We all know it’s incredibly important to protect your skin from the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun especially if you are a child! Children’s skin is more sensitive to the damage the sun gives to the skin than adults. Sun damage can lead to skin cancer later in life; do we really want the next generation not to be protected? Too much exposure to sunlight is harmful and can damage the skin no matter what age you are! Some of this damage is temporary such as sunburn, but is still very painful and harmful to the skin! However allowing your skin to burn can lead to future problems such as skin cancer. DID YOU KNOW!! There are two main types of damaging ultraviolet (UV) sunlight which are: UVA and UVB. UVA rays penetrate deep in to the skin, damaging the middle layer of the skin called ‘the dermis’. The dermis contains the elastic tissues that enable our skin to stretch and therefore has the effect of ageing the skin and causing wrinkles when exposed to too many UVA rays. UVB rays are absorbed by the top layer of the skin called ‘the epidermis’, UVB rays cause the tanning of the skin but more importantly cause the burning! Who is at risk from the sun? Everyone is at risk from excessive sun exposure no matter how many times you have been out in the sun or your age, you are always at risk from the harmful sun rays if you do not look after your skin! Children especially as their skin is incredibly sensitive, which means their skin needs to be constantly monitored and cared for in order for the skin not to burn and be subjected to harmful rays. How can I protect skin from the sun? Avoid the sun as much as possible when the sun is strong. In the UK, stay in the shade or indoors as much as possible especially if you have children between the times of 11am and 3pm in the summer months (May to September). This middle of the day is when the sun’s rays are the strongest! This applies all year round in hotter countries nearer to the equator. Keep your family safe in the sun with YogaBugs UV wrist bands, suitable for adults and children; they turn from white to purple when subjected to too many UV sun rays. Purchase a pack of 3 for just £2.79 on our shop: http://www.yogabugs.com/shop_item.php?id=3