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Health & Fitness

"Sun Kissed"- A Mom's Guide to Staying Sun—Safe Naturally

Are freckles on children a harmless side effect of 'fun in the sun', or something more menacing? Find out, along with some DELICIOUS ways to protect yourself from sun damage! Yes, delicious!

My family and I love Aliso Viejo, California for many reasons. One of the biggest is the climate. As I’ve heard many say but fewer do— we could drive to the beach and the mountains all in one day (though once one is at the beach, who would want to leave.) My husband has brown hair and a medium complexion, while (growing up) I was blonde and fair. I’m still fair, though bottles of dye (and a very convincing hair stylist) now determine my hair color. Our children have inherited my complexion, the blondest being our daughter who is eight. My mother was never a big sunscreen user and has the freckles to prove it. She always told me that our family tended to “freckle” thus I never thought much of a brown speckle or two across my nose or on my arms...until recently.

My change in philosophy occurred when my daughter became bitten with the freckle-bug. I say “recently” but it probably started two years ago — when she switched schools and began waiting in the car line, for after-school pickup.  Every morning, during our harried routine of breakfast, brushing of teeth and getting in the car — I would “attempt” to apply a healthy dose of sunscreen, only to engage in a game of cat and mouse (think of an old “Tom & Jerry” episode.) I would apply, or try to apply the sunscreen, while she ran away or covered her nose and shrieked. Eventually, we compromised and she began applying a very thin and not too well applied dab of sunscreen herself.

In addition to her fair skin, she has also inherited my sensitive skin. The brightly colored, “kid-friendly” sunscreens, or the spray-on type, were not an option for my daughter as they cause her to break out in a rash. I don’t know if the SPF of 30 was inadequate, or if she simply sweated off her barely there application during recess, but by the end of the school year she had freckles... and there was no denying it. At first I played the “everyone else has them” game. Didn’t the principal’s own daughter have more than mine? Didn’t I do my best? How dangerous are freckles, really?

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This year I noticed that in addition, she had a whitish discoloration around the freckles. Panicked, I immediately took her to the doctor who assured me that although she was fine she did have the early stages of sun damage. The doctor told us to be ruthless in applying a much higher SPF of 50, which we now do. The doctor also, point blank, told my daughter that she would need to be consistent with this approach for the rest of her life. Suddenly “freckles” didn’t seem as simple or carefree. 

As a certified Health Coach, I pride myself on having a holistic approach to my families care and well-being. For example, when I’m the snack parent for soccer, I bring all natural, gluten free, low sugar snacks in a reusable bag! With this training and personal philosophy in mind, I began scouring the Internet for tips that might insure my family was protected in additional (all-natural) ways.

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1.Green Tea: One of the best things I discovered was that Green Tea is powerful at protecting the skin from sun damage. This is not only true if you drink several cups a day- but also when green tea is brewed, placed in a squirt bottle, and sprayed onto the skin. The polyphenols in green tea help to reduce the damage of U.V. rays. I love the idea of a fresh spritzer of green tea. Another alternative is to drink tea- If you don’t desire hot tea in summer, try a refreshing glass of iced green tea sweetened with honey or stevia.

 2. Sushi: Many people have become savvy to the benefits of taking a daily dose of omega 3 oils, as omega oils help the heart, digestion, joints, and just about everything! One of the best natural ways to get these heart healthy fatty acids, is through (you guessed it) fish! Meaning, don’t pinch on the salmon the next time someone suggests a sushi dinner al fresco!

3. Lycopene?: People are usually less familiar with my next skin protecting tip— which is to consume foods rich in Lycopene. Lycopene, though it often doesn’t get as much glory, is excellent at fighting damaging radiation from the sun. The most delicious way to consume this skin protecting internal sunscreen, is through foods like watermelon or tomatoes—especially if the tomatoes are cooked. For those who have a spicier palette, red bell peppers are another great source. If you add olive oil to your diet, this will help your body better assimilate the lycopene!

So, as summer approaches and trips to the pool or local beaches increase—consider having a picnic of iced green tea, watermelon and sushi. Now, isn’t that the most delectable kind of sun protection you’ve imagined in a while?

 

*Jennifer Donnell is a mother, poet, and certified Health Coach from Southern California.

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