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Did you know that children need added protection from the sun because they are more vulnerable to UV light than adults?
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Because they spend more time outdoors, a child's average UV exposure is three times higher than that of an adult.
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40 to 50% of a 60-year-old person's lifetime UV exposure occurs before the age of 20.
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Melanin is the skin's natural protection from UV radiation, but children's skin has less of this protective pigment.
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For this reason, children need extra protection from UV rays to lower their risk of getting sun allergies and sunburn.
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It's important to protect your child's skin with sunscreen.
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Use an SPF⏤sun protective factor⏤of at least 50 plus, and apply it regularly.
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Remember to also dress your child in sun protective clothing and sun protection hats for added sun safety.
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And babies should be kept out of the sun completely.
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But what about kids' eyes?
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Their eyes don't filter UV radiation the same way that adult eyes do.
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And the sun can cause eye damage early on.
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The crystalline lens protecting children's eyes is more transparent than that of an adult.
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And, depending on their age, it can allow up to 10 times more UV rays into the eyes.
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Children should always wear sunglasses when playing outside in the sun.
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But what about days without direct sunlight?
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UV rays are also present when it's overcast.
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So, make sure that clear spectacle lenses also give your child full UV protection, as most lenses don't.
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All lenses should offer UV protection up to a wavelength of 400 nanometers (nm) because the irradiance between 380 nm and 400 nm is much more intense
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and is actually responsible for 40% of the total amount of solar UV irradiance on earth.
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It's never too late to start protecting your eyes.
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But be sure to start protecting your child's eyes as early as possible.
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When your child's eyes and skin are protected, you can have peace of mind while they have a carefree time outdoors.