From Infants to Teens, Protect Your Child from the Summer Sun

 

October may be right around the corner, marking the official start to fall, but there are a lot of sunny days left in the year (particularly if you happen to live in the Southwest). So if you intended to put away the sunscreen and pack up the sunglasses until next summer, you may want to hold off! If not for your own benefit, at least for the benefit of your children. Here are some effective tips to help protect your children from the damaging effects of the summer sun.

 

• Always Wear Sunscreen!

 

The sun emits much more than visible light. It also exposes the Earth to ultraviolet radiation, or UV rays. Over long periods of time, exposure to UV radiation can lead to skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. It can also result in skin damage and premature aging. Beyond the damaging effects to the body’s epidermis and dermis (or skin layers), UV radiation can even suppress the body’s natural immune system. What can you do to prevent such damage? Wear sunscreen!

 

When shopping for sunscreen, keep an eye out for the sunscreen’s SPF rating. The acronym SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor – the higher the number, the greater degree of protection against the sun’s UV rays. At a minimum, you should protect your toddler or teen with sunscreen that has a rating of SPF 15. Sunscreens with this rating can block 93 percent of the sun’s UV rays for up to 150 minutes; sunscreens with a rating of SPF 50+ block 98 percent of the sun’s UV rays. Note that infants under six months of age should not use sunscreen. Protect their skin instead by limiting exposure to direct sunlight.

 

• Don’t Forget the Sunglasses

 

Did you know that the sun can damage the eyes just as it does the skin? Cataracts, skin cancer around the eyes, macular degeneration, and tissue growth on the eyes have all been linked to sun exposure. To protect your children’s eyes from the sun, be sure to provide them with sunglasses that offer UV protection.

 

Lenses that offer UV protection are important, as it is the ultraviolet radiation that ultimately damages the eye tissue. Sunglass companies like Ray-Ban offer a wide selection of sunglasses online with UV protection at various price points, and better yet, they’re stylish too! Your kids are sure to find a pair of sunglasses that meet with their approval (and more importantly, the approval of their friends at school).

 

• Long Sleeves and Hats Go a Long Way

 

The simplest and most effective way to prevent sun damage is to limit the skin’s exposure to the sun in the fall. If you know that you are going to be spending a fair amount of time outside, consider dressing your child in long sleeves, pants, and a hat. (If you have a teenager, you might have to make do with begging and pleading!) Even the most powerful sunscreen is not as effective at preventing sun damage as clothing that blocks the sun’s UV rays completely.

Protecting Your Children in Three Simple Steps

Preventing sun damage is easy so long as you are proactive about it. So remember: sunscreen, sunglasses, and protection from the sun in the form of hats and clothing. Use these methods and you will not only prevent painful sunburns, you’ll drastically reduce your children’s risk for skin cancer and other damaging effects in the future.

 

Guest post by Stephen Reynolds