Working on a Summer Tan?

Are your kids working on a summer tan?

Many kids I have been seeing appear to be, even if they don't intend to, with their parents thinking their kid's tans are inevitable since they are using sunscreen.

If you are kids are getting sunburned or tanned and you are using sunscreen, then it likely isn't the sunscreen's fault though. You may be making one of four or five common sunscreen mistakes, either:

• not putting sunscreen on early enough, at least 15 to 20 minutes before your kids go outside.
• not putting on enough sunscreen.
• not reapplying sunscreen often enough, at least every 2 hours, or more often if your child is swimming or sweating heavily.
• not using other sun protection measures besides sunscreen, like a hat, utilizing the shade, or avoid the sun when it is hottest, from about 10 am to 4 pm.
• not using sunscreen with at least 15 to 30 SPF.

Remember, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. And a 'base tan' is not a substitute for sunscreen either.

Learn to use sunscreen properly and avoid that summer tan that many kids get.

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