Experts recommend that babies under six months old NEVER be exposed to direct sunlight. There are a number of reasons for this. First, its common sense that baby’s skin is more sensitive than an older child’s or adult’s skin, and therefore more susceptible to sun damage. In fact, a baby’s skin is thinner and will burn and sustain long-term UV damage in a much shorter time than children or adults, and once the damage is done it can never be undone. Baby sun protection is important due to the fact that babies have more skin per square inch of body mass than children and adults, so a sunburn would be much more serious (and painful) for a baby. Unfortunately, baby’s sensitive skin may not be very tolerant of sunscreen either. In fact, opinion is still divided as to whether it is safe for babies younger than six months to wear sunscreen. Since a baby’s thin skin may absorb more of the sunscreen than a child or adult’s skin would, and since it was not known what the long-term effects of sunscreen would be, experts once recommended that parents not use sunscreen on babies under six months. More recently, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics have stated that no adverse effects have been noted from the use of sunscreen on young babies/infants. However, sunburns do pose a significant danger to babies, and so it may be appropriate to use sunscreen on babies younger than six months. However, it is better, if possible, to simply eliminate sun exposure altogether for this age group by using sun protective clothing, sunglasses, hats, blankets, covered strollers, etc.

If you are a parent, you know the challenges that begin when babies become more mobile. While an infant won’t object to having a blanket draped over his carrier or car seat an older baby will most certainly balk at this. Experts agree that babies six months and older can and should be covered with a layer of sunscreen on a daily basis, and certainly when they are outside. This way, when blankets fail or baby insists on having the roof removed from his stroller he will be protected from the sun’s UV rays. Don’t forget to protect baby from the sun during long car rides too. While the car’s windows will block some of the sun’s UV rays, a few of them do manage to pass through and babies have been known to sustain serious sunburns while riding in car seats, so baby sun protection is vital in the car too.

It’s important to be vigilant when baby is in the sun. Sunscreen should not be an excuse for indifference. You wouldn’t give your child a lifejacket and then walk away from him while he swims in a lake. Neither should you put sunscreen on a baby and then assume he’s protected for the rest of the day. Sunscreen is only one step in the process of UV protection, and should be considered the least effective one. Babies should be dressed in UV protective clothing if possible. This doesn’t mean you should be tempted, though, to put long sleeves on your baby in July to protect him from the sun. Babies should always be dressed in a manner that you would dress yourself. If it’s 90Ú outside you probably wouldn’t put on a sweatshirt, so don’t dress baby in one either. Babies are at a greater risk of overheating than adults are, so t-shirts and shorts are best when the temperature soars. Instead, stick to shady areas when outdoors. Putting a wide-brimmed hat on baby will offer more shade when a tree isn’t available, and don’t forget to protect his eyes with sunglasses. If you do take baby to the park or the pool limit the amount of time he is in direct sunlight to 15 minutes at a time. Then spend 15 minutes in the shade, and take time to examine his skin for signs of sunburn, and reapply sunscreen if necessary.

Dressing your baby in UV protective clothing can greatly decrease his risk of sun damage. Using UV protective clothing will allow him to remain cool in hot weather, while still having an extra layer of sun protection. Be sure you apply sunscreen under the clothing, not just to the parts of his skin that are exposed to sunlight. Sunscreen plus clothing plus hats/sunglasses equal layers of protection that will keep your baby’s skin safe, and ultimately protect his health. So make baby sun protection a priority every time you go out, even for short periods of time. It only takes a few extra minutes, and may provide a lifetime of protection for his health.

SPF, an abbreviation for sun-protection factor, is a number such as 15, 30, or 50 that indicates how long a topical sunscreen remains effective on the skin. A user can determine the duration of effectiveness simply by multiplying the SPF by the length of time it takes for him or her to suffer a burn without sunscreen.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is a common form of skin cancer with almost 1 million cases each year in America. Treatment includes a procedure to remove the cancer, typically by cutting out the affected area or treating with a topical chemotherapy. If left untreated, the cancer will continue to grow. Individuals who have been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma need sun protection to minimize UV exposure.

Bottom line – the sun is our friend. We need it and it is wonderful for our spirits and our health. Enjoy it but safely and in moderation.

The bottom line is that we parents need to be aware that some sunscreens may be potentially more harmful than good. “Studies show that some traditional sunscreens like oxybenzone and octinoxate definitely absorb into healthy skin – in large amounts according to some studies – and act like estrogens in the body, raising risks for breast cancer, and showing effects like hormone-driven uterine damage in other studies”. 1

Take a look at your current sunscreen and you will probably find one of these ingredients, if not both. There is also some controversial concern with the micro sized (nanosize) titanium and zinc. Are these particles so small that they can absorb through the skin and into our blood stream? For now it is considered safe (as long as the particles aren’t too small) on healthy skin. A good way to test is this, if the sunscreen rubs clear onto your baby’s skin, it is nanosized. If it rubs on with some white, the particles are not too small.

Below we’ve listed the top five choices according to the Environmental Working Group. We always suggest, however, to do your own homework and then you can make an educated decision as to what is right for your family.

Environmental Working Groups Safest Sunscreen Picks

1. Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock
2. Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum
3. California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance
4. Badger Sunscreen
5. Marie Veronique Skin Therapy Sun Serum

The bad news is your child may not be as protected as you think. Beyond not providing real protection there is the potential toxicity of many of the ingredients.

“I’m primarily concerned with the lack of safety testing,” says Dr. Rebecca Sutton, a staff scientist with the EWG. There is a long list of ingredients that are potentially harmful, or even cancer causing, that we just don’t know enough about.

This is especially of concern when it comes to children. The surface area of a child’s skin relative to their body weight is much greater than adults. Any chemical applied to their skin is about 1.4 times more significant than it would be when applied to an adult. Add that to the fact that children are less able to detoxify and excrete chemicals, they have a developing organ system that is more vulnerable to damage from chemical exposures, and children are more sensitive to low levels of hormonally active compounds and you have a potentially large problem.

As parents, we can’t do anything about the unknowns, but there is one common sunscreen ingredient that has been linked with a host of problems including allergies, hormone disruption and cell damage.

“Parents should also avoid powder and spray sun care,” Sutton says of airborne chemicals potentially dangerous to breathe in. Avoid 2-in-1 combos, like sunscreen mixed with insect repellents.

“You need to apply sunscreen every few hours to be effective and you don’t want to put bug repellent on that often,” says Gray.

Then of course, there are the basic sun safety tips.

“People rely too heavily on sunscreen alone,” Cohen says.

Make sure your child wears a hat and UV-protective clothing and, if possible, avoid direct sunlight during the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sun protection has become a way of life for individuals, who are intent on keeping their skin healthy, and avoiding wrinkles and leathery skin. Getting sunburn repeatedly can increase your chance of getting skin cancer. Melanoma in children has been increasing each year! So it is important for us all to take a practical approach and properly use natural sunscreen and develop healthy skin care habits. Surprisingly, not everyone knows how to apply sunscreen. Only a small percent of the population uses sunscreen protection and only half of those people apply sunscreen correctly. In addition, regardless of the SPF or what the label says, sunscreens must be reapplied every 80 minutes or less. Sunscreen users mistakenly believe that high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) sunscreen products will protect them all day with one application, when in fact; all sunscreens must be reapplied regularly.

Two Sunscreen Myths

Myth: Sunscreen provides total sun block.

Truth: No sunscreen blocks 100 percent of Ultra Violet (UV) rays. SPF 15 can protect against 93 percent. SPF 30 protects against 97 percent. SPF 50-60 shuts out 98 percent. The higher the SPF the more harsh chemicals are in the product.

Myth: An SPF 60+ sunscreen provides double the protection of an SPF 30 sunscreen.
Truth: This is exactly why the FDA is putting a cap on high SPFs. SPF 30 provides skin with 97% protection, where as SPF 60 provides skin with 98-98.6% protection. There is less than 1.6% difference in protection factor. A SPF 60+ needs more chemicals to achieve a higher SPF, potentially putting more toxins in your body.

The real confusion to consumers has been what a product can do and can’t do. There are a number of sunscreen products are available on the market today. The trick is to become educated! Do you believe that just because sunscreens are labeled “sweat proof” or “waterproof” that they are? Currently, the FDA is banning the word “waterproof.” Now the term, “water/sweat/perspiration resistant” is accurate, however; this only means the sunscreen offers SPF protection after 40 minutes of water exposure. The term, “very water resistant” gives 80 minutes of protection. So to be safe, use this basic rule of thumb: re-apply, re-apply, and re-apply!For people who don’t have a lot of time, especially parents, a trend today has been to use aerosol sunscreens because they find them easier to apply. However, people may not be effectively protecting their skin! While being applied, aerosol sunscreens can lose much of their protection during the transfer from the bottle onto the skin. This is because not all of the molecules land on your body.

Unlike chemical sunscreens, which may cause irritation or allergic reactions because the skin absorbs the active ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sit on top of the skin, forming a barrier against the sun’s rays. There’s no evidence chemical sunscreens are dangerous or toxic, but we just don’t know enough yet about how young children react to the ingredients. Also, sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide start protecting as soon as you put them on, whereas chemical products need to be slathered on 30 minutes in advance so the skin has time to absorb them. Also make sure any sunscreen you use is labeled “PABA-free.” PABA was once widely used in sunscreens but now has been linked with skin irritation.

You may have heard you should look for a “broad-spectrum” product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Any sunscreen that contains the physical blocker zinc oxide or titanium dioxide will do this.

The sun protection factor (SPF) should be at least 15, but you generally don’t need to go above 30: Higher than that and you’re getting smaller and smaller amounts of added protection — which, in a chemical sunscreen, means a higher dose of unwanted chemicals. It’s fine to use a “children’s” sunscreen, but don’t go out of your way to buy one of these, since they’re usually no different from the adult versions.