Good family time, how to enjoy the sun without danger
The clouds went away, the sky cleared up and the days are getting longer. Good weather is approaching more and more and what appeals to all families is to take advantage of it. Go for a walk, organize a trip to the countryside, a trip to the beach. Fantastic plans with which to share great moments with all the members of the household. But before setting foot outside the house you have to take precautions.
If during the winter it was the cold that endangered health, now is the Sun which can endanger the integrity of people. We must take into account a series of tips when it comes to leaving in good weather so that the little ones have no danger to stick to and can enjoy this experience as a family.
Skin hazard
The pediatricians warn that the main problem faced by the youngest of the house is that which can be produced on their skin. The specialists explain that in recent years an alarming increase in the number of cancer cases in this area of the body has been detected.
These tumors occur because the solar radiation, in addition to causing burns, premature cutaneous aging in the skin, they also produce carcinogenic effects on the dermis. Many studies have proven that ultraviolet rays are the main responsible for this situation. Especially infants and children under 3 years are the most sensitive to the harmful effects of these radiations.
How to protect yourself from the sun
Parents must ensure the safety of their children when they are exposed to the sun. These are some of the measures that can be applied for this purpose:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially in the middle of the day.
- Look for shadows in open spaces or provide umbrellas.
- Use creams or lotions with sunscreen that are water resistant (if not, apply repeatedly), with a protection factor of 15 or higher.
- Use hats or better hats with brim.
- Use clothes that cover a good part of the body, such as shirts with sleeves and shorts such as shorts, when staying in sunny areas.
- Wear dark sunglasses, with UV filter. This protects the delicate skin that surrounds the eyes and also prevents the early development of cataracts.
Myths of the sun
Like everything in this life, sunburn has created its own mythology about it. These are some false and true statements about this topic:
- You can not burn on a covered day. False: Although the clouds attenuate UV radiation, the diffuse radiation is intense enough to burn you, unless the clouds are low and thick.
- Too much sun is dangerous, regardless of age. True: human skin and the immune system are sensitive to UV radiation throughout the life cycle.
- Sunscreens protect me, so I can sunbathe much longer. False: solar creams protect, but their effectiveness decreases after application. It should not be in the sun longer than indicated by the "Sun Protection Factor".
- You should avoid the sun in summer between 12 and 17 hours. True: due to the higher solar elevation, UV solar radiation is very high in the central hours of the day.
- If I do not feel warm when I'm in the sun, I will not get burned. False: ultraviolet radiation is not felt because it is absorbed by the outer layers of the skin.
- Ultraviolet radiation affects not only the skin, but also the eyes. True: Skin burns are possibly the best known effect, but UV radiation can lead to the development of cataracts and transient blindness in snowy places.
Damián Montero
