Hey Beautiful: The Clever Parents Guide to Sun Safety

With summer here, many of us are heading to our neighborhood pools, lakes and beaches. Warm, sunny days are one of summer’s delights, but you’ll want to ensure you’ve done all you can to protect your family from the dangers of excessive sun exposure. In this article, I’ve put together some simple guidelines that will enable you to have fun in the sun safely this summer.

First, it is important to understand the real risks associated with excessive sun exposure. For example, studies show that if your child gets one bad sunburn, her chance of getting melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer – doubles. Even if your child tans easily and rarely burns, she is still at risk from the sun. While a darker-skinned child has a lower risk of skin cancer than a fair-skinned child, even African Americans can get skin cancer. In fact, reggae legend Bob Marley died of melanoma.

So, what can you do to protect your children from getting skin cancer? Quite a lot, actually. Your child will get more than 50% of his lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Clever sun protection through childhood can decrease your child’s risk of skin cancer by up to 80%. Read on for some Clever Tips on protecting your child this summer.

1. Apply more sunscreen than you think you need.
Most people simply apply too little sunscreen to get good protection. You should apply a thick layer of sunscreen, like icing on a cake. Don’t forget to reapply every two hours and immediately after swimming. Even if your sunscreen says “waterproof” or “lasts all day,” most sunscreens wear off in the sun and in water. And since children model parent’s behavior, make sure your child sees you applying sunscreen to yourself too!

2. Choose a “broad spectrum” sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide or Avobenzone.
These ingredients protect you from both UVA (”aging” rays) and UVB (”burning” rays). Zinc Oxide and Titanium dioxide are physical blocks (as opposed to chemical blocks) and are my favorite for younger children with more sensitive skin.

3. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.
Sunscreen needs time to absorb into the skin to work best. Apply it half an hour prior to exposure for maximum protection. Also, if you put sunscreen on your child before putting on her suit, you’ll be less likely to miss spots.

4. Limit your child’s time in the sun.
Sometimes, we can get a false sense of security by simply applying sunblock. Just because your child is wearing sunscreen doesn’t mean it is safe for her to stay out in the sun all day. Keep your child out of the sun between the hours of 10am and 2pm, when the sun’s rays are at their peak.

5. Use Sun-Protective Clothing.
Sunscreen is only one aspect of skin-cancer prevention. Make sure your child wears a hat and protective clothing too. You can now buy clothing made with special fabric that blocks the sun’s rays. Look for clothing with a “UPF” rating – Ultraviolet Protection Factor. Land’s End Kids and LL. Bean Toddler carry UPF clothing.

6. Talk to your children about the risks of too much sun.
Young children are like sponges, absorbing so much of what we teach them. Take advantage of this special time (believe me it will end once they hit 13!) and explain to them that too much sun is bad for their skin. They’ll carry the sun-protective habits that you’ve instilled throughout their lives.

Happy Summer!
Karen