Summer is the season that children love most, especially for the opportunity it offers them to be outdoors, immersed in greenery and sun. The sun, however, must be taken with great caution and always with the necessary precautions and protections. From early childhood it is important to protect your child’s sensitive skin from the sun’s harmful rays and thus ensure healthy skin for life.
Sunscreen for newborns
Children under six months should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Newborns, in fact, have not yet developed the natural protection mechanisms from possible damage caused by the sun. They have thin, fragile and defenseless skin: melanocytes , the cells that produce melanin, are immature and incapable of developing a tan, which is the natural shield against the sun. Also pay attention to solar glare both at the sea and in the mountains: not even the pram umbrella protects them properly. Better then to keep them in the shade and take them for a walk only in the coolest hours of the day, early in the morning or late afternoon.
Here are some rules to follow to adequately protect newborns from the sun:
- Don’t go out between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, which is the hottest hours of the day;
- The use of a brimmed hat is mandatory;
- Loose clothing can help protect remaining body surface area;
- Sit in shaded places or create a designated space with a tent or light blanket.
- Always use a sunscreen specifically designed for children even on cloudy days or when you are in the car. If your baby is less than six months old, ask your pediatrician for advice about using sunscreen.
What sunscreen to use for children?
Even older children must avoid staying in the sun for too long. Their skin’s defense system is not yet fully developed and therefore it is important to always protect them, when they are in the sun, with a shielding sun cream that avoids rashes
and They must also always wear protective clothing and sunglasses as well as apply broad-spectrum sunscreens (with UVA and UVB protection and a minimum SPF of 30) specially formulated for children.
Should every family member have a personal solar?
Children have particularly delicate and fragile skin and, therefore, need protective formulas designed for their needs. Sunscreens for children are characterized, for example, by a high shielding system (SPF 30 and 50) made with filters physical ones made up of tiny mineral particles that reflect solar rays, preventing them from reaching the epidermis.
Sunscreens for adults, on the other hand, generally contain chemical filters which can cause greater reactions on the delicate skin of children. The sunscreens for the little ones also have good resistance to water and sweat and are easy to use to make the application task as simple as possible for mothers.
In sun creams for children the presence of potentially allergenic substances, such as perfume, is reduced to a minimum, while there are softening and soothing active ingredients such as aloe, panthenol (vitamin B5), thermal water and bisabolol (calming extracted from chamomile)
Sunscreens for adults, on the other hand, generally contain chemical filters which can cause greater reactions on the delicate skin of children. The sunscreens for the little ones also have good resistance to water and sweat and are easy to use to make the application task as simple as possible for mothers.
In sun creams for children the presence of potentially allergenic substances, such as perfume, is reduced to a minimum, while there are softening and soothing active ingredients such as aloe, panthenol (vitamin B5), thermal water and bisabolol (calming extracted from chamomile)
How to put sunscreen on children?
To protect children from the sun, choosing the right sunscreen is not enough. It is also necessary to use them well, applying them preferably before leaving the house, on the whole body, including the ears, the instep, the part just under the swimsuit (which risks of getting burned if the fabric moves while the child plays) and behind the legs. The spray formulations are quick to apply, even if the child is not standing still, and reach every part of the body. No fear, then, of using too much: just a rather generous dose can really protect best.
To offer the skin the right protection it is important that mothers renew the application of sunscreen every two hours or so and always after bathing because, even if the product is water resistant, it still loses its effectiveness especially if immersion is prolonged . Sunscreen should also be used when the skin begins to color to avoid an overdose of rays which, accumulating over the years, can cause serious damage to the body.
Keeping the little one under the umbrella does not completely protect him from the risks of the sun due to reflected radiation. Even if it is under the umbrella, therefore, it must be protected with a sunscreen. He must be protected even more when he is in the water or playing on the light sand because the reflection intensifies the power of the rays, increasing the risk of sunburn.
To offer the skin the right protection it is important that mothers renew the application of sunscreen every two hours or so and always after bathing because, even if the product is water resistant, it still loses its effectiveness especially if immersion is prolonged . Sunscreen should also be used when the skin begins to color to avoid an overdose of rays which, accumulating over the years, can cause serious damage to the body.
Keeping the little one under the umbrella does not completely protect him from the risks of the sun due to reflected radiation. Even if it is under the umbrella, therefore, it must be protected with a sunscreen. He must be protected even more when he is in the water or playing on the light sand because the reflection intensifies the power of the rays, increasing the risk of sunburn.
When to expose children to the sun?
Even if protected with a sunscreen, children should never be in the sun from twelve to four pm, when the sun’s rays are more direct and therefore more dangerous. The precaution is particularly valid for the little ones who, in addition to sun damage, can suffer from the heat, given that their thermoregulation system, still immature, does not allow adequate transpiration necessary to disperse the heat.
Should sunscreen only be used at the seaside?
Absolutely not! Sunscreen is not only useful at the seaside, but in all exposure conditions. In the mountains, first of all, because the altitude increases the power, and therefore the danger, of the rays, but also in the countryside, at the lake, in the swimming pool and in the city.
What is after-sun milk used for?
The specific formulations for children
are specifically designed to relieve the sensation of heat, irritation and redness after a day in the sun, sea and heat. Aftersun then provides hydration to the skin and helps it stay soft. It should be applied in generous doses after the evening shower, which must be thorough precisely because it serves to eliminate sweat, sand and sunscreen residues which could further irritate the skin.
How to cure sunburn in children?
The appearance of erythema signals that the child’s skin is reacting to excessive sun exposure. In this case it is necessary to intervene promptly by applying after-sun products to the skin or in any case a treatment based on soothing, hydrating and refreshing substances such as calendula, aloe, bisabolol, mallow.It is then essential to suspend exposure to the sun until the erythema has subsided.
