Tips for Protecting Children from Sun Exposure During Holidays
Family holidays are made for long days outdoors — swimming, exploring, playing on the beach and enjoying quality time together.
While outdoor activity is important for children, their skin is significantly more vulnerable to UV damage than adult skin, making effective sun protection especially important during holidays and travel.
At Ultrasun, we take a science-led approach to sun care, developing high-performance formulas for over 30 years designed to protect even sensitive young skin.
Choosing the right sunscreen, understanding how to apply it correctly and supporting skin with additional sun-safe habits can make all the difference during family holidays.
Why Does Children’s Skin Need Extra Sun Protection?
Children’s skin is thinner and contains less melanin than adult skin, making it more susceptible to UV damage.
Research consistently shows that excessive sun exposure during childhood can contribute to long-term skin damage later in life. Even mild sunburn can increase skin sensitivity and compromise the skin barrier.
Holiday environments can also increase UV exposure significantly:
- Water reflects UV rays
- Sand can intensify exposure
- Higher altitudes increase UV intensity
- Long outdoor days often mean prolonged exposure
This is why dermatologists and our experts at Ultrasun recommend high-factor broad-spectrum SPF for children, especially during summer holidays and travel to warmer climates.
What Is the Best Sunscreen for Sensitive Young Skin?
When choosing sunscreen for children, especially those with sensitive skin, formulation matters just as much as SPF level.
The best sunscreens for sensitive young skin are typically:
- Broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protective
- SPF50+
- Water resistant
- Dermatologically tested
- Free from unnecessary irritants
- Easy to apply consistently
Texture also plays an important role. Heavy or greasy sunscreens may discourage regular reapplication, particularly with active children.
At Ultrasun, our family sun protection products are developed to provide high-level protection while remaining lightweight, long-lasting and suitable for sensitive skin.
We’ve also carefully considered product formats and ease of application, helping parents choose top-up options that fit naturally into family routines.
Why Is SPF50+ Recommended for Children?
SPF50+ formulas provide very high protection against UVB rays associated with sunburn.
Our SPF50 and SPF50+ formulas provide up to 95% UVA absorbance protection compared to the industry minimum standard of one-third of the stated SPF level.
This helps reassure parents that their children are receiving very high UVA protection during outdoor exposure.
Why Is Water-Resistant Sun Protection Important?
Children rarely stay still on holiday. Swimming, sweating and towel drying can all reduce sunscreen effectiveness throughout the day, which is why water resistance is particularly important for family holidays.
Our Family Wet Skin Spray SPF50 has been developed specifically for active family use, featuring a transparent, fast-absorbing spray suitable for application on both wet and dry skin.
The non-greasy formula also contains antioxidants for enhanced protection and is suitable for the whole family.
For parents, ease of application matters. Holiday sunscreen routines are far more likely to remain consistent when products are quick to apply and comfortable to wear.
Why Do Sensitive Skin Formulas Matter?
Sensitive young skin can react more easily to environmental stressors, including heat, saltwater, chlorine and friction from towels or clothing.
All Ultrasun formulations are developed with skin compatibility in mind.
Our Extreme SPF50+ offers our highest long-lasting protection in a cream formula suitable for very sensitive young skin and those prone to sun allergies.
As well as being broad-spectrum and fast absorbing, its lamellar technology provides long-lasting and effective sun protection.
The lightweight, oil-free texture is also designed to minimise heavy residue on the skin while remaining durable during outdoor activity.
Family Sun Safety Tips for Holidays
Sunscreen works best when combined with additional sun-safe habits.
1. Apply Sunscreen Before Going Outdoors
Apply sunscreen generously 15–30 minutes before sun exposure to allow proper film formation on the skin.
2. Reapply Regularly
Even long-lasting sunscreens should be reapplied after swimming, excessive sweating and towel drying.
We’d also recommend avoiding applying sunscreen in direct sunlight and seeking shade while reapplying where possible.
3. Don’t Miss Commonly Forgotten Areas
Parents often miss the ears, feet, back of the neck, scalp and hairline.
A great top-up option is our UV Face & Scalp Mist SPF50, which provides invisible protection in a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula for hard-to-reach areas.
4. Use Protective Clothing
Hats, UV swimwear, sunglasses and lightweight clothing provide additional physical protection and help reduce reliance on sunscreen alone.
5. Avoid Peak Midday Sun
Where possible, seek shade between 11am and 3pm when UV radiation is typically strongest.
Protecting children from sun exposure during holidays isn’t about avoiding the outdoors — it’s about helping families enjoy time in the sun more safely and responsibly.
The best sunscreen for sensitive young skin is one that delivers reliable broad-spectrum protection while remaining gentle, wearable and easy to use consistently.
Our science-led formulations are designed to support exactly that: high-performance protection for real family life, whether you’re at the beach, by the pool or exploring outdoors together.
FAQs
What SPF should children wear on holiday?
Dermatologists typically recommend SPF50+ for children during prolonged outdoor exposure.
How often should children reapply sunscreen?
Children should reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming, sweating or towel drying.
Is water-resistant sunscreen enough on its own?
No. Water-resistant sunscreen should still be reapplied regularly and combined with hats, clothing and shade.