We’re enjoying the last of summer, but for us here in Colorado at very high altitudes, it sometimes seems like it’s summer all year round. How do I protect my kids from the sun’s harmful rays? Together with La Roche-Posay, I will be sharing some tips with you.
We are truly enjoying the last days of summer. Summer for us in our family usually means, road trips, staycations and the water parks and pools. We love to try and stay as cool as possible. When we’re not on the road, you can find us indoors under the air conditioning. It can get hot here in Colorado, but for us being at this high of an altitude, it can sometimes feel as though we’re almost on “Planet Sun”. When I mention that I’m not a fan of summer and it’s heat, most people would ask “aren’t you accustomed to the sun since you’re originally from the Caribbean?”, and I would say, “There is a difference between summers in the Caribbean and summers in North America”. In the Caribbean you’re on an island surrounded by the ocean and a tropical breeze. While it can get hot at times, it’s very much bearable. Another reason I hate the summer sun is the fact that I do burn. Believe it or not African-American’s do burn too! It’s also one of the reasons that I keep a sunscreen in my bag for not just me, but for my children as well, especially my youngest. It’s better to start their sunscreen protection NOW, rather than later. So what tips can I share to protect your kids from the sun’s rays?
Here are 5 easy ways!
Always wear sunscreen
Whenever we go outdoors, before we hit up the water park or anywhere, be it summer, winter (yes you should be protected even in the winter), we always lather up on our sunscreen. I love looking for products that are high-quality, products that I can depend on, and have a proven track record. I sometimes get recommendations from friends and family, and sometimes it’s just trial and error. One sunscreen that I’ve grown to love is La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dermo-Kids. This is a sunscreen that was developed with moms, dermatologists, and pediatricians, and is specifically made with powerful UVA/UVB filters that provide broad spectrum, 80-minute water resistant protection, highly protective ingredients and antioxidants that are effective, safe, and gentle on children’s sensitive skin. When it comes to my child, I want products that are not only gentle but effective and this does both jobs!
Wear a Hat
There’s a reason they’re called sunhat’s. It’s because they protect your head from the sun. While baseball caps are cute, “Go Yankees!”, they don’t really protect your little one’s neck and ears as they should. For hats, I would say the bigger the better since the more protection, the better. If you do decide to wear a baseball cap, be sure to protect any skin that’s exposed with sunscreen.
Wear Sunglasses
It’s not just your body that needs protection, but so does your eyes. You may remember we just had an eclipse and were told not to look at the eclipse directly because it can damage your eyes. Unfortunately, that’s not the only time that the sun’s rays can damage your eyes. For children, wrap around sunglasses work the best since they block almost 100% of both UVA and UVB rays.
Wear protective clothing
Whenever possible, wear long sleeves and long pants since they offer the most protection, compared to shorter styles. Dark colors also offer a lot more protection than lighter clothing, however in the summer, we tend to stay away from dark colors. So what do you do in such a case? That’s where my next step comes in.
Stay in the shade
Try and plan your activities for later in the day when the sun’s rays is not at it’s strongest. While you may be tempted to go out around midday, it’s also when the sun’s rays are strongest and most harmful. If you do decide to go to the pool, waterpark or even a day trip to the zoo, lather up with sunscreen and walk with an umbrella. Trust me, umbrella’s are still cool! If you just can’t help but be in the sun, the La Roche-Posay My UV Patch may be just what you need. It allows you to measure your UV exposure and the risk in real time via an app (available both on iOS and Android).
Remember to take your sunscreen with you so that you can reapply it as the day goes along, especially if your child will be in the water. Know that saying?:
Too much of a good thing is a bad thing
This rings true for the sun. While it’s beneficial because it’s a good source of Vitamin D, too much of it can actually hurt. Think sunburn. They’re not only painful, but too much sun can also lead to skin cancer. Did you know suffering with one or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma? However, be sure to have on hand La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 to help soothe their irritated skin. It’s also a good moisturizer so always keep it in your bag. That’s where I keep mine, because it’s also great for adults too. It doesn’t leave you greasy and has a rather pleasant smell.
So have an enjoyable rest of the summer, be smart and protect your children from the sun’s harmful rays with La Roche-Posay.
You can find La Roche-Posay products at your local CVS, Amazon, or by using the store locator.
