Hard to believe it's almost time to go back to school! Whether you're picking up school supplies for a student in grade school, high school or college, it's important to add a few skin care products to your shopping list.

Grade School

Sure, your kids know the alphabet, but do they know their ABCs? Since about 80 percent of sun exposure occurs in the first 18 years of life, it's never too early to teach your kids the ABCs of sun protection, as outlined by the American Academy of Dermatology:

A = Stay AWAY from the sun in the middle of the day

B = BLOCK with a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher

C = COVER UP with a shirt and hat

S = SPEAK OUT to family and friends about sun protection

I've been drumming the ABCs into my two boys for years, so even though they're only 7 and 10, they always remember to wear sunscreen. I buy pocket-sized sunscreens from Walgreen's and pop them into the boys' backpacks so they have them handy for outdoor gym classes. Read more about the American Academy of Dermatology advice on sun protection for children.

High School

The number one skin care concern for teens is definitely acne. Most kids can keep it under control with inexpensive over-the-counter products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid--Neutrogena and Oxy are both excellent brands. If your acne is really severe and persistent, a dermatologist can recommend other treatments.

Sweat and dirt can clog pores and provide an ideal breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria, so if you can't take a shower after gym class, run an Oxy cleansing pad with salicylic acid over your face and back to prevent breakouts.

College

If you're going away to college for the first time this year, you might want to wait 'til you're settled in your new town to stock up on skin care supplies. Skin tends to be oilier in more humid environments and dryer in less humid environments, so you may find your skin concerns change depending on the climate. You may need a lighter or heavy moisturizer than you're used to, for example.

That said, if you take prescription medications for a specific problem, it's a good idea to get your Rx filled before heading off. Since college can be stressful, acne, rosacea, psoriasis or other conditions exacerbated by stress may flare up.

Wishing you great skin!

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To learn more visit http://www.skintypesolutions.com/ or www.twitter.com/umiamicosmetics.

Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book, " The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com. 

All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.

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