Archbold Medical Center| Archives Magazine | Spring 2019

14 ARCHBOLD MEDICAL CENTER DOES YOUR IDEA of family fun include spending time together outdoors? If so, then it’s important to protect the whole gang from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. There’s nothing cool about painful sunburns, early wrinkles or a raised risk of skin cancer. And yet that’s just what too much UV exposure can bring. One way to help keep your family safe: Make sure everyone gets their sunscreen on. Here’s what you need to know to get started: PROTECT THE ENTIRE FAMILY Aguide to sunscreen Slather up the kids too. Follow the label instructions when applying sunscreen to children’s exposed skin. If you have a baby younger than 6 months, it’s best to keep him or her in the shade to protect that sensitive skin. You’ll also want to help your family avoid getting too much sun. For instance, encourage everyone to seek a shady spot whenever possible. And before you head outside, hand out some wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses. Reapply at least every two hours. But put some more on immediately after you swim or sweat excessively. Use enough of the stuff. Many people make the mistake of using too little sunscreen. Experts recommend using at least 1 ounce—about the amount you can hold in the palm of your hand—to cover exposed skin. This includes the face, ears, arms, hands, nose, neck and feet. Use a lip balm with sunscreen in it to protect your lips. Apply sunscreen before you go outside. It takes about 15 minutes for its protection to kick in. Check the label. When shopping for sunscreen, make sure you choose one that: •  Offers broad-spectrum protec- tion from UVA and UVB rays •  Has a sun protection fac- tor (SPF) of at least 30. This dermatologist-recommended level of protection blocks 87 percent of the sun’s rays. •  Is water-resistant Experts recommend using at least 1 ounce of high-SPF sunscreen.