Sunny days bring lots of excitement. You can spend quality time in the sun and feel its goodness and warmth on your body. However, the sun has many benefits; you must understand sunlight’s harms. The following information can help you protect your family from the sun’s damaging rays.
Relation of Skin Cancer and The Sun
The sun is an excellent energy source on Earth, but this energy can be harmful to humans. The UV (Ultraviolet) rays of the sun can damage your eyes and skin. These may be the reason for skin cancer. Among all skin cancers, malignant melanoma is a deadly type of cancer. Children and teens are more exposed to the sun because they spend their maximum time outdoors. You have to guard them against harmful exposure to the sun.
As per research, almost one or even more scorching sunburns in teens or children may lead to melanoma cancer in later life. Sunburns may cause extreme pain. Excessive exposure to the sun may be the reason for the following problems:
- Fever and dehydration (fluid loss)
- Skin damage, like wrinkles and modifications in color
- Damage to the immune system of the body
- Cataracts (eye lens clouding) in the eyes
Tips to Safely Expose Sunlight
You can’t stop adults and children from exercising and playing outdoors. It is essential for their body, so you must look for other safety methods. Here are some easy rules for protecting your family from painful sunburns and skin cancers.
- Keep your younger kids (less than six months) away from direct sunlight. Use a stroller canopy or an umbrella, or find shade under trees.
- Choose comfortable and cool clotheson to cover your bo in the summerdy, like lightweight hats, shirts with long sleeves, and cotton pants.
- Choose tightly woven clothes because they offer better protection than loosely woven garments. For this purpose, hold a dress up to see the amount of light that shines from this dress. Choose a dress with less light. You can check the label, such as UPF (Ultraviolet (UV) Protection Factor).
- Choose a hat with an almost 3-inch brim to protect your neck, ears, and face.
- Avoid going out in the sun from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm because the UV rays will be intense during this duration.
- Buy sunglasses that offer almost 99% protection from UV rays. It would help to have sunglasses for your whole family with ultraviolet protection.
- Use sunscreen of a good brand.
- Educate every person in your family about protecting your eyes and skin from the sun. You can set good examples by practicing safety measures yourself.
Sunscreen
To avoid skin cancers and sunburn, you must have sunscreen. Always remember that it will be protected from the sun, not a shield, to spend the maximum of your time in it.
Ideas to Choose Sunscreen
- Buy a sunscreen with a “broad-spectrum” printed on the label. It means that this sunscreen is suitable for UVA and UVB rays.
- While considering a sunscreen with a broad spectrum, you have to find the SPF (sun protection factor) of almost SPF 15 to SPF 20. If you get SPF between 15 and 30, it can be useful for numerous people. As per multiple research studies, you must test a sunscreen over SPF 50 for extra protection.
- Avoid sunscreen with “oxybenzone” ingredients because of its slight hormonal properties. If you don’t have sunscreen without this ingredient, then use any sunscreen. It is better to use one than no sunscreen.
- You must pick a sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to protect your body’s sensitive locations like shoulders, ears, cheeks, and nose. You may notice some fun colors as you rub these products, so don’t worry about these colors.
Application of Sunscreen
- Take sufficient sunscreen on your palm to cover each exposed skin section, particularly hands, back of knees, feet, ears, nose, and face. Rub the sunscreen well in these areas.
- Apply sunscreen on your face almost 15 – 30 minutes before visiting outdoors. Sunscreen needs sufficient time to absorb in your skin.
- You can use sunscreen without any time restriction when going outdoors. Apply sunscreen even on a cloudy day because almost 80% of the sun’s UV rays may go through clouds. You have equal chances to get a sunburn. The ultraviolet rays may bounce back from concrete, snow, sand, and water, so protect yourself.
- After every two hours, reapply sunscreen for better protection. Instantly apply it again after sweating or swimming. Try to use the right amount of sunscreen for better security.
Sunscreen and Babies
Your children younger than six months need sunscreen. You can apply it on the face and small areas of the body without shade or protective clothing.
If your children are over six months old, you can apply sunscreen to all their bodies, but carefully apply it to the eyes. If your child rubs it in their eyes, carefully wipe their eyes and use a damp cloth to clean their hand.
If sunscreen irritates your child’s skin, you should try a different brand or choose a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Sometimes, the rash develops on sensitive skin; you should talk to your child’s doctor.
Sunburns: Time to Call A Doctor
If a baby younger than a year gets a sunburn, you must call their doctor immediately. For older kids, you can call their doctor in case of fever, pain, or blistering.
Ideas to Pacify Sunburn
These five methods can help you to ease the discomfort of mild sunburn.
- Replace any fluid loss by giving your child pure fruit juice or water.
- Make your child feel better by using cold water on their skin.
- You can give some children medicines to relieve the pain of sunburns. For a child of six months or younger, choose acetaminophen. If a child is older than six months, you can give ibuprofen or acetaminophen to your child.
- Consult your child’s doctor before buying a medicated lotion for your child.
- Keep your kid away from the sun until their sunburn is completely recovered.
Myths About Sun
Myth: Folks with light complexion are at a higher risk of sunburn
Reality: Folks with blond hair or pale skin must be extra careful in the sun because they may get sunburned easily compared to those with darker skin. Sunburn has nothing to do with skin color. Everyone has an equal chance of getting sunburn, so everyone must take protective measures to avoid the sun’s harmful rays.
Myth: Suntan has lots of benefits.
Reality: You can’t avoid sunburn in base tanning. It can increase your sunburn chances because staying out in the sun for an extended period is difficult. Always remember that a tan means your skin is damaged.
Myth: Skin cancer is common in adults only, so children don’t need sunscreen.
Reality: Several patients with skin cancer are children, teens, young adults, and older people. Excessive sun exposure means many sunburns. It may turn into skin cancer, eye cataracts, and wrinkles in the later years. Skin cancer is common in the USA. As per the Cancer Society of America, there are over 3.5 million annual cases of skin cancer.
Effects of Indoor Tanning on Teens
Young women and girls visit tanning salons to feel healthier and more attractive. Tanning at salons is extremely dangerous. Tanning beds are designed to replicate the natural sun and give off ultraviolet rays. These rays can cause skin cancer and sunburn. Indoor tanning is not suitable for anyone, adults or teens.
This tan may last for a few days. Although, all tanning products have specific side effects, such as irritation and rashes on the skin. You must keep them away from the mouth, nose, and eyes. Many of these items lack sunscreen, so your skin has no protective layer from the sun. If you want to use a sunless tanning product, accompany it with sunscreen.
Protect Your Eyes from Damages of the Sun
Direct sunlight and UV rays are damaging to human eyes. For instance, water, soil, and grass reflect almost 10% of UV rays, but snow reflects nearly 80% of radiation. You may frequently look down instead of looking up, so there will be a difference in reflected UV light effects.
People often think they can protect themselves by wearing a hat with a brim. It will not protect you from reflected UV rays from water, sand, and pavements. You can use lenses to protect your eyes, such as dark lenses, which are good for people with light sensitivities.
Special contact lenses are available to block UV. Choose a reliable physician like San Diego Lasik to buy appropriate contact lenses. Visit them to get their expert advice:
Address:
- “La Jolla Lasik
- 9834 Genesee Avenue
- Suite 428
- La Jolla, CA 92037
- 888-551-8212
https://www.lajollalasik.com”
