Your Guide to Sunscreen for All Ages

Protecting your child

Your Guide to Sunscreen for All Ages

Do you know what to look for in a sunscreen? Whether your little one has fair or dark skin, the right sunscreen is essential to help protect against sunburn and harmful UVA and UVB rays. Follow these important guidelines for protecting every member of your family from the sun's harmful rays, so you can enjoy your summertime fun.

Why Protect Against the Sun?
Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is associated with severe sunburns often occurring before the age of 20. Therefore, protecting your child against sunburns early on in life is essential. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, it is important to protect your family's skin from both types of harmful rays:

UVA Rays
UVA rays pass through the ozone layer, and account for 95 percent of UV radiation that reaches the Earth. They can pass through glass and windows, and penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays. UVA rays are a main contributor to skin aging and wrinkling, and they play a role in, and may even initiate, skin cancer.

UVB Rays
UVB rays are also dangerous, and are the main cause of skin reddening and sunburns. UVB rays do not penetrate the skin as deeply as UVA rays, and do not pass through glass or windows (unlike UVA rays, which can pass through glass). UVB rays mainly cause damage to the superficial layers, and also contribute to cataracts, immune system damage, and skin cancer.

Guidelines by ageChildren of all ages should be kept out of the sun between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, when UVA and UVB rays are the strongest. Dress your child in long-sleeved, cotton clothing, and in a fabric with a tight weave, since these protect against the sun better than clothes with a looser weave. Clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) will provide additional protection - look for clothing with a UPF of 30 or higher.

Additionally, make sure your child wears a hat, preferably a wide-brimmed bonnet or hat that covers her face, neck, and ears, and sunglasses with at least 99 percent UV protection.

When applying sunscreen, use enough to cover all exposed areas, including your child's face, nose, ears, feet, and hands and give chemical-based products at least 30 minutes to absorb into your child's skin before going in the sun. Choose a product with an SPF of 15 or higher, and reapply sunscreen every two hours, even if it's a cloudy day, and even if the product is waterproof. Your child will most likely be active when outside and sunscreen can wear off from swimming, sweating, or simply soaking into the skin.

In addition, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the following age-specific sun protection guidelines.

Babies

  • Since their skin is too sensitive for sunscreen, it should not be used on children under six months and they should be kept out of direct sunlight.
  • Use removable mesh shields on your car windows to keep UVA rays from penetrating the glass. UV film also blocks almost 100 percent of UV rays from entering your car, and can be applied to your windows without reducing visibility.
  • Use a stroller with a sun-protecting cover.

    • The same guidelines should be followed for babies over six months, but small amounts of sunscreen can be applied to exposed areas, such as your baby's hands. Look for a tear-free formula to avoid stinging if it gets in your baby's eyes.

    Younger Children

  • Apply SPF 15 or higher to exposed areas. Water-resistant, spray-on products are good for active children who don't want to sit still while you apply a lotion.
  • Work with your child's daycare or school to ensure sun safety precautions are taken when outside.
  • Teach your child the importance of good sunscreen habits.

    • Teens

  • Talk to your teen about the risks of tanning booths. Remind her that UVA rays are the dominant tanning ray, so it is important to remember that although a tan may not hurt, it can eventually lead to skin cancer.
  • Encourage the use of protective sunglasses.

    • Best products to useThe American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using a broad-spectrum product with an SPF of 15 or higher to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Broad-spectrum products protect against both types of rays, and the higher SPF a product has the more UVB protection it will provide.

    The Skin Cancer Foundation also recommends looking for products with a combination of avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Check out this list of the safest sunscreens for kids.

    Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide
    Try to avoid using a chemical sunscreen (although the chemicals aren't thought to be dangerous, they can cause irritation or an allergic reaction in some children when absorbed into the skin), and look for one with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on the label. These ingredients aren't absorbed, and instead sit on top of the skin to create a barrier against the sun's rays.

    Products that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Additionally, they begin protecting your child right away, while chemical-based sunscreens need to be applied at least 30 minutes prior to sun exposure in order to give the active ingredients time to be absorbed into the skin.

    If you don't want to use a zinc oxide or titanium dioxide product on your child's body, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using them at least on sensitive areas, such as the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears, and shoulders.

    PABA-free Products
    When choosing a chemical-based product, be sure to use one that is labeled "PABA-free." Once widely used in most sunscreens, PABA has been linked to skin rashes and irritation.

    To see if your child will have an adverse reaction to a chemical-based product, test a small amount on the upper, inner arm a day or two before you need to use it. If your child develops rash or irritation by the next day, you'll likely have to use a different product.


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