Summer is here and that means spending a lot more time in the sun. Everybody knows and understands the importance of putting sunblock on the kids when they are going to be exposed for long periods of time. But sunblock isn’t the only thing that you need to be concerned about when it comes to having fun in the sun.
To keep you and your family safe in the sun, follow these five sun safety tips.
The sun’s most damaging rays occur between 11:00 and 3:00. To avoid those rays, try scheduling outdoor play before 11:00 and after 3:00. And always wear sunblock!
It’s important to your health to spend time in the sun! But too much of a good thing can also be a bad thing. So for optimal health and Vitamin D absorption, spend 10 minutes in unprotected sun at least 4x/week. Set a timer for the first 10 minutes of outside time, and then make sure to cover everybody with sunblock.
When in the sun for extended periods of time, always wear protective hats, glasses, and clothing. There are so many companies that make hats and clothing with SPF in the clothes. Check out Baby Buns products for your little ones.
Don’t use sunscreen with oxybenzone, a hormone disrupting substance, and retinyl palmitate, a potentially photocarcinogenic compound. DO use zinc or titanium based mineral sunscreen (check out ecomom.com).
These products helps prevent your skin from exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays and harsh chemicals. They use natural blends of zinc and titanium minerals and organic ingredients like shea butter, beeswax and avocado oil to nourish and soften skin. Green tea extract neutralizes sun-induced free radical damage.
And of course, sunscreen safety. Do you put sunblock on your children when they go out to play in the backyard? Do you remember to always use sunblock yourself? Sadly, my answer to both of those questions is no.
Believe me, I’m very aware of how important it is to protect my kids’ delicate skin and my own aging skin from the sun. But when they are running in and out of the house all day long, I guess I just don’t even think about putting sunblock on them. And half the time, I forget to put it on me completely if we are just home in the backyard. I need to become more diligent about applying sunscreen.
Besides using zinc or titanium based mineral sunscreens, keep in mind that SPF’s higher than 35 may increase exposure to harsh chemicals and provide a false sense of safety but do not generally protect against UVA rays which are believed responsible for skin damage and cancer.
Applying sunscreen once is not good enough! Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen every few hours or after time in the water.
Don’t forget to protect your lips by applying lip balm throughout the day, and make sure to keep everybody hydrated by drinking lots of fluids while out in the heat and sun!
What other sun safety tips can you add to this list?
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