Fair skin and the sun are a bad combination no matter what age you are, but for children especially it is crucial to practice sun safety. Below you’ll find some helpful pediatric dermatologist-approved tips for helping them protect their skin during the summer months.
Sunblock Is Everything
The sunblock section at the store can be a blur of brands, types, and SPF values that is a pain to search through. Especially since you want to ensure you get something that keeps your child safe without irritating their skin. What you want to look for is a sunblock that has SPF 30 and comes with as much zinc oxide as possible. This combination allows for the filtration of 97% of the sun’s UVB rays while being the most comfortable to wear for most children. Otherwise, you can go for higher SPF values as you desire, just be sure to get water-resistant versions of your choice of sunscreen for swimming or for general sweating that occurs while the kids play.
Understanding Environment
The sun is most potent during the hours of 10 am and 4 pm no matter what season it may be. This is when the sun’s rays are at their strongest and can severely damage a child’s skin if it isn’t protected by sunscreen or clothing. This includes when it is cloudy, the sun’s rays are still coming through the clouds and are only slightly lessened. It also is double as important if your child will be swimming. The water does not protect them from the sun’s rays, it actually can amplify it and lead to worse sunburn and skin damage.
Make Time for an Annual Pediatric Dermatologist Appointment
Besides these preventative methods to practice sun safety for kids, it never hurts to make time for an appointment with our pediatric dermatologist at ADF Dermatology and Skin Surgical Center. This allows for a baseline to be formed when it comes to your child’s dermal health. Which in turn allows for both yourself and the doctor to watch for any abnormal changes to your child’s skin. And if necessary, treatment or further protection methods can be prescribed.
We hope these tips help you keep your little one safe this summer, and if you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to call ADF Dermatology and Skin Surgical Center in Sarasota, FL. You can do so at 941-906-7546.
