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Warmer weather means we?ll be spending more time outside?and it?s very important to make sure your kid?s skin is protected. Not only are sunburns uncomfortable (and in some cases, downright painful) but getting sunburned increases your kid?s risk for developing skin cancer later in life, says Susan Poelman, a certified dermatologist in Calgary and a member of the Canadian Dermatology Association?s board of directors. ?Just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence doubles their risk of getting melanoma,? she says.
The good news is there are lots of ways to protect your kid from too much sun exposure. Here?s what you need to know.
Avoid the strong sun
The best way to protect your kid from the sun is to stay out of it?especially at its peak. Poelman recommends checking the UV index to get a gauge of how strong the sun is when you?re thinking of heading out. (There are many UV index apps out there, and the UV index is also often included in the weather report.) ?Low and moderate, you don’t have to worry as much, but anything high or extremely high would be a concern. It gives you a bit of a guide in terms of how quickly you burn,? she says. Generally, though, the sun is strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., so the best thing to do would be to stay indoors during that time or seek shade if you?re out and about. If you need to be out in the sun, cover up as much of your kid?s body with lightweight, long clothing and a hat, and apply sunscreen on the...