Every summer many parents are really tired of the whole sunscreen routine. You have to grab an unwilling wiggly kid and slather them all over while trying to maintain a grip on their increasingly slippery body. They fuss. You get cranky. They\u2019d be hard pressed to say, \u201cGee thanks for caring about my skin, Mom!\u201d Nope. There\u2019s a reason my family calls the stuff \u201csunscream.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though it can be a pain \u2013 slathering kids with sunscreen is an important routine. Sunscreen can help prevent sunburns, skin cancer, and skin aging caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays. Young children are especially sensitive to sun exposure, and most sun damage is accrued in childhood. Parents can really make a difference for their kids\u2019 future health by sticking to the sunscreen routine.<\/p>\n
There is increasing concern, however, about the chemicals in sunscreens. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledges that few of the ingredients commonly found in sunscreen have been studied for safety. Only 2 ingredients \u2013 zinc oxide and titanium dioxide \u2013 are recognized as safe and effective. Two others are now known to be unsafe (aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and trolamine salicylate). Another one (oxybenzone) has been shown to disturb hormone levels in children and teens. The rest of the ingredients need further study.<\/p>\n
Given this, the FDA recently announced they\u2019ll support more research and update regulatory requirements for sunscreens. While we wait for this, what\u2019s a parent to do? The FDA recommends<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the recognized public health benefits of sunscreen use, Americans should continue to use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher with other sun protective measures as this important rulemaking effort moves forward.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees we should use sunscreen on our children. However, before you reach for it, here are some other ways to protect your family\u2019s skin:<\/p>\n When you use sunscreen, it should have a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15 \u2013 I recommend 30 or greater \u2013 and be:<\/p>\n Sun protection for babies <\/strong><\/p>\n Babies under 6 months are especially sensitive to sun. Their skin isn\u2019t mature yet and they have a higher skin-to-body ratio, which makes them more prone to the adverse effects from absorbing the chemicals in sunscreen. They\u2019re also more likely to get dehydrated from heat exposure. For these reasons, it\u2019s best to keep babies out of direct sun. However, if you can\u2019t avoid sun exposure, follow these tips:<\/p>\n Soon we hope to have a clearer understanding of which sunscreen ingredients are safe to use. Until then, keep using \u201csunscream\u201d when your kids head off to have fun outdoors!<\/p>\n Find more resources for parents<\/p>\n U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Environmental Working Group: My Doctor Online:\n
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\nSunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun<\/a><\/p>\n
\nEWG’s 2019 Guide to Sunscreens<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSun Protection and Sunburns<\/a><\/p>\n