My husband and I enjoy being outdoors with our children in the warm weather, but we often worry about sunburn. What are the risks and what precautions do we need to take?
In moderation, sunlight is quite good for your health. That glowing star 93 million miles away provides the fuel that turns our bodies into vitamin D factories, which encourages bone health, and has been shown to lift the moods of children and adults, alike. However, as you’ve indicated, there can certainly be too much of a good thing when it comes to the sunlight.
The sun emits ultraviolet light, or UV rays — electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the human eye. When it comes to sunburn, these rays are the culprit, and over time, excessive exposure can harm the body’s skin cells and increase a person’s risk for skin cancer, premature ageing, eye damage, and immune suppression.
The UV rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm, so try to plan your outdoor activities with this in mind. If you plan to be outdoors during that time, liberally apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, half an hour before going outside. Once outside, no matter what, sunscreen should be reapplied at least once every two hours. It is best to use a variety of sunscreen that is waterproof and sweatproof, but no matter how long the label says that sunscreen lasts, reapplying sunscreen directly after swimming or during athletic activities is a good idea as well. No matter what time of day, the skin is never entirely immune from the damaging effects of the sun, so sunscreen is still advisable even outside these peak hours.
Remember to also wear appropriate clothing and accessories, such as wide-brimmed hats, UV-protection sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts, or specially designed UV-proofed clothing that already has SPF built in. Ultraviolet light-protection laundry detergent that adds sun protection factor 30 to clothing when washed is also available.
Even if you are taking precautions, do not stay in the direct sunlight for hours at a time. If you are playing outside with your children, take breaks during which you sit in the shade and cool down. You will be less likely to burn and also less likely to become dehydrated.
In the unfortunate event that sunburn does occur, apply a cold compress and aloe vera gel to the area; both of which can relieve some of the sting. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and stay out of the sun until your sunburn heals. If your children have a high fever, blisters, nausea, headache, or signs of dehydration, like reduced urination and dizziness, call your pediatrician.
Take comfort though: given the appropriate precautions and protection, there’s no hot place on earth that’s off limits, whether the Saraha Desert, to Zion National Park, to Coney Island on a 90-degree day. After a long winter, summer is finally right around the corner, so stay safe and have some fun in the sun.
