Keeping your kids' skin safe during the summer

Summer is almost here, but children are already heading outdoors to play.

Protecting their skin from the ravages of sun damage is one of the most important steps parents can take. Even just one or two bad sunburns can increase a child's risk of skin cancer in adulthood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which adds that the sun can damage unprotected skin in as little as 15 minutes. A child whose skin is turning red should be moved out of the sun immediately.

And contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Tan skin is really damaged skin. Even if it's a cloudy day kids can still get sun damage if not protected from ultraviolet (UV) rays because clouds don't block UV rays.

The CDC offers the following tips to keep kids' skin safe:

Reapply sunscreen, even waterproof sunscreen, during the day, especially after your child swims or exercises, adds the CDC. Follow directions for use on babies younger than 6 months old.

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