Summer, time of holidays and of days in the sun, a true cure-all even for the little ones, since its rays are one precious source for the stimulation of the synthesis from the vitamin D.
When it comes to protecting children from the sun, however, prudence must be utmost. According to the guidelines spread from Ministry of Healthin fact, exposure to sunlight (UV) in children is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer and cataracts in adulthood. There children’s skin is more delicate, thin and susceptible to sunburn because the cells that produce melanin, with a protective function against UV rays, are less reactive than those of adults.
Precisely for this reason, the experts of Freshly Cosmetics – Spanish company born with the aim of creating natural, sustainable, innovative and healthy cosmetics – have drawn up a small handbook for parents to enjoy the pleasure of the sun and summer even with the little ones, without worries.
The right protective screen is the broad spectrum one
First rule, choose the right protective screen. In fact, it is fundamental to resort to broad spectrum protective sun creams, or that they protect against UVB, UVA, IR and visible light. Often we tend to ignore it, but the UVA rays penetrate the skin to hit the deeper layers, such as the dermis and hypodermis, the UVB rays, on the other hand, only affect the epidermis and are the ones that cause burns, redness and inflammation cutaneous.
The protection factor
Another important recommendation concerns the choice of sun protection factor or SPF, a useful indicator to know how long a sunscreen defends the skin before the sun can damage it. An SPF 15 sunscreen, for example, will multiply the amount of time we can be exposed to the sun by 15 ensuring we are protected. But experts warn: this does not guarantee us a totally effective protection, because it depends a lot on the type of skin and the time in which you are exposed to the sun. In the case of children also the Ministry of Health recommends using a high SPF, as the 50 or even 50+.
Solar, better natural
So how do you choose the right cream? A good criterion can be that of resort to natural physical sunscreens. Physical filters, acting as a mirror, ensure that solar radiation is dispersed and does not intervene in the biology of the skin – the experts explain – that is, creating a sort of surface protective layer, which protects against UVA and UVB rays. Also, not penetrating the skin and containing natural ingredients, these filters are totally healthy and safe even for babies and children. The main ingredients in natural sun creams are thenatural zinc oxide and the titanium dioxide, minerals of natural origin that respect the skin but also the environment.
This type of filters therefore make a safer sunscreen since they do not irritate the skin, they hardly cause allergies and, being biodegradable, they respect the marine fauna.
Sunny yes, but pay attention to the time
Do not forget the time of exposure and the age of the children. L’intensity of radiation in fact it varies during the day: they are most intense and harmful between 11 and 16, time slot during which exposure should be avoided. Different speech for i children under six months of life which, as also recommended by the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, on the other hand, they must never be exposed to direct sunlight.
Beyond 6 months, the advice is to to apply the high protection sunscreen before going out, reapplying it often (at least every two hours) and especially after swimming in the pool or the sea, remembering also protect lips and ears of the child and to have the children wear sunglasses with lenses with UV filters.
What to do in case of excessive exposure to the sun’s rays?
Finally, pay attention to what may be the symptoms of a excessive sun exposure of children, including sunburn, sunburn, burns and skin peeling due to phototoxicity and photoallergy reactions, photokeratitis, photoconjunctivitis. In case of mild symptoms, such as rashes or minor burns, the Ministry of Health recommends use cold packs and emollient creams. If the problem persists, it is always necessary contact the pediatrician or take the child to the emergency room, based on the seriousness of his condition, for any therapies.
In the gallery above, a selection of products to pack useful to protect children from the sun or to soothe red skin.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
