Parents told to reapply sunscreen to children more regularly

Specialists have warned parents that they may be relying too much on applying sunscreen to their children just once a day.

Experts have revealed that young people can still be at risk of sun damage even if they used sun cream.

While the weather is set to be slightly cooler this week, UV levels will continue to remain high.

There are lots of precautions you can take to keep safe in the sun. (Image: PA Wire)

How can I protect my children from sun damage?

Experts have said that “once-a-day sunscreens overpromise” and often do not last as long as they claim to, according to the BBC.

They added: “And even if sunscreen is described as ‘water repellent’ or ‘water resistant’, it should still be reapplied after swimming.

“Towel drying and sweat may have rubbed it off. Look for two things when buying your sunscreen: the sun protection factor or SPF, ranging from 2 to 50+, and the star rating on the bottle.”

The experts recommend parents to apply sunscreen around 30 minutes before children go outdoors and should be reapplying it every two hours.

Areas including the tops of the feet, ears, neck, and shoulders are often missed and can burn easily.

Babies that are less than six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight completely, as it is not advised to use sun cream on their skin.

Other ways of keeping children cool in the summer

The specialists also mentioned closing curtains and using electric fans to keep children’s bedrooms cool.

They continued: “A cool bath before bedtime might bring their temperature down, and help yours too. In bed, keep layers to a minimum and leave the door and window slightly open to encourage a breeze.

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“From 12 months old, try frozen lollies made from plain water or very diluted fruit juice.

“For older kids, ramp up fruit intake – particularly juicy fruit, such as watermelon and oranges. Eating salad, ice cream, jelly and soup are all good sources of water too.”

How do you stay safe in the hot weather? Let us know in the comments below.