Helping Your Children Avoid Sunburns this Summer

Not only are sunburns painful and uncomfortable, but they are also dangerous to your child’s health. July is a peak month for sunburns, and they can develop much more quickly than you may realize. We certainly are not suggesting that you stay indoors all months and miss out on all the fun in the sun! We just want to make sure that all of our little patients are protected from the sun and the damage it can cause. 

Helping Children Avoid Sunburns 

Below are a few tips on how to make sure your children are safe in the sun: 

• Sunscreen – Obviously, sunscreen is the most vital tool in the prevention of sunburns. Apply sunscreen liberally and often, making sure you don’t forget to apply it to the most commonly forgotten areas: your child’s ears, scalp, lips, and back of the neck! 
• Avoiding peak hours – Peak sun hours are between 11am and 2pm. We recommend avoiding the sun during these hours, as the rays are the harshest during these hours. 
• Keep covered up – Use hats, umbrellas, and cover-ups to make sure that your child is protected in the sun. We know it’s tempting to wear as little as possible when the weather is so hot but staying covered up is a good way to avoid sunburns. 
• Know your child’s skin – If your child has darker skin, he or she is less likely to burn, but it’s still important to protect the skin. If your child is fair-skinned, you’ll need to apply more sunscreen more often and try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Know your child’s skin and plan your sunny day activities accordingly. 
• Reapply after getting wet – Even if the bottle of sunscreen that you use says it’s waterproof, it’s still important to reapply sunscreen to your child when he or she is done in the pool. 

Here at Little Smiles of Delaware, your child’s health and comfort are as important to us as their dental health! We want to wish all of our patients a happy summer break! To make an appointment here at Little Smiles of Delaware, please contact our Delaware, Ohio pediatric dental office today.