Sun Protection Basics

Protecting yourself from the sun is an imperative preventive health measure, especially for those who spend a large majority of time outdoors. If your children are involved in school sports or any other outdoor activities, make sure you take the time to educate them about how to be sun smart.

A little bit of prevention can go a long way when it comes to protecting ourselves and our kids from the potentially damaging effects of the sun's rays. Although it may not be the first things on our kids' minds as they run out to the playing fields this summer, it is an important duty of every parent to ensure that their children are aware of the risks that come with exposure to the sun as well as what can be done to prevent long-term damaging effects.

Summer sun can be quite enticing; it's during this time of year when everyone just can't wait to get outside and enjoy the great weather. Whatever your favorite sport or outdoor activity, a sunny day always seems to be the perfect day to get out in the fresh air. Before sending your kids out to play this summer, take the time to make sure they do so safely.

Although we might just think about how good the sun feels or what a great mood it puts us in, unfortunately we also need to think about the harmful side effects too much sun can bring about. The most instant effect of over-exposure is the all-too-common sunburn. Although mild cases are usually no more than painful inconveniences, deep sunburns can require a hospital stay and cause severe skin damage.

The long-term effects of too much sun develop over time and include unsightly wrinkles and prematurely aging skin, nothing desirable nor pleasant for anyone. We all want to hold on to our youth as long as possible, and educating our young ones about how to begin prevention from sun damaged skin at an early age is a first step in the right direction.

Skin cancer is yet another much more serious long-term effect of too much sun. Although in the past, it may have been seen a sign of beauty to have perfectly tanned skin, we now know better. The risks of over-exposure from the sun are far too great to sacrifice our skin's health just to have a golden glow. It is our responsibility to protect ourselves and our kids from the sun's rays all year round and even more so during the summer months and school sports seasons.

In fact, you can never be too safe when it comes to protecting yourself from the sun's powerful rays. You can still suffer from a sunburn even on cloudy or overcast days; sun protection is something to be considered throughout the entire year, not only on sunny summer days.

It is recommended that you protect yourself from the sun anytime you go outside; whether this means covering up or applying an effective sunscreen, or even a combination of both. Protecting yourself from day-to-day exposure to UV rays will go a long way in preventing any permanent damage.

Make sure to share these sun protection tips with your entire family, especially kids that will be spending a lot of time outdoors. Enjoy the summer sun safely and wisely, your skin will thank you for it.

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