With new reports of a drinkable sunscreen and summer’s arrival, it’s time to brush up on sun safety information and ideas to keep you and your family safe from the sun’s harmful and damaging effects. Get summer-ready with these sun care tips for kids and families.
A few weeks ago, a U.S.-based company (Osmosis Skincare) announced that it had invented the world’s first drinkable sunscreen! The product's inventor claims that Harmonized H2O provides protection comparable to an SPF 30 lotion. By playing with the radio frequency in the water, the company believes that their product actually neutralizes the UV radiation.
Harmonized H20, comes in 100-mL bottles that retail for $30 U.S., and claims to grant sun protection for approximately three hours. Several members of the medical community in Canada are skeptical and worried about this product and its claims. Dr. Samir Gupta, chair of the Ontario Medical Association’s dermatology section, said there is no scientific evidence to support Johnson's claims that the product does in fact provide sun protection. In fact, there have never been tests on humans. Many doctors feel that by allowing the public to think that there is a "quick fix" for sun protection, we are in fact putting these people at greater risk for skin cancer.
Time will tell if this product actually works and if it even comes to Canada, so it's best to follow the very clear guidelines laid out by respective professionals in dermatology when it comes to sun protection. The summer is the time for family fun and getting outdoors, so follow these important tips to make sure everyone is safe from the sun!
Here are 3 Sun Safety Rules to follow;
1. Avoid the sun between 10am-4pm (some believe it's most harmful between 11am-3pm). Keep in the shade during those peak times and plan outdoor play for before and after these times.
2. Wear sun protective clothing, including; sunglasses, long cotton sleeves, and hats.
3. Wear a minimum of 30 SPF broadband sunscreen (UVA and UVB protection). Remember to apply sunscreen liberally to all areas of exposed skin (especially the face and neck) about 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 3-4 hours or after getting wet or excessive exercise (sweat can impact the effectiveness of the sunscreen). Remember that even on cloudy days, there is a UV index.
Important to Know:
- Too much sun exposure can cause severe sunburns, including blisters, illness, shivering and fever.
- In the long term, too much sun exposure can also cause early aging of the skin and even skin cancer.
- The fairer your child's skin, the greater the chance that your child will get a sunburn.
- Babies under six months should stay in the shade at all times. Sunscreens are not recommended for this age group.
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Babies and younger children can get sunburned in 20 minutes (or less in high UV settings).
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Some medicines cause the skin to become more sensitive to the sun. If you child is taking medication, please ask your doctor or pharmacist about any increased sensitivity to the sun.
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If you child is attending daycare, school or camp, be sure that they are sent with the appropriate sun protective clothing, hats and sunscreen to be reapplied throughout the day. Have a discussion with care givers to make sure that they have sun care rules in place.
If your child gets a sunburn:
- Keep your child out of the sun until it heals.
- If it's painful, a cold compress or cool bath can bring relief.
- Aloe vera gel and Hydrocortisone cream (1%) can also help reduce swelling.
Other Resources:
Protecting your children's eyes from the sun
Source: CTV News Report, About Kids Health
