Live In Our Skinz!

Spring Break is upon us! Most families take advantage of this time to travel to warmer vacation spots and after spending long winter months bundled up it’s easy to put sun protection to the back burner.  Even during the winter months and throughout the year practicing good sun protection habits is a must.

It’s easy to be safe in the sun while you are wearing UV Skinz swim shirts. They are one application with all day protection! Since the uv protection is in the tight-weave of the fabric you never have to worry about losing sun protection. They are light-weight, comfortable and come in many sizes from infants to XXL. Check out the official UV Skinz website to get yours!

I found some great tips on how to protect the whole family!

Sun Safety for Infants
Infants have soft, smooth skin that is both thinner than that of older children and lower in melanin—body’s important defense against ultraviolet rays. Sunscreen is not safe for babies under six months old, so parents must take sun safety precautions in other forms.

• Keeping the baby out of the sun entirely is the best, but not always the most reasonable, form of sun safety.
• If the infant must be in the sun, keep exposed skin covered, use a brimmed hat, and keep shaded under a tree or with an umbrella if natural shade is not available.

Sun Safety for Toddlers through Tweens
The wonderful thing about spring sun safety is that the temperature is often at more moderate levels where the kids are willing to wear more clothing—and they also tend to more readily follow parental instructions for sunscreen and “sun breaks”.

• Apply sunscreen often. Use a sunscreen with at least an SPF 15, although a higher protection level is encouraged, and reapply every 2-3 hours—and again after time in the water. Don’t forget to protect the lips with an SPF lip balm as well.
• Encourage breaks from the sun. Plan some activities, such as picnics under an umbrella, or even a few indoor activities, to encourage the kids to take a break from the sun. Some beaches and parks even offer umbrella and portable tent rentals to make this easier for families.
• Don’t forget to protect the eyes. Some kids refuse sunglasses—but, the protection that they offer is great. Try a variety of sunglass styles—and if you aren’t able to persuade the child to wear them, try a wide brimmed hat or even a baseball cap to shade the eyes from the sun’s rays.
• Read medication warnings. Some medications intensify the risk for sunburn. Certain antibiotics, for example, often carry a warning again prolonged sun exposure. These medications can cause a child who rarely burns, to become sun sensitive, so parents need to remember the risks!

 

Sun Safety for Teens
Teens are often a difficult sell on anything safe and precautionary—so parents of teens must approach them with a different set of tactics. Many want to appear tan, healthy and athletic and fail to see the dangers and risks.

• Educate them on sun exposure risks. Head to the internet and find photos relevant to your cause. Skinema.com  shows a number of celebrity before and after shots of their skin in youth and after years of sun damage.
• Set an example yourself. Wear sun screen, take breaks from the sun, use hats and sunglasses. If you begin to set this example early on, teens will be more willing to follow your lead as they may see positive skin effects in you versus the sun loving parents of friends!
• Make self tanners an option. For teens, appearances are everything—and fitting in is key. Do some research, and find safe self tanning alternatives and purchase them so that reluctant teens can achieve the look desired without the negative effects.

Source: Bella Online