Today, we know that a golden tan can come with a high price for your health. However, there is no need to remain indoors; experts have several tips that can help you to enjoy the sun without putting your health at risk.
Avoid the sun during certain times of the day. The first thing you should know is about staying indoors at certain times. You should avoid being in the sun, for any length of time, when it is high overhead. When the sun is in this position, it is at its strongest. This is usually between 10 am-4 pm.
However, this is not always practical. Keep in mind that if your child is playing outdoors during these hours, you should be applying sunscreen on a regular basis. Many times parents overlook this simple step, even when their children are just playing in the back garden. Make sure to use a reef-safe broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF to offer the best sun protection for little ones and yourself as well. Most sun damage will occur as a result of casual exposure rather than a prolonged time at the beach.
In addition, you should not assume that just because it is cloudy or overcast that you are protected. Damaging UV rays can travel through clouds and reflect off surfaces and still cause the same amount of damage that happens on full sun day. It is a myth that clouds and pollution will offer protection.
This type of sun exposure can still cause sunburn and even life-threatening skin damage. Children are especially impervious to the effects of the sun and may not even realise that they are getting burnt.
Make sure that you cover-up. Your clothes can screen out harmful UV rays. There is no need to get special clothing; if you can’t see your hand through the clothing, it will provide the protection you need.
If your baby is in the sun, you need to make sure that he or she is dressed in clothes that will cover their body, with a hat that will shield his or her face. You can also use an umbrella to provide shade. It can be harder to get older children and teens to completely cover-up in the sun. If you need, make sure that you are providing an escape from the sun. A pop-up tent or umbrella can provide a needed respite from the sun.
It can be helpful if you are headed to a sunny destination that you check out what types of umbrellas, tents or other sun-protective items are available.
Put on sunglasses. It is important to remember that your eyes are at risk for sun damage as well. It does not take much exposure to the sun in order to burn your cornea, and cumulative exposure can increase your risk of cataracts. The best way to avoid sun damage to your eyes is to wear sunglasses.
However, it is important to remember that not all sunglasses are equal. It is crucial to buy sunglasses that come with labels stating that they have 100% UV protection. If you can, encourage your children to wear sunglasses.
Many times if you let them pick out what they want to wear (as long as they have 100% UV protection), children are much more likely to agree to wear them. Today, many manufacturers specialise in making sunglasses that children love. Finally, make sure that you are showing your children the best way to be sun safe by wearing your sunglasses every time you go outside.
