Safe in the sun: how much sunscreen should you put on to make it work?
Every year, when the period of summer and holidays approaches, during which our children usually spend more time outdoors, it is worth remembering how to protect children's skin from the harmful effects of sunlight. Are you going on vacation with your child and wondering how to protect them from harmful UV rays?
Find out how to use sunscreen to make it effective, how much to apply sunscreen to your face, and why comprehensive sun protection is essential, especially for children under 3 years of age.
Is It Healthy To Enjoy The Sun?
Exposure to the sun enables the synthesis of vitamin D3 in the skin, but it does not have to be long - 10 minutes a day is enough. Remember that excessive sunbathing dries the epidermis, has an adverse effect on skin cells and can lead to sunburn and cancerous changes.
There is an association between childhood sunburn and the incidence of melanoma and skin cancer in adulthood. Therefore, until your child is 3 years old, special attention should be paid to adequate protection from the sun.
Protect your little one from harmful radiation!
The skin of children, especially toddlers under the age of 3, is much more exposed to sunburn than the skin of adults. Due to its immaturity, it is much more sensitive to the action of ultraviolet rays, as it does not yet have developed mechanisms of protection against the effects of exposure to the sun.
As a result of overexposure to the sun, the risk of burns and damage to the immune system increases, and consequently even skin cancer in adulthood. The main rule is to protect children under 3 years of age from the sun. If this is not possible, use a cream with high SPF on the face and other parts of the body in older babies and toddlers. Pay special attention to the nose, ears and neck, also lubricate the baby's tummy, chest, back, arms, arms and legs (including feet).
Also:
- avoid sun exposure between 10:00 and 17:00 (especially in summer);
- remember to protect your head and eyes,
- choose bright clothes made of natural and airy fabrics.
Expert advises
A good baby sunscreen or lotion must not irritate or sensitize. The cosmetic should be durable and resistant to water, sweat and light (i.e. photostable). It's good that it doesn't stain your clothes. Due to the specificity of using this type of preparations (several times a day, often on the face and the rest of the body), the safest option is to use mineral filters. This is especially true for babies and children up to 3 years old.
How much sunscreen to apply to the face i on the body?
Wondering how much sunscreen to apply to your child's face and body to provide maximum sun protection? Not only the quantity but also the frequency of application and a sufficiently high SPF are crucial. A thick layer of sunscreen applied to the face in the morning won't protect your little one from the sun until evening. So how should you use sunscreen and how much sunscreen should you apply to your face and body? And what should the SPF be for children's sunscreens used on the face and body? Follow these guidelines:
- Apply the cream with a chemical filter to the child's face and body approx. 20-30 min before sun exposure, a cream with a mineral filter can be applied immediately before going for a walk;
- Lubricate the skin approx. 2-3 hours;
- What SPF for the face and body? In children, cosmetics with SPF 30 to 50;
- The recommended single dose is 2 mg / cm2 leather;
- Store sunscreen in a cool and shaded place.
Before you apply sunscreen, note the expiration date. Do not use expired cosmetics. Their effectiveness is much lower. Also, do not use filter cosmetics that have not been used last year, even if the expiry date has not expired.
Not only sunscreen is important
Babies and toddlers in strollers should be protected by an umbrella . It's also worth ensuring they wear appropriate clothing . Thin, tightly woven fabrics and light colors that reflect sunlight rather than absorb it are best. Remember to also wear a hat – preferably with a visor to protect the face from the sun's rays. Children aged approximately 2 years and older should wear sunglasses with a good UV filter to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays.
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