Avoid Spray Sunscreens: 10 Tips To Safe In The Sun

You Don’t Need Sunscreen at Emler – But You Do Everywhere Else

School is starting soon, and your family is probably trying to squeeze out a few more sun-filled, fun-filled outings before it’s too late. But even as summer draws to a close, it’s always important to stay vigilant against the sun’s damaging rays.

Whether you worship the sun or cover up and try to avoid it at all costs, there’s just no substitute for sunscreen. And if you’re the kind of parent who slathers the SPF on your kids but not on yourself, take it from us: You aren’t helping your family form good habits, and you’re putting yourself at risk, too.

In fact, the only place we can say it’s safe to swim without sunscreen is at one of our schools, but that changes when you head back outdoors after your lesson.

Here are 10 things you should know about staying safe in the sun:

1. Make sure you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. This type of sunscreen protects against UVA (the rays that cause permanent sun damage to the skin) & UVB (the rays that cause the skin to burn) rays.
2. Avoid spray sunscreens. It’s hard to know exactly where and how much sunscreen you’ve applied with a spray, and the results can be a little spotty (literally and figuratively). 
3. Apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before you go outside, and reapply it every one to two hours. Snack and drink breaks are the perfect time to reapply for the whole family.
4. Avoid using sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months old. Babies have very sensitive skin, and they should be kept out of the sun whenever possible. Always make sure they are wearing a hat, sunglasses, and lightweight clothing that keeps their skin protected. 
5. Always test out new sunscreens on a small patch of skin (such as the inside of a wrist) before using them. Sunburns are terrible – a sunburn combined with an allergic reaction is even worse. 
6. Avoid going outside during the sun’s peak hours (10 a.m.-4 p.m.). If you can’t avoid the sun, make sure you seek shade as often as possible, even if you have sunscreen on.
7. Create good habits for life with your family! Make applying sunscreen fun for your kids by having them make goofy faces while applying it or by letting them help apply the sunscreen. 
8. Bring your sunscreen with you! Don’t make the mistake of thinking you are covered for the day by applying sunscreen once. You need to reapply all day long to avoid sunburns and sun damage. 
9. Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day! Clouds do not block the damaging rays from the sun. 
10. Be sure to ask your child’s school or camp what their plan of action is to keep your child protected during outdoor events, camps or sports practices. Packing sunscreen with your kids is just as important as packing snacks and drinks!

Enjoying some time in the sun can be a fun time for all, as long as everyone is taking the proper precautions to stay safe. Check out the following links to learn more about how to keep your family protected: 

https://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/children/oh-baby

https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/sun-protection-for-kids