For families — and everybody else for that matter — protecting skin should be a top summer priority. After all, there is no shortage of summer skin woes you’ll want to avoid.
From protecting skin from sun to repelling disease-carrying insects, here are some top insights that will help you and your family enjoy a safer, more comfortable summer.
Sunscreen: Get it right
When it comes to sunscreen, it’s important to understand and follow sun safety guidelines.
Fewer than half of moms (48 percent) knew the correct amount of sunscreen to apply to the face and body while at the pool, lake or beach, according to a
NO-AD Sun Care-commissioned survey about sunscreen.
The correct amount of sunscreen to be applied — or re-applied — is at least 2 tablespoons.
More alarming, the majority of those surveyed (54 percent) believe the proper time to apply sunscreen is as soon as they start to feel their skin burn.
Experts say that parents should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to themselves and children 15-20 minutes before going out in the sun in order to give it time to bond to skin, then re-apply at least every two hours, or after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating and immediately after towel drying.
Unfortunately, 17 percent of moms were unaware that after an initial slathering of sunscreen, they needed to reapply it following extended exposure.
Beyond application, the type of sunscreen you use matters, too. Luckily, there are quality products at great value, which means you don’t need to skimp on the amount you apply or reapplication.
Other safe sun habits include limiting time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m, and wearing long-sleeve shirts, pants, hats and sunglasses.
Bite-free summer
Summer days are full of outdoor fun in backyards, parks, baseball diamonds and more. And any time you and your kids are outdoors, you are at risk for insect bites. Unfortunately, a bite can carry risks beyond discomfort. Mosquitoes can carry Zika, West Nile, Dengue Fever and Chikungunya viruses.
Consider streamlining skin protection with a two-in-one combination such as BullFrog Mosquito Coast SPF 50 Continuous Spray Sunscreen + Insect Repellent — which is DEET-free, Oxybenzone- and Octinoxate-free — and a good choice when you want to pack light or send kids to camp or sports with a simple sunscreen and insect repellant solution.
You also can dodge mosquito bites by wearing loose long sleeves and pants, particularly on hikes, and by keeping your yard free of any standing water.
By knowing the facts, you can better ward off bites, burns and other summer skin pitfalls.
