Summer Is Here: The Importance Of Sun Protection For Kids

It is as if tweens were born to be under the sun. During the summer time, whether they are running through the sprinklers, splashing at a pool, playing in the park, jumping on a trampoline or just walking through the neighborhood, tweens love the summer sun. For decades, parents have simply brushed off those summer sunburns saying that they are just a part of childhood, but every health professional adamantly disagrees. Sun protection for kids is too important to be neglected.

Recent national news has focused on the misinformation provided to the public about sun exposure. Many have said that getting a little tan is healthy, and many advocate for the bronzed look that appears, “glamorous and more vibrant.” Unfortunately, health specialists know that this attitude toward tanning is inaccurate and unhealthy. Especially for children, tweens and teens, the damage done to skin by tanning and sunburns is devastating.

Sun damage to skin is irreversible. Some statistics rate the dangers of every burn as increasing the likelihood of melanoma (skin cancer) by as much as a whole percentage point. That means that a child whose genetic predisposition to skin cancer was already high is making a very dangerous decision about her health. Especially since it is easy to protect oneself against the damaging sun, not wearing sunscreen is a foolish choice.

While the sunscreen habit is important for everyone, it is particularly important for tweens because a sunscreen habit protects their skin for the future. It is important to apply sunscreen generously on every exposed skin surface from the nose to the toes. Every two hours in the sun should result in a thorough reapplication. It does not matter if the tween’s skin color is dark or fair; sun protection for kids is a must. There is no ethnicity that is safe from the dangers of sunburn.

While many sunscreen products for kids can be gooey or goopy, there are some new products on the market that make getting young people to wear sunscreen on a regular basis a lot easier. These products leave skin feeling soft, not sticky or greasy, and even have a pleasant smell. Encouraging young people to use sun protection is another way to keep them healthy. Protect their skin today and for the future by teaching the importance of daily sun protection.

By: Abigail Chaucer

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Ottilie and Lulu offers a range of easy-to-use hair and skin products specially formulated for tween skin (girls 7-14). Each of these formulas contains anti-oxidants to protect a young girl's skin from environmental stresses, vitamins to nourish, and enriching botanicals to sooth.