Dear Jackie,

My family will be spending more time outdoors enjoying various activities and events due to the warm summer weather.  What is the best way to protect both myself and my children from too much sun?

Many of us will be enjoying the summer’s sunny days and the opportunity to enjoy fresh air and the great outdoors.  But too much sun exposure can be dangerous.  The best thing you can do to prevent sunburn and skin damage is to cover up with cool clothing (a tight weave cotton for example), a wide brimmed hat, and sunglasses.  Also, stay in the shade whenever possible and avoid exposure to the sun during its peak intensity between the hours of 10am and 4pm.  But if you are going to be exposed to the intense rays of the sun, it is important to use sunscreen, especially for your children of all ages.

Here are the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).  For more information, visit their website at http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/skinhealth.cfm.  Here you will find a number of related articles.

For babies under 6 months of age there are two main recommendations to prevent sunburn:
    *    Avoid sun exposure; Move your baby to the shade or under a tree, umbrella or the stroller canopy.
    *    And dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn.
    *    If however, you do not have appropriate clothing or shade available, apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area. However, before covering your baby with sunscreen, be sure to apply a small amount to a limited area and watch for any reaction.

For young children:

    *    Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at least 15 and protect against UVA and UVB rays.

For older children:
    *    The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
    *    Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
    *    Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
    *    Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
    *    Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.