Keep your kids protected in the sun
New research shows that many of us have been caught off guard when it comes to the right sun protection for our children and, with the current heatwave, parents are being urged to be more vigilant.
With the summer holidays approaching, Boots Soltan Suncare Expert Clare O'Connor shares her advice and tips based on insights drawn from the new Boots Soltan Sun Safety Report. “Sunburn happens in a matter of minutes and as children start to enjoy their school holidays, spending more time out in the sunshine, we want to emphasise how essential regular application of a high SPF is – every day and throughout the day.”
Worryingly, over half of parents asked don’t believe that sunburn can cause lasting damage to skin Combined with the fact that nearly a quarter of a person's lifetime sun exposure is acquired before age 18 there is a real need for regular and effective sun protection.
Whilst eight out of ten parents agree they apply sun cream regularly on holiday, on home soil it’s a different story. More than two thirds of parents say they re-apply sunscreen when their child is spending a long time outside and over half admit they only re-apply sun cream when they notice their child is getting pink.
Clare O’Connor explains: “Obviously parents are already thinking about sunscreen but we’re encouraging them to make sun protection a top priority this summer, whether at home or abroad. While we can feel and see some parts of the sun’s rays, UVA and UVB rays are invisible. It’s these invisible UVA and UVB rays, however, that have visible effects on the skin such as sun damage and premature ageing. Once the skin is pink, damage has been done. The good news is that, with proper use of sun protection, these effects can be very easily avoided.”
Clare continues: “Every day, come rain or shine, skin is exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays. Whilst sitting in the shade or covering up with a t-shirt can help to reduce exposure to UV rays unfortunately they don’t offer complete protection. This is why it’s so important to make sure you’re also protecting your family with an effective sunscreen that contains a high SPF with 5* UVA protection. Applying sun cream takes just a couple of minutes but helps protect your child’s skin from the damage the sun causes now and any longer term effects of the damage.”
Tagged in Sun Protection