According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a few sunburns can increase a child’s risk of skin cancer.
If you’re looking to enjoy fun activities in the sun, the CDC has some safety tips to protect your children from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Stay in the shade: The sun’s UV rays are strongest during the middle of the day, so it is best to seek shade and avoid direct sunlight during this time frame.
Wear a hat: Hats that provide shade for the face, scalp, ears and neck are easy to use for protection. Don’t forget to keep others areas of your body that are not protected covered with sunscreen.
Keep covered up: It may be hot during the summer, but protecting your child from harmful UV rays means covering up their skin with long-sleeved shirts, long pants or skirts. You might also want to keep in mind that wet and light color clothing offers much less protection than dry and dark color clothing.
Wear sunglasses: Not only do sunglasses make it easier to see during the harsh sunlight, they also protect your child’s eyes from UV rays that can lead to cataracts later on in life. It’s important to look for sunglasses that block close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays for the most protection.
Apply sunscreen: Every time you take a step outdoors you should apply sunscreen to your child with at least SPF 15 and UVA/UVB protection. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two hours. Sunscreen should also be put back on immediately after swimming, toweling off or sweating.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/children.htm
