What Sun Protection Is Best for the Kids?
What Kind of Sun Protection to Use for Kids : The Right Sunscreen
Children’s skin is extremely delicate and delicate; therefore it is important that parents use the right sun protection for them. No matter what the age or ethnicity of a child, the right sun protection is absolutely necessary for a child. Most sun damage takes place during childhood; therefore, the care taken early on will benefit them for a lifetime.
Sunscreen not only protects the skin from tanning and sunburns, but also protects the skins from long term side effects, like, premature aging, and skin cancer. Children like adults need sunscreen, however, due to the sensitive skin of the children, it is important that they use the right sunscreen for their skin. Moreover, sunscreen is not something that should be used only in summers, but it should be used all year round. Playing outside is good for children, however, as a parent, you should never let them step outside in the sun without applying sunscreen, no matter what weather it is. So, if you are planning a family beach holiday or taking the kids to the park, sunscreen is something that should always be in your bag.
The sun emits both UVA and UVB rays, and effective sunscreen is the one that protects the skin from both of these rays. Sunscreen works the same way for both children and adults. The only difference between a sunscreen labeled for adults and the one labeled for children is that the one for children will most probably not have any harmful chemicals.
What does a suitable sunscreen have?
Parents should not put sunscreen on kids who are less than six months of age and they should be protected from the sun by a hat and protective clothing. Also, parents should avoid taking these babies out in the sun. For children above six months of age, sunscreen with SPF 30 is the best. Parents should try to get mineral sunscreens for their children, which are less irritating for sensitive skin of the children. A sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays should be used and it should be applied 15 minutes before the child steps out. Parents should opt for water-resistant sunscreens for their kids, as tiny tots usually like playing in the water. However, no sunscreen is completely waterproof, therefore; it should be reapplied after every 2 hours. The sunscreen should be applied thoroughly to the child’s skin so as to get full coverage.
Other measures for the protection of the sensitive skin of the young ones
Kids love playing in the sun, so it is not always possible to make them understand how harmful the UV rays of the sun falling on their skin are. Kids should never be stopped from playing outside, but as parents, we should take some precautions to keep our kids safe from the harmful rays of the sun. While applying sunscreen is the most efficient measure for sun protection, some other measures are –
Sit in the shade
You should try to prevent your kid from playing in the sun from 10:00 A.M. – 02:00 P.M., especially in the summers. You can plan some indoor activities at this time. However, if it is impossible for you to avoid the sun, then you should make it a point to take shade in the sun and also teach your children the same. This shade will protect the young ones from the harmful rays of the sun and will ensure that no one gets a sunburn.
Clothing
When going out in the sun, kids should be made to wear long-sleeved clothing covering their body and protecting them from the harmful rays. When the sun is strong, children should be made to wear dark clothes in tightly-woven fabric.
Hat
The hat is something that most children love to use. Therefore, it won’t be difficult to coax them to use one. However, many children love baseball caps, instead of hats that protect the face, hair, and neck. If this is the case with your kid as well then you should make sure to apply sunscreen on the exposed parts of their skin.
Sunglasses
This is again an easy thing to make your children wear. Most kids love wearing sunglasses, so just choose a good quality of glasses that can protect the eyes of the kids. If proper protection of the eyes is not taken into account early on, it can result in cataracts later in life.
You should use all these things with sunscreen as no matter how much protection you use, it can never be enough! Even if you have a water-resistant sunscreen, make sure to apply it on your child’s skin regularly, especially after exercising and swimming. Also, you should always carry a good sunscreen with you always in your bag, so that you can apply it regularly.
