I was sent an article about sunscreen and how important it is to use every day. Not just during the summer while you are at the pool. In fact, my doctor has been telling me for a few years now that I should not leave the house without putting on the sunscreen and I hate when I forget. I have so many moles and all of my moles are abnormal. When I went to the dermatologist last time she said, wow, they all look bad, so we’ll just take a few and see how they are and then decide if we should take more, ummm. Are you serious? I feel like I’m playing Russian Roulette with my skin. So I want to make sure you guys remember to put the sunscreen on yourselves and your children.

Going Back to school tips:

Data suggests that the majority of sun exposure in a person’s like occurs before the age of 18.  So… how can you be sure to protect your children when they are back at school and out of your sight? Kavita Mariwalla, MD, Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and Beth Israel Medical Centers, suggests following these simple rules:

Use the spray version 30 minutes before a sport activity they are part of

Wash your children’s clothing with a sunscreen additive like Rit Sunguard. (I’ve never heard of that stuff before but it sounds really cool). The easy to use powder can be washed in with clothes in the laundry and confers added SPF to t-shirts, shorts and socks – good for multiple washes.

Purchase empty lotion bottles or re-use them when they are empty (travel size) and put sunscreen in them and send them to school with your children.

Make sure your kids are wearing sunglasses and protecting their eyes.

Making wearing hats fun for your kids. Hats provided added protection to children’s scalps, necks and faces. Make sure to use sunscreen anyways, but this added protection will help.

When your child is in an all day event like a tournament, designate a parent to be the sunscreen mom, you know, like snack mom. That way all the kids will be taken care of and protected from the sun!

This information was provided to me by respected PR rep that I work with. I was not compensated, I just feel it’s important to share because I have experience with the sun and skin damage. Only time will tell for me how bad the damage is!