What time of day do you NOT use sunscreen?

I like to take the girls outside when I get home from work...around 5 pm. Do they still need sunscreen then? I put bucket hats on them to shield their faces...but do I need to lotion them up?

Right now we are going outside to get in the pool...it's 4 pm. THe sun is at the front of the house, we are going out back...plus, it's gotten cloudy.

Do I need to keep it on them from sun-up to sun-down as long as we are outside? I've been putting it on them just in case to be safe.

 

That's a good question because I usually don't bother after 4pm. I'll be interested to hear what the others have to say.

 

If we're going to be out for a long period of time swimming or in the sprinkler I will. But, if we're in a shaded area like the park, I don't usually worry about it. I think it's 3:00 when the sunlight starts to not be so direct...or maybe that's the hottest part of the afternoon...either way, they should be fine.

 

Well depends who you ask. My DH is a dermatologist and basically likes to see me putting sunscreen on the kids ALL the time in the summer. He even recommends it in the winter (ever see the sunburn people get when skiing). Cloudy summer days can also easily lead to sunburns. The sun's rays easily penetrate clouds. DH sees alot of skin cancer cases...even in young adults so its scary. Sunburns at an early age increase the risk of skin cancer down the road. Not to mention premature aging (wrinkles :angry: ) which start catching up to you in your late 20's+.

The sun's radiation is strongest between 10am-3pm. After 5pm, I wouldn't be as concerned (throw the hat on). My DH might feel otherwise. Sunscreen can never hurt...its just not always easy to spray or lather 2 "eager" children up quickly.

 

I put sunscreen on the girls every morning they have had a bath the night before, before I put on any clothes even a diaper. I put it on again if we will be going out in the sun during day light and then reapply every 3-4 hours if we stay out, every 2-3 if we are playing in water.

But we live in AZ

 

I use suncreen all the time. Even if it was 5 p.m. and we were just going out, but that is me!! Some in my family think I am nuts, but if I can prevent skin damage I will do my darndest trying!

 

The sun's rays are strongest between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M.

But, anytime before it began getting 'darker' out I would use it just to be safe.

 

I generally don't use it after 4 pm. I have to walk up and get my oldest DD from school at 3:15 and I don't put it on them then, they are in the stroller and I have the visors over them, so hopefully they are protected enough. If we are going out before 3 for an extended period of time then yes I would put it on them. But I have never done it at 5 or after.

 

When I take my girls outside at 4-5pm I haven't put sunscreen on unless they are in direct sunlight.

 

You're supposed to use it all the time. That said, I usually don't bother if it's after 4pm or so, especially if we're only going out for 15-20 minutes (we often hit the playground on the way to the supermarket, if we have time to kill).

But Sarah got her arms burned yesterday (in late morning), even though the daycare teacher had just reapplied the sunscreen right before they went out! She has her daddy's super-sensitive fair skin. I'm fair too, but not quite the type that burns if the sun so much as looks at me.

 

I use it no matter the time of day, if we're going to be in the sun. If we are going to be in the shade (ie. our backyard only) then I don't put it on.

 

we use it no matter what time of day if we are outside. since we go outside daily, it pretty much means we use it daily We use it year round as well, not just in the summer.

 

This month's Parent Magazine ran a lenghty article on sun protection if you want additional information.

June Issue of Parents Magazine

 

I have red hair, and so do both my sons. Not until after 7 p.m. (unless we're swimming, in which case even then) do I skip the sunscreen. We wear it year-round, cloudy or sunny. I wear a big, floppy Solumbra sunhat and sunglasses EVERYWHERE, and my girls wear sunbonnets (think "Little House on the Prairie") and sunglasses. The boys used to wear Legionnaire's caps, but now they wear baseball caps.

 

I only put sunscreen on them if we're going to be in direct sun between 10-3 for a long exposure. None of them has ever had even a slight sunburn, and they are all fair-skinned.