Our Favorite Skin-Protection Tips and Essentials for a Summer Outside

My family spends the bulk of our summer outside – either splashing in the local pool, playing soccer at the park, exploring new trails or taking long bike rides. When you live in a city with a short season of glorious weather, you’ve got to milk it for every second you can! Keeping our skin safe from the sun and UV rays is important to me, especially since we have a history of skin cancer in our family. And we aren’t alone – millions are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, and it can often be prevented with the use of sunscreen. 

My kids might squirm and complain, but they get slathered with sunscreen whenever we hit the park, pool or outdoors – and I make sure I’m loaded with protection, too!

Here are some great skin protection tips from Cancer.net, as well as some of my family’s favorite products!

How to Protect your Skin from the Sun:

1. 1. Use sunscreen every day, even if it’s cloudy. We love Neutrogena for face protection – not slimy or greasy at all! Another great option is this powdered sunscreen – great for quick touch ups.
   2. Apply at least one ounce of sunscreen at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Also use a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. This is our favorite lip protection balm. 
   3. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. Make sure it is water resistant and has a SPF of 30 or higher. Other sunscreens may help keep you from getting sunburned, but they won’t protect against skin cancer.
   4. Reapply sunscreen every two hours. Reapply every hour if you are swimming or sweating.
   5. Be extra careful around water and sand. These surfaces reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of getting a sunburn. For fair skin, wearing long sleeved rash guards and sunhats can keep you from getting burned. 
   6. Keep babies younger than 6 months old completely covered and in the shade.
   7. Limit the amount of time you’re in the sun between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. This is when the sun’s rays are the most intense. Practice the shadow rule: if your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest, and you should find shade.
   8. Accessorize with a hat that shades your face, neck, and ears and a pair of sunglasses.

Enjoy those sunny days – and make sure to check out cancer.net for other skin cancer and skin protection tips!