Be safe in the sun this summer

Sunlight has the effect of making us all feel a little brighter and happier about life; it is wonderful to see children of every age having fun in the sun.

Sunlight is good for our growth as it helps the body produce vitamin D, however you don’t need to sunbath, just being outside and being careful is just the job. If we are all careful and take sensible precautions then we can enjoy and be safe.

It is a reality however that sun damage to our skins when we are children can lead to problems in later life. Scientists have reported that burnt skin in childhood can lead to cancer 20 years after; however 40% of parents asked said their children had been burnt on holiday. It is now widely understood that a suntanned skin is a skin trying to recover from sun damage and that we need to follow the lead of Australia where they really promote a cover up campaign.

It is the UV (Ultra Violet) rays in the sun that cause the skin damage and this can vary from day to day; based not only on the time of year, but time of day. The chance of burning is dependent on both the strength of the UV rays as well as the type of skin you have.

Our advice to parents is that Children and toddlers can have fun in the sun and you can enjoy your time with them to as long as you take care, follow some practical steps and everyone will enjoy their holiday. Remember it is not just the sun on holiday abroad that is dangerous, you can get burnt just as easily at home.

Be safe suggestions:

• The fairer the skin and hair the easier your child will burn
• Use sun factor creams higher than SPF 15 for you and SPF 30 for your children
• Babies should not be in the sun but covered up and in the shade
• Cover up children with t-shirts, hats and sunglasses – remember the back of the neck is really sensitive
• Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm