PHOTOPROTECT YOUR CHILDREN

PHOTOPROTECT YOUR CHILDREN

The SUN is like the RAIN, we need to protect ourselves to keep our bodies healthy 2

The sun gives out different kinds of radiation. UV VISIBLE IR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT VISIBLE LIGHT INFRARED LIGHT, HEAT UV The sun is the star at the centre of the solar system, and all life on Earth depends on it. The sun emits different types of radiation, and this solar radiation comes to the Earth. All solar radiation is beneficial, but some types can also damage our bodies. Here you can see the solar spectrum with different types of radiation. - Ultraviolet (UV) is the highest-energy radiation, and although it is necessary for our well-being, it also causes the most internal skin damage after excessive uncontrolled exposure. This is the radiation we must protect our skin from. Sunscreens protect us from it so we can be in the sun safely. - Visible radiation (VIS) or light is lower in energy. It contains the colour spectrum and enables us to see. - Infrared radiation (IR) is much lower in energy, but gives us the sensation of heat. On cloudy days, the clouds act as filters and much less of this radiation reaches the Earth, so we feel less heat. 3

Being in the sun without good protection can damage your skin. SKIN UV What happens to your skin if you are in the sun for hours without a sunscreen? Many of you already know - your skin gets damaged by sunburn. Ultraviolet radiation is what causes sunburn. This is a high-energy radiation which can penetrate the skin. When the process is most intense, the skin cells eventually burn. Any time you are outdoors, at the beach, in the countryside, or just walking around, you must protect yourselves from the sun so your skin won t get burned. But does all skin react the same way to the sun? No - let s look at the different skin types. 4

Not all skin reacts the same way to the sun. Some people have very sensitive skin, and others can handle more sun. SKIN TYPES Very pale or albino skin, freckles, light eye colour. Very fair or red hair. Light skin and blue eyes. Freckles. Fair hair. Light skin and brown eyes. A few freckles. Caucasian. Olive skin, dark eyes, no freckles. Dark skin, Latin American or Indian races, dark eyes. Very dark skin, African races. Very dark eyes. VERY HIGH protection HIGH protection MEDIUM-HIGH protection MEDIUM protection LOW-MEDIUM protection LOW protection SPF 50 SPF 40-50 SPF 40-50 SPF 30-40 SPF 30 SPF 30 VERY SENSITIVE SKIN SUN-RESISTANT SKIN Skin types or PHOTOTYPES are classifications of the skin s sensitivity or resistance to the sun. Low phototypes are people with very light skin, light eyes, and light hair. Their skin has very low resistance to the sun, and they get sunburn very easily. They must use high-protection sunscreens to make sure their skin is well-protected. Medium phototypes have light or olive skin and brown or dark eyes. They are more sun-resistant and should use medium to high protection sunscreens. High phototypes are people with dark or very dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes. They are the most sun-resistant but they should also use medium protection sunscreens. As you can see, whatever your skin type, you should always use a sunscreen. The difference is in the protection factor of the sunscreen you choose. Sunscreens have a number indicating the protection factor: SPF. A sunscreen with SPF50+ indicates a very high level of protection. SPF 40-50 is medium protection, and SPF 30 is low protection. You can see that low phototypes need a high SPF, while a high phototype can use lower protection. 5

Sunscreens contain SOLAR FILTERS that stop the sun damaging your skin. SOLAR FILTERS What are sunscreens? Products which protect you from the sun when we apply them to your skin. They contain solar filters, substances which stop ultraviolet radiation from penetrating the skin and preventing sunburn. This way you can be exposed to the sun without damaging your skin. 6

What time of year is the sun strongest? Is the sun just as strong all year long? No. The sun is strongest in summer, and it s easier to get a sunburn then. That s why you have to be extra careful at that time of year. What about spring? In spring you can see the sunshine get a little stronger every day. You should be careful and stay out of the sun when it gets too strong. In autumn and winter, the sun is much gentler. Even so, if you re in the mountains or snow, you should use a sunscreen. Why do you need to use sunscreen in winter if you re in the mountains? 7

Sand reflects 45% of sunlight Snow reflects 95% of sunlight As you know, sunshine reaches us directly, but depending on where you are, the sunlight that reaches your skin can be increased, making sunburn more likely. This is because some surfaces reflect sunlight. For example: the sand on a beach reflects 45% of solar radiation. If you re under a beach umbrella, even though you re in the shade the sand is reflecting sunlight onto you. In the mountains, snow reflects 95% of solar radiation. So when you re in the snow, using a sunscreen is very important, even though it s winter. You should also know that the higher you get in the mountains, the radiation gets more intense because you re closer to the sun. What happens in the water at the beach or in a swimming pool? 8

Water reflects 10%, and 50 cm underwater, the intensity of the solar radiation is at 40% Out of the water, it reflects 10% of the radiation, but you should know that when you re swimming, UV radiation is at 40% strength at 50 cm underwater. So even if you spend all day in the water, you still need to apply a sunscreen. 9

Even if it s a cloudy day, apply a sunscreen. With clouds or breezes, you feel cooler, but the radiation can still damage your skin. 90% UV RADIATION What about cloudy days? Clouds block IR radiation, which you ll remember is what makes us feel warm. But 90% of the UV radiation stills gets through. So in summer, even if it s cloudy, you still need to protect yourself from the sun. 10

The time of day when the sun is strongest 12h From 12 noon to 4 pm, you should avoid the sun and stay in the shade 16h And most of all, you need to be especially careful at the time of day when the sun is at its strongest. This is the middle of the day, from 12 noon to 4 pm. During these hours you should stay out of the sun and in the shade as much as possible. 11

If you don t know what time it is, look at your shadow. When your shadow is smallest, the sun is at its strongest THE SUN IS VERY STRONG, time to play in the shade THE SUN ISN T STRONG, you can play in the sunshine This is a tip which is very useful for small children. We can show them that when the sun is high up in the sky, our shadows are very small, almost invisible. That s when the sun is strongest. So when we don t have a shadow, we ll play in the shade. But when our shadows are long, longer than we are tall, then we can play in the sunshine because it s less intense and less damaging to our skin. 12

Sunscreens let you play and stay in the sun without damaging your skin So, to finish, sunscreens keep your skin safe while you re in the sun. 13

How to use sunscreen Before going out to the playground, put sunscreen on your: face, ears, and neck arms legs Use a total of about 4 pumps Reapply it after 2 hours 1. Apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before going into the sun. If you re in school, apply the sunscreen before going out to the playground, and if you have lunch at school, apply it again after your classes before going out to the playground again. 2. Use a total of 4 pumps of the product: 1. One pump for your face, ears, and the front and back of your neck (make you don t get the product in your eyes or mouth) 2. One pump for your arms 3. One pump for each leg 3. Reapply the sunscreen every 2 hours if you re still in the sun. 14

In addition don t forget the below essentials: Protect your head with a hat or cap, and your eyes with sunglasses Protect your skin with clothes: T-shirts, trousers Don t forget to drink lots of water, even if you aren t thirsty And even though you apply sunscreen, you should wear a hat or cap, T-shirt and sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes. Also, being in the sun makes your body lose more water. So when you re playing in the sun, drink lots of water, even if you aren t thirsty. 15

And remember: When the sun is very strong, play in the shade And most of all, remember, when the sun is very strong, play in the shade. 16

PHOTOPROTECT YOUR CHILDREN