With new studies coming out left and right about the potential dangers of sunscreen, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re choosing the best protection for your child’s skin. It’s time to throw out those old bottles of spray SPF and follow these simple guidelines to find the perfect sunscreen for your child.
Choose a Mineral Sunscreen
More and more studies are proving that chemical sunscreens are bad news. Chemicals like oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate are found in most chemical sunscreens, and are known to disrupt hormones and absorb UV rays into the skin, causing more harm than good. Mineral sunscreens contain titanium and zinc oxide, which reflect UVA and UVB rays instead, making mineral sunscreen the safer option for children and those with sensitive skin. Another bonus: mineral sunscreens are effective at application, so your child won’t have to wait to have fun in the sun.
Make Sure Your Sunscreen Is “Broad Spectrum”
Most people judge sunscreen by its SPF level, but there’s something else you should take into consideration. SPF only measures the level of protection a sunscreen provides against UVB rays; a sunscreen that is “broad spectrum,” however, protects the skin from UVA rays as well, which are just as harmful. Always make sure your child’s sunscreen is “broad spectrum.”
Waterproof Sunscreen Does Not Exist
While many sunscreens are marketed as “waterproof,” it’s important to understand that there is truly no such thing. Even the strongest of sunscreens must be applied every two hours to provide efficient protection.
Don’t Spray Your Kids
While spray sunscreens are, understandably, the easy choice for using on children, they are the definitely not the wisest decision to make. Spray sunscreens are not recommended for children for several reasons, the most potent being that children can inhale the toxic chemicals. Spray sunscreens can also trigger allergy or asthma attacks, and they don’t really provide as much coverage and protection as lotion-based sunscreens.
