July has arrived, and the kids are going wild over the sun, which is good for them since it is the best source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones and immune system and boosts your child’s growth. However, everything comes with a price, and the sun’s harmful effects might sometimes weigh heavily and make you a killjoy in your child’s eyes. Hence, we decided to walk you through the best ways to protect your child from sun damage while spending time outdoors.
5 Essential Sun Protection Tips
While it is a common belief that children must only be protected from the sun when being in the pool, on the beach or on a vacation, the dermatologist Dr. Sarah Gobrial indicates that sun protection is a must whenever your child is out. So, in order to reduce the harmful effects of the sun, follow these 5 basic steps:
1- Stay in the shade: Usually, the sun’s harmful UV rays are at their peak in the midday, so, it is a good idea to keep your child inside at this time. And if your little one must go out, keep him in the shade, under a tree, an umbrella or a tent.
2- Cover up: During summertime, your child’s delicate skin gets exposed to the merciless sun’s rays. That’s why you should consider having your kid wear a long-sleeve shirt and pants or a long skirt instead of shorts, which will help prevent sun damage.
3- Put on a hat: Hats offer a great protection! Choose one that provides shade for the face, scalp, ears and neck.
4- Wear sunglasses: Find a pair of kids’ sunglasses that offer 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays. That way, besides looking cool and adorable in sunglasses, your child’s eyes will also be protected, especially from the long-term negative effect of sun exposure:
5- Apply sunscreen: Whenever your child goes out, apply to his/her skin sunscreen with an SPF above 30 which protects against long and shortwave UV rays (Broad Spectrum). Look for a mineral sunscreen that contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These two active ingredients shield your kid’s skin from sun’s rays and are less absorbed compared to chemical sunscreens.
Applying sunscreen should be done 20 minutes before sun exposure, and of course it must be reapplied every two hours if your child is in the swimming pool, says Dr. Sarah Gobrial. For babies under 6 months, it is preferable to keep them away from the sun by using a hat, protective clothing and blankets.
How Do You Know if Your Child has Sun Allergy?
The above-mentioned precautionary steps will provide your child with the necessary protection so you can all enjoy the outdoor activities without harm. But it is important to know that some children can suffer from sun allergy, so you must be familiar with the symptoms that accompany this condition in order to get the necessary medical advice immediately upon noticing them.
As Dr. Sarah Gobrial explains, sun allergy is a term often used to describe conditions in which an itchy and red rash occurs on skin after sun exposure. The most common form of sun allergy is sun poisoning. This allergy can be hereditary and can also occur when exposed to certain factors such as taking specific medications, sitting in the sun or touching certain plants.
Mild cases of sun allergy may clear up without any treatment while more severe ones might need steroid creams or pills. People who have a severe sun allergy should take extra preventive measures and wear sun protective clothing.
The symptoms of sun allergy that should be noted are redness, itching, pain, skin bumps, skin scaling, bleeding, blisters or hives.
These symptoms can develop within minutes to hours after sun exposure.
To make sure your kid is well protected from the harmful sun’s rays, we recommend you stick to all the above-mentioned tips. And for further peace of mind, go for the Kids Spray SPF 50+ sunscreen from the leading Eau Thermale Avène suitable for your child’s most sensitive skin. This water-resistant sunscreen protects skin from long and short-wave UV rays without leaving white marks on it.
Last Updated on February 16, 2024
