With the warmer weather coming, nothing better than to take the kids to play away from home. The games and outdoor sports are part of childhood and adolescence and are very important for their development. Yet, some sun protection measures should be taken throughout the year, even on cloudy days or at lower temperatures. Check the care you must have before you walk with your children:

Before sun exposure

The best way to enjoy the time outdoors is respecting appropriate times of exposure: before 10am and after 16h, when there is less incidence of UVB rays. Between these times, the ideal is to convince your child to play in the shade.

Babies under six months should not use sunscreen, because the skin is still very sensitive and can develop allergies. That is why, it is recommended to avoid direct sun exposure and use mechanical guards, as cotton clothing, hat, cap, parasol or umbrella.

From the age of two, children can use a particular sunscreen with minimum SPF in 30. It should be applied uniformly throughout the body, half an hour before sun exposure, and reapplied every two hours or less, if the child sweat a lot or enter the water.

In addition to sunscreen, the clothes, caps and sunglasses with UV protection are also very important for the well-being of children. light-colored clothes help in the reflection of light, while dark clothes increase protection up to five times. The greater the weight and thickness of the fabric and lower the spaces between its wires, greater protection, as noticed in the polyester, in nylon and silk.

For a complete protection, parents can not give such care, it is they who will ensure protection against ultraviolet rays and prevent skin burns.

Hydration is key

Offer and encourage the child to take water, coconut water, natural juices and teas, to keep your body hydrated and avoid heat stroke.

Apply daily in the child's body a moisturizer appropriate for your age and skin type. In the bath, use cold or warm water and avoid excessive use of soap to prevent drying.

Skip moisturizer after sunset is not a rule, but it helps the skin from small to recover more quickly. The ideal moisturisers are water-based or aloe vera, since they have soothing properties.

These precautions prevent premature aging of the skin, among other problems that can cause long-term damage. Take good care of the skin of your children!

Source: Grow magazine and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics.