With the summer season upon us, it’s more important than ever to take protective measures to protect your child’s skin. Whether you’re spending the day lounging at the pool, hitting the beach, or if your kiddos are just outside getting some fresh air, protecting their skin is a must.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that just a few serious sunburns can increase your child’s chance of developing skin cancer later in life and that sun damage can occur on unprotected skin with as little as 15 minutes of sun exposure. Additionally, it can take up to 12 hours for a sunburn to become visible.

To help you learn the most effective ways to protect your kids skin from the sun this summer in addition to protecting to and tending to your own, we have compiled a list of our best tips. Keep reading to learn how to save your children’s skin from damage without having to sacrifice their time to have fun in the sun!

Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes prior to exposure – it’s important to apply sunscreen prior to going outside to ensure that it is fully effective by the time your kids are soaking up the sun. Always use a variety that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and don’t forget to reapply every two to three hours as well as after swimming or excessive sweating.

Don’t miss any spots – part of ensuring that you are protecting your child from attaining a burn is to make sure you don’t miss any spots when applying their sunscreen. Some trickier spots to remember are the tops of your kiddo’s feet, the part of their hair where their scalp is exposed, their ears, and the back of their neck. Also be sure to protect their lips from the sun by applying a lip balm with SPF.

Be mindful of medications – many prescribed medications that children may be on could increase your little one’s sensitivity to the sun. Be sure to check the labels and warnings on all of their prescription antibiotics and medications or consult their doctor about sun exposure while on the meds. Acne medication most frequently prompts this risk, so keep that in mind for tweens and teens!

Cover up – especially when it comes to little ones, the more covered up they are the easier it will be for you to protect their skin. While it can be tough to cover them too much in the summer heat, use items like rash guards (that include SPF) and hats to ensure that they are at minimal risk. Also always bring an umbrella with you to the beach so there’s a shady spot to allow everyone to catch a sun break from time to time.

Make applying sunscreen fun – perhaps it isn’t the most enticing activity in the world for kids, but picking the right sunscreens can make it more of an appealing task for kiddos to keep up on their lotion application. For instance, pick a lotion with a fun scent or that has a favorite character on the bottle to keep your kids interested. Make applying sunscreen exciting for them! Also remember to choose a sunscreen that is fast-drying and easy to rub in to make applications quicker and easier.

This summer, making protecting the skin of your little ones from the sun a priority doesn’t need to be a drag. Follow the tips above for easy applications and lessen the chances for damaging burns. Your kids will enjoy their time in the sun without the uncomfortable and worrisome burns afterwards. We call that a win-win!