How to Protect Your Child's Skin in Outdoor Sports

Protection from the sun is especially important for children, since outdoor sports mean extended periods of direct sun exposure, often during peak hours.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baseball Caps/hats
• Sunscreen
• Soccer Bot Kits
• Tennis Lessons
• Baseball Bats
• Baseball Fielding Gloves
• Soccer Cleats
• Sports Drinks
• Sports Equipment
• Sports Equipment - Children's
• Tennis Racquets
• Sports Videos
• Sports drinks
• soccer balls

1. Take all the sun overexposure precautions seriously. Severe sunburn in early childhood has been linked to skin cancer in later life.

2. Protect everyone. All children need protection, including those who are already tanned or dark-skinned.

3. Use protection even on cloudy days. Although it's especially important on sunny days, don't neglect sunscreen just because the sky is overcast. Up to 80 percent of the sun's damaging rays still get through the clouds.

4. Use a sunscreen with a skin protection factor (SPF) of 15. This is usually enough.

5. Apply sunscreen liberally at least 15 minutes before sun exposure.

6. Reapply every 1 to 2 hours or after heavy perspiration.

7. Check out special sweat-resistant products marketed to active people.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure children apply sunscreen properly. Young athletes who apply their own often do so sparingly and don't cover all areas.
• Make sure they get the tops of their ears, neck and exposed scalp - places often forgotten and easily burned.
• Remember the arms, backs of the hands, and feet if they will be exposed. Remember that soccer players wear open-toed soccer sandals between games.
• Use a sunscreen stick for skin near the eyes if children complain of stinging from cream.

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on 3/23/2006 When outdoors for long periods of time, using UV blocking clothing can prevent burn, and makes it much easier than applying sun block every few hours.