Most of you readers grew up during the same time that I did and were sent outside most of the day without our parents applying even a drop of sunscreen. As we reached our teens and early 20's we all worked to achieve that "perfect tan", laying out in the sun all day with oils and our aluminum foil blankets and going to the tanning salon. I can't even count how many times I have been burned and blistered. As an adult, believe me, I am paying the price. I am at the dermatologist's office on a regular basis getting things removed and/or burned off. Now that the warmer weather is approaching and you and your children will be outside a lot more, it is so important to remember that applying sunscreen should be part of your daily routine. You probably already wear sunscreen when you are at the beach, lounging by the pool, or just walking around on a hot sunny day. However, sun damage isn't seasonal. You may be surprised to learn that some common activities can add up to 20 hours of UV rays each week, including,
*Walking to your car on a cloudy day
*Working near a window
*Driving to school or work in the morning
*Sitting under a tree at the park
*Being outside on an overcast day
Protection is prevention. Wearing sunscreen everyday is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your children from the harmful effects of the sun. SPF (sun protection factor) is a measurement of how long you can stay in the sun with sunscreen before getting burned. Applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 15, for example, means it will take 15 times longer for your skin to begin to burn. SPF measures protection from sunburn caused mainly by UVB rays, it does not measure how well a sunscreen protects from tanning and other effects caused by UVA rays. It is important to select a sunscreen that has broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) protection. Here are a few simple guidelines to follow:
Be a shade seeker - Try to avoid the sun during hours when it is the strongest, 10am - 4pm. Tip: If your shadow is shorter than you are, damaging UV rays are at their strongest.
Going out? Cover up - If you plan to be outside for an extended period, remember to wear protective clothing. Hats, sunglasses, long sleeves, and long pants will help shield you and your children.
Sunscreen everyday - Apply generous amounts of SPF 15 or higher when you are active outdoors. Reapply often, especially after swimming, sweating, or using a towel. I have been using Neutrogena Age Shield SPF 70 with helioplex for myself and Neutrogena pure and free baby SPF 60 for my kids. I highly recommend them.
Keep up with your check-ups - Check your skin and your children monthly and be on the look out for new skin spots or any changes in existing spots. Make sure to check the scalp ( using a blow dryer to move hair around helps), hands ( including nails), feet ( between toes and bottom of feet also),neck , chest, and torso. See a dermatologist regularly for full body exams as well. Be safe and be smart when it comes to the sun.
