A short article about sun safety for the young man or woman in your life.

Summer’s here! Whether you’re riding your bike, running errands with your mom, or just heading to the pool for the afternoon, this is the time of year when the sun is its hottest. Every time you step outside, its ultraviolet rays come in contact with your skin. Called UV rays for short, ultraviolet rays are a type of radiation. They will burn your skin on both sunny and cloudy days. And if you get burned too many times, it can lead to allergic reactions, wrinkled skin, and skin cancer when you get older. Sun damage to your skin takes time and it probably seems like it can’t happen to you. It can!

So when you’re heading outside, remember these basic facts:
1. All kids sunburn, but the ones with light colored skin sunburn more quickly.
2. Apply sunscreen to exposed skin. Don’t forget the back of your neck, the tops of your feet, your face, the backs of your legs, and your ears.
3. If you’re swimming or boating, you’ll get sunburned faster because the sun’s rays reflect off the sand and water.
4. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon.
5. Always use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of 45 or higher. It’s a good idea to reapply the sunscreen every 2-3 hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating a lot.

So there you have it. Taking care of your skin in the sun is easy. Just remember to use sunscreen! And have a great summer!