Dear Parent / Carer

A recent survey by the British Skin Foundation and Garnier highlighted that in the UK exposure to the sun is a big risk that many of us are not aware of. Nearly 10% (4.4 million) of British adults have admitted to never using sun protection.^[1] What’s more, a quarter of British parents do not think it is necessary to apply sun protection to their children in the summer months before going to school.^[2]

That’s why the National Schools Partnership together with Garnier Ambre Solaire have developed ‘Schools Sun Awareness Week’. The sun safety messages are covered overleaf in detail but the key elements your child will learn are simply…Play in the shade then ‘Wrap, Splat, Hat’

We also want to help the children learn how to apply sunscreen correctly.  For this reason we ask that you allow your child to bring to school, each day, the kind of sun cream or lotion or that you use for their skin.

Please ensure your child’s sunscreen is labelled to avoid confusion when returning the bottles to their owners.

Sun Protection Information

The Garnier Ambre Solaire and the National Schools Partnership have created “Schools Sun Awareness Week” in order to educate both pupils and adults on how to take care in the sun. We have written simple steps for you and your children to follow in order to keep sun protected. It would help if you could discuss Sun Awareness and the following steps with your child whilst they learn this at school:

Sun Protection

During the summer children should avoid playing in the sun between 11am – 3pm, even on cloudy days. If they do go outside, they should be encouraged to play in the shade under a tree, or under a sun umbrella.

Whenever outside, children, and adults, should follow these 3 simple steps:

            1) Wrap! – make sure you are wrapped up in a T-shirt, shorts and sunglasses.

            2) Splat! – splat on some sunscreen to any bits of skin that are not covered including your

                  face, nose, ears, neck, arms and legs before you go outside and reapply every 1-2 hours.

            3) Hat! - wear a wide brimmed hat that keeps your face and neck shaded.

It’s as simple as playing in the shade and ‘Wrap, Splat, Hat!’

Sunscreen

We recommend that sunscreen is always worn by both adults and children when they are outside during the summer. When choosing a sun protection product, always ensure that it has the following:

Photostable filters

Some UV protection filters can actually be broken down in the sun. So the protection you’re getting may be lower than you think. Products that are photostable do not break down in the sun, meaning the protection you apply is the protection you get. Always choose a photostable sunscreen for reliable protection. Garnier Ambre Solaire has photostable filters across its range.

Sun Protection Factor: SPF30 or above for children

The number on the front of pack tells how effective a product is at protecting against sun induced skin damage, caused by UVB rays. We would recommend nothing less than SPF 30 for children in the UK and Europe and SPF 50+ in the Southern Hemisphere.  Adults should apply SPF 15 in the UK and Europe and nothing less than a Factor 30 in the Southern Hemisphere.

UVA protection

UVA rays are responsible for premature skin ageing. Unlike UVB rays, they are also present all year round. It is therefore essential that you choose a sunscreen that provides good UVA protection.

Please note skin types vary, care is needed please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.

For more information visit:

www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk

www.garnier.co.uk for sun-safe advice for kids.

While every effort has been made to ensure this information is correct, we advise you to speak to your own doctor about any concerns or questions you may have relating to sun safety.