Sunscreen Season: When Do You Start?

Before I get into my post today, I do need to tell you there's a sale going on for The Beat on Ruby's Street, book 1 of the Beat Street series. The sale is between today and May 31 and reduces the e-book to 99 cents. You can find the link here to take advantage of the sale.

Now on to sunscreen, which I'm thinking of as summer gets closer and we all spend more time outside.

I started trying to get my son to wear sunscreen and hats very early on -- with limited success. Hats were a little easier than sunscreen, but he didn't like wearing creams of any kind on his face and it was mostly always a battle.

On the other hand, I've been wearing both for a million zillion years, ever since a dermatologist told me I could get some very nasty surprises if I just went out "unblocked." Most recently, I had two precancerous scares that bore out her prediction.

But getting kids to wear sunscreen isn't fun -- or easy. I do wish I'd known more about the toxic chemicals that too many manufacturers use in sunscreen (and everything else) when my son was young. These days, I pore over the ingredients of whatever I buy--winding up spending an hour in what should be a half hour trip to the store.

In terms of getting your kids to wear sunscreen, it may be a fool's errand, but you have to try. I got more than my share of sunburns as a child, and of course regret it now; but at the time, putting on sunscreen was right up there with eating broccoli and Brussels sprouts--something to be avoided whenever possible.

You could try scare tactics (I never did) or bribery (can't go to the beach unless you sunscreen up) or turning spray screen into a game or all of the above... but mostly it's going to be a tough nut to crack.  I still think it's super important, though, as most of the scary skin damage we get begins in childhood.

Experts say to start right away (I did, and always encountered resistance) -- and how do you appeal to a teenager's vanity when all she wants is a tan?

I know I haven't been much help here, but I think the main point of all this is not to give up when it comes to getting your kids to wear sunscreen. If you find something that works... be sure to let me know?

Just to share what I use on myself and what I recommend - it's pretty much zinc oxide for face and neck and spray sunscreens that don't have toxic ingredients. Walking into any health food store and asking for what you want should help you find what you're looking for.

And in case it's helpful, here's some expert advice... from the experts, of course.

10 Strategies to Apply (and Keep) Sunscreen on Your Kids

How to Get Kids to Wear Sunscreen

Five Ways to Get Your Kids to Wear Sunscreen


Jumping boy:  wsilver


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