As summer approaches, you and your children begin to want to spend more and more time outside enjoying the sun and the warm weather. However, in order to ensure that you can fully enjoy these outings without worrying about doing damage to your child's health, you will need to take certain steps to protect your child from the early development of skin cancer. Get to know some of the steps that you can take this summer so that you and your child remain healthy and happy through the summer and for the rest of your lives.

If Your Child Has Moles, Have Them Checked By A Dermatologist

Not all children have moles, birthmarks, or other pigmented areas of their skin. However, if your child does, it is important that you have them assessed by a dermatologist, especially if you will be spending time out in the sun with them.

Moles should be uniform in color and have smooth edges and margins. They also should not change in color or shape and size. As such, getting an initial assessment of your child's moles will allow the dermatologist to flag any potentially problematic ones and get a baseline of what their skin looks like for later checkups. It may turn out that they need to have a mole removal procedure at some point for suspicious moles or moles that have changed in appearance.

Never Skip The Sunscreen, No Matter What The Weather

Many parents and children alike make the mistake of assuming that sunscreen is only necessary on days that are particularly hot and sunny. This is a mistake for a variety of reasons. First of all, the temperature outside does not affect whether or not your child will suffer a sunburn. It can be the dead of winter or the heat of summer, and your child can still get a sunburn from being out and about.

Additionally, even when the weather seems overcast and dreary, your child can also still get a sunburn. While clouds do block or filter some of the UV rays from the sun, they do not fully protect people from sun exposure. So, no matter the weather conditions or the season of the year, put sunscreen on your child before you head out the door for outdoor activities. You will avoid many a painful sunburn by doing so and will lower their risk of developing skin cancer early in life exponentially.

Now that you know a few of the ways that you can protect your child from early skin cancer, be sure that you continue to take all of the necessary steps to keep them healthy and protected.