Kristie McNealy, MD

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Ski Banz Giveaway runs from November 11-17th – enter below!

If the foot of snow we had on the ground before Halloween is any indication, summer is definitely over, and ski season is on its way.  But, just because beach weather has drawn to a close, doesn’t mean we can forget about sun safety when we’re outdoors.

Snow actually increases the impact of the sun by reflecting UV rays back up. That, combined with being at a higher altitude to ski or snowboard increases the intensity of the suns rays and ups your risk of being burned on exposed skin.

In order to protect yourself from UVA and UVB rays, applying a broad spectrum sunscreen to any exposed skin about 30 minutes before you head outdoors is important.  However, your skin isn’t the only thing that can be damaged by the sun’s rays.  Your kids eyes, and yours, need protection from the sun too.

People actually get 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before they turn 18, and kids’ eyes are particularly sensitive to damage from ultraviolet light.  This is because the ability of the lens of the eye to absorb UV light instead of transmitting it to the retina develops gradually between birth and the age of 25.  On top of damaging the retina, UV rays can also cause damage to the cornea and lens, as well as increasing the risk of skin cancer on the eyelids.

Protecting your kids’ eyes is important year round, which is why Baby Banz has developed sunglasses, swim goggles and ski goggles, as well UV blocking clothing to protect babies and kids in all seasons.

Baby Banz sunglasses feature UV400 lens, which block out the entire spectrum of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. They are also made of polycarbonate, making them virtually shatterproof. If your child wears glasses, you can even have Baby Banz sunglasses fitted with prescription lenses by your optician. Baby Banz sunglasses sport a stretchy neoprene strap, which makes them adjustable, comfortable to wear and keeps them afloat if they are dropped in water.

To kick off ski season, Baby Banz has generously offered a pair of Ski Banz ski goggles in a color of your choice to one of my readers in the US! These ski goggles fit kids from age 3 to 7, or a head circumference of 16-25 inches. They sport mirrored lenses to reduce glare, and soft nylon padding to produce a snug, comfortable fit.

To enter:

• All entrants must leave a comment below, telling me what Baby Banz product they’d love to have.

To earn additional entries (leave a separate comment to let me know which ones you’ve done), you can:

• Follow @BabyBanz on Twitter.
• Follow me (@KristieMcNealy) on Twitter.
• Tweet about this giveaway (include link to your tweet in comment).
• Post about this giveaway on FaceBook (include link in comment).

The contest will run from November 11th 2009 through midnight MST on November 17th.  The winner will be anounced on my blog on November 18th, and the winner will be notified by email, so please make sure you fill in the email address field on the comment form for each entry.

Disclosure: Baby Banz is providing the prize for this giveaway.  I have not received any compensation, financial or otherwise for this post.

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