Continuing on with our Summer Safety series, prepared by our School Nurse, Mrs Rismondo, we are back with some useful tips on how to protect our skin from potential sun damage.
Most sun damage occurs in childhood, so children particularly need to be protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Take these precautions to protect your family’s skin and be SunSmart:
1) Use sunscreen with a sun protector factor (SPF) higher than 30.
It should be applied generously and reapplied every one and a half to two hours. An adult-sized body needs one ounce of sunscreen; a smaller body requires a smaller amount, but it should adequately cover the body’s entire surface area. It’s important to wait 20 minutes after application before getting wet, so that the sunscreen has time to absorb into the skin and form a protective layer.
2) It is smart to use physical blockers as well.
Often sunscreen use provides a sense of security, so people are comfortable being in the sun for longer periods of time, leading to more exposure to the sun’s harmful rays. For this reason, we also stress the importance of physical blockers such as hats, sunglasses, clothing and shade, along with avoiding prolonged exposure to midday sun (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.).
