HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BABY’S SKIN DURING THE SUMMER?

Why should you protect your baby's skin during the summer?

Although the sun's rays have benefits, particularly for synthesizing vitamin D, it is nevertheless necessary to protect yourself from too much and/or too long exposure. Thus, skin damaged by the sun will react with a sunburn, or even a sun allergy. And the effects can be long-term, with premature aging of your epidermis, among other things. And of course, baby's skin is particularly vulnerable because it is thinner. Your little one's eyes are also more fragile.

The skin's enemies are invisible and are called UVA and UVB.

• UVA rays penetrate deep into the inner layer of the skin, the dermis. Able to pass through glass, only a very small percentage of them (around 5%) are stopped by the ozone layer. Concretely, they have a very negative impact on the skin and promote skin aging.
   
• UVB only reaches the outer layer of the skin , the epidermis. If they cause skin cancer, they are stopped by glass and 95% of this radiation is blocked by the ozone layer.

Therefore, it is important that as long as the baby is less than a year old, you do not expose him to the sun. And as your child gets older, continue to avoid exposing them between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is strongest during the summer months.

How to protect your baby's skin during the summer?

When you go out with your baby in summer, adopt these actions to take care of their skin:

• Seek shade whenever you can;
• Opt for light, but covering clothing;
• Never forget to protect your baby's head with a wide-brimmed hat;
• Choose sunglasses that filter UV rays;
• Whatever happens, apply sunscreen to your little one's skin to ensure they are well protected;
• Remember that on the sand, in the water or even in the mountains, the reverberation is important.

What level of sun protection for baby's skin?

There are several levels of protection associated with sunscreens. We talk about Sun Protection Factors or SPF:

• Low protection : SPF 10
• Medium protection : SPF 15, 20 or 25
• High protection : SPF 30 or 50
• Very high protection : SPF 50+

Rely on the UV index to protect baby's skin during the summer

The higher the UV index, the more intense the UV rays and the more protection you need:

• UV 9: + extreme
• UV 7 – 8: very strong
• UV 5 – 6: high
• UV 3 – 4: moderate
• UV 1 – 2: low

This index varies depending on the height of the sun in the sky. For example, there are three times more UV at 2 p.m. than at 10 a.m. and there are ten times more UV in June than in December. In summer, the UV level is maximum in the 2 to 3 hours before and after solar noon. In addition, when the UV index is greater than 4, it is best to keep baby indoors (or in the shade) so as not to expose him to the sun. 

The Beach Company provides effective support for your child's sun protection!