioned earlier, extremely young kids should be discouraged from playing in the sun for long stretches at a time during the summer since their skin is tender and not yet fully developed to withstand the powerful UV rays. From age 7 upwards, they can begin to apply the sunscreen and enjoy the bright sunny days of summer.
