When we get ready to play outside, like playing tennis, it’s super important to keep our skin safe from the sun. Let’s learn why sunscreen is important, how our skin works, and some tips to stay safe in the sun.
Sunscreen is like a magic shield that protects our skin from the sun’s strong rays. These rays can hurt our skin, make us look older faster, and even cause skin problems. No matter what color your skin is, everyone needs sunscreen!
Some people think that if you have darker skin, you don’t need sunscreen because of melanin. Melanin is a special color in our skin that gives it its shade and offers some protection from the sun. But even if you have a lot of melanin, it’s not enough to keep your skin completely safe.
Melanin is like a natural superhero in our skin, but it needs sunscreen to be even stronger. Sunscreen is like a sidekick that helps melanin protect us from the sun’s harmful rays.
When picking a sunscreen, here are some things to think about:
Besides using sunscreen, here are more ways to keep your skin safe:
When we get ready to play outside, like tennis, it’s important to remember to protect our skin from the sun. By using sunscreen, understanding how melanin helps us, and following these sun safety tips, we can have fun and keep our skin healthy. So, grab your sunscreen, put on a hat, and enjoy the sunshine safely!
Sunscreen Experiment: Let’s see how sunscreen works by doing a simple experiment. You’ll need two pieces of construction paper, sunscreen, and a sunny spot. Apply sunscreen to one piece of paper and leave the other one without any. Place both papers in the sun for a few hours. Observe what happens to each paper. Which one looks more faded? Discuss why sunscreen is important for protecting our skin just like it protected the paper.
Sun Safety Detective: Become a sun safety detective! Go outside and look for people who are using sun protection. Can you spot someone wearing a hat, sunglasses, or long sleeves? How about someone applying sunscreen? Make a list of all the sun safety measures you see. Talk about why each one is important and how it helps protect our skin from the sun.
Melanin and Me: Draw a picture of yourself enjoying a sunny day. Use crayons or colored pencils to show how melanin gives your skin its color. Then, draw your sunscreen as a superhero cape or shield. Share your drawing with a friend or family member and explain how melanin and sunscreen work together to keep your skin safe.
