Stay Safe In The Sun This Summer With These 8 Tips

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of EWG Sun Safety. The opinions and text are all mine.

With Summer comes more time outside enjoying the fresh air and warm sun. Soaking in the rays is a Summer pastime. Sunburns are as common as scraped knees.

No big deal. Right? That’s just what happens when you spend time outside.

Staying safe in the sun can mean the difference between life and death.

I’ll never forget when our good friends broke the news. Cancer. It was just a mole that started looking funny. No one thought anything about it. He now has a long scar on his leg because cancer had spread beyond the site of the mole. They had to do multiple surgeries to remove all the cancer cells. Thankfully he survived. It could have ended differently had he not made an appointment to see a dermatologist when he did.

While I love Summer, I hate sunscreen. It’s sticky and so hard to apply on moving children. Rubbing sunscreen on little ears, faces, arms, hands, legs. It takes so much time.

But I do it.

I take the time to slather sunscreen all over their little bodies to protect them. Not only from the pain of sunburn but from the effects of skin damage later on in life.

Sunscreen isn’t our only protection from the sun. If anything, it should be used as a last resort. So how exactly do you protect your family the harmful rays of the sun during the dog days of Summer? Let me explain.

Stay Safe in the Sun with these 8 Tips

Staying safe in the sun this Summer is easier than you might think with these 8 tips.

1. Wear clothes: Did you know shirts, hats, shorts and pants are your first defense? They shield your skin from the sun’s UV rays, reducing risk by 27%! Headed to the beach? Rash guard suits and hats with SPF protection should be on your packing list.

2. Find shade: If you can’t find shade, make it. Headed out for a picnic? Look for a spot under a tree. Take a canopy to the beach. Keeping infants in the shade, reduces the risk of multiple burns by 30%.

3. Sunglasses: Sunglasses aren’t just a fashion accessory, they are essential. They protect your eyes from UV radiation.

4. Plan around the sun: When planning your activities for the day, go outdoors in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky.

5. Don’t get burned: This is obviously, but red, sore, blistered skin means you’ve been in the sun for far too long.

6. Check the UV index: It’s not just a crazy number. The UV Index actually provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent sun overexposure.

7. Hydrate: Water keeps our bodies hydrated, which is super important in the heat of the sun. It also helps to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated for optimal health, too.

8. Choose the right sunscreen: Have you ever stood in front of the sunscreen section at the store and just stared at all the options? Too many of those products on store shelves provide your family with inadequate protection from the suns harmful rays. They also use ingredients that have been linked to endocrine disruption and other negative health impacts.

For years I have trusted the Environmental Working Group and their yearly sunscreen guide to help me choose which sunscreen is right for our family. The products on EWG’s best list provide broad spectrum protection (protecting you from both UVA and UVB rays) and have fewer ingredients of concern.

You can download the EWG’s Guide to Safer Sunscreens and stay safe in the sun this summer. It’s filled with tips on how to read sunscreen labels, how to shop smarter, and other invaluable information.

EWG Sun Safety Campaign

Sun safety should be as common as putting on your seatbelt when you get inside your car. It’s our job as parents to teach our children these tips so it becomes second nature to them.

It’s also our job to take care of ourselves. Make sure to check your skin regularly for new moles that are tender or growing. At your next check-up, ask your primary care doctor how often you should see a dermatologist.

Remember that the best defenses against getting too much harmful UV radiation are protective clothing (affiliate link), shade and timing.

Please watch this video from Heather Armstrong as she shares her story and explains why she is passionate about teaching her children about sun safety.