Before jumping into the top 10 skin care tips for summer in children, let’s embrace the arrival of the sunny season. It’s a time filled with outdoor activities and family vacations, but it’s crucial to be prepared and protect your children’s delicate skin. Dermatologist Dr. Meera Govindaraju is here to share valuable insights on summer skin care, ensuring your child’s skin remains shielded from the harsh sun. Let’s dive in and discover these essential tips for a safe and enjoyable summer!
Top 10 Skin Care Tips for Summer in Children
Here are the top 10 skin care tips for summer that will help you protect your little munchkins
Newborns
For newborns, it’s important to keep them out of direct sunlight. Once they reach the 6-month mark, you can start applying sunscreen to provide added protection for their delicate skin.
How to Choose Sunscreen for kids ?
Selecting sunscreen for kids is also an essential part of this top 10 skin care tips for summer
- Look for sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Avoid sunscreens containing parabens, benzophenones, oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, and those that are tinted or scented.
- Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB rays.
- Look for sunscreens which contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide with and sun protection factor(SPF) of 30.
- Avoid sunscreens that contain parabens, benzophenones,oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone and those that are tinted or scented.
- Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen which protect against UVA & UVB rays.
How to Use Sunscreen for Kids
Always apply sunscreen on your child before going outside. Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Then reapply every 2 hours or sooner incase child has been swimming. Incase of water resistant sunscreen reapply as directed in the product.
Dressing up in Summer
Dress your little one in light weight cotton clothing. Also choose dark hues of red, blue or green as these do not absorb sunlight. Ensure that your child wears a broad brimmed hat and sunglasses which protect the eyes and the sensitive area that surrounds the eyes.
Avoid Sunlight during day hours
The best way of sun protection is to avoid sunlight. Staying indoors between 10.00am to 4.00pm when the sun’s rays are strongest.
Nutrition
It is also important to eat fresh vegetables, fruits and superfoods which are high in antioxidants. Give your child plenty of fluids.
Deal with Prickly Heat
Kids tend to sweat a lot and can end up with heat rash or prickly hear which are tiny red bumps seen on neck, face, armpits and upper torso. They are caused by clogged sweatgland pores and are itchy. To avoid this use a mild fragrance free soap and give a lukewarm bath. Intake of fruits rich in vitamin C are advised to prevent further recurrence. Topical soothening agents like calamine lotion can be applied.
How to treat Sunburn?
Image source American Accreditation HealthCare Commission
If your child gets sunburn place cool compresses on the sunburn and apply aloe gel which are refrigerated few minutes before application. If the above measures fail to reduce the symptoms its important to consult a dermatologist.
Stay Hydrated:
Staying hydrated is crucial during the summer months to keep your child’s skin healthy. Encourage them to drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration and maintain proper skin hydration. Hydrated skin is less prone to dryness, sunburn, and other skin issues.
Seek Shade:
Additionally, seeking shade is essential to protect your child’s skin from excessive sun exposure. Whether it’s under a tree, an umbrella, or a sunshade, finding shade helps reduce direct contact with harmful UV rays. This can significantly lower the risk of sunburn and skin damage. So, while enjoying outdoor activities, remember to take breaks in shaded areas and prioritize the well-being of your child’s skin.
By following these top 10 skin care tips for summer, including staying hydrated and seeking shade, you can ensure that your child’s skin remains healthy and protected throughout the sunny season.
“It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine….it’s summer time!” – Kenny Chesney
So what are you waiting for – Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts
Article by
Dr.G.Meera MD DVL
Consultant Dermatologist
Chennai
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mam my son one and half year old boy baby in his face very small pores on his face is there any solution for baby please tell me mam
Dear, I would recommend you see a skin specialist once to determine the concern and get an apt help. As this requires a physical check.
Also wanted to recommend a good moisturizer for the kiddos–it’s not kid-specific but is good for the whole family! While we are strict with the sunblock, we also moisturize the kids’ skin after they come inside with Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream. It keeps their skin really soft and smooth, because we’ve noticed in the past that it can get dry after swimming or playing outside, which can’t be comfortable.