Sunscreen shouldn’t be used as reason to stay in sun longer
ASK THE PEDIATRICIAN
Dr. Sheilagh M. Maguiness
Q: How high should the SPF be in the sunscreen I use on my children, and how much do they need when we’re at the pool for a few hours?
A: Warm, sunny days are wonderful. Children and adults benefit from spending time playing and exercising outdoors, but it’s important to do so safely.
Help your family have fun in the sun while avoiding harm from those rays. Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sunburn and skin cancer — but only if used correctly. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used for sun protection, not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.
What to know
Use a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum” on the label; that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.
The broad-spectrum sunscreen should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
More research studies are needed to find out if sunscreen with more than SPF 50 offers any extra protection.
If possible, avoid the chemical sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone because of concerns about mild hormonal properties. Remember, though, that it’s important to take steps to prevent sunburn, so using any sunscreen is better than not using sunscreen at all. It’s best to use a cream or lotionbased sunscreen rather than an aerosol spray.
For babies, young children, and for sensitive areas of the body, a mineral, or “physical” sunscreen is a very safe choice. Mineral-based sunscreens contain the active ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and are recommended as safe and effective by the FDA. There are many great choices available, including those that are fragrance free and hypoallergenic.
Sunscreen for babies
For babies younger than 6 months: Use a mineralbased sunscreen on small areas of the body, such as the face, if protective clothing and shade are not available.
For babies older than 6 months: Apply to all areas of the body, but be careful around the eyes. If your baby rubs sunscreen into his or her eyes, wipe the eyes and hands clean with a damp cloth. If the sunscreen irritates the skin, try a different brand or a mineral sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If a rash develops, talk with your child’s doctor.
If your baby is younger than 1 and gets a sunburn, call your pediatrician right away. For older children, call your child’s doctor if there is blistering, pain, or fever.
Ways to relieve discomfort from mild sunburn
Keep your child wellhydrated to replace lost fluids.
Use cool water or cool compresses to help your child’s skin feel better.
Give your child pain medicine to relieve painful sunburns. (For a baby 6 months or younger, give acetaminophen. For a child older than 6 months, give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen.)
Only use medicated lotions if your child’s doctor says it is OK.
Keep your child out of the sun until the sunburn is fully healed.
Finally, don’t forget that mindful sun protection for your children is more than just applying sunscreen. Seeking shade during the peak sun hours of 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sun protective clothing can be very helpful.
One-quarter of our lifetime sun exposure happens during childhood and adolescence, so it’s vital to keep children protected with sunscreen and avoid sunburn.
Dr. Sheilagh M. Maguiness is a pediatric dermatologist and the director of pediatric dermatology at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She also is a member of the Section on Dermatology Executive Committee and the chair of the Section on Dermatology Education Sub-Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics. For more information, go to Healthy Children.org, the website for parents from the AAP.