(Editor’s Note: For 5 recommended sunscreen brands, click here!)
There’s no doubt about it, summertime is finally here, and the sun is out in full-force. But not all sunscreens are created equal. In fact, the FDA has recently ruled that sunscreens cannot be labeled “waterproof” anymore–and should be reapplied, regardless, every two hours. Parents on-the-go might grab spray-on sunscreen for its convenience and easy application, but it’s actually not a safe choice for kids or parents, experts say. Children especially shouldn’t be around sunscreen sprays because the chemicals in the sprays can be inhaled. Spray-on sunscreens also don’t allow you to see how much product you’re putting on, and if you can’t see product residue on your skin, you probably don’t have enough sun protection, according to Nneka Leiba, MPH, Deputy Director of Research at the Environmental Working Group. The spray-on products also prevent you from seeing areas you’ve already sprayed or areas you’ve missed.
Leiba was on hand at a Question-and-Answer session hosted by the company Nine Naturals, which makes hair and body products that are organic and chemical-free. Founded by New York mom Grace Lee, these products do not contain any kind of toxins harmful to children or pregnant women, and are just as effective as your “regular” products. The EWG has a database and mobile app called Skin Deep (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/), a cosmetics database that lists ingredients in thousands of products and provides information on their toxicity. They also have a guide to sunscreens (http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/), where they examine the ingredients and the toxicity, and how well the product actually protects you from UVA and UVB rays.
So what can parents do to ensure everyone has summer-safe skin? Buy new sunscreen every year, and make sure it has an SPF between 15 and 50. Using a sunscreen with a higher SPF often tricks you into thinking you’re more protected than you are, and you end up staying out in the sun longer than you normally would. Avoid sunscreens that contain Vitamin A, also known as retinol or retinyl palmitate; scientific studies have found that tumors develop faster on skin exposed to vitamin A. Keep babies six months of age and younger out of direct sunlight whenever possible, since their bodies don’t make melanin yet, which protects the skin. Don’t be afraid to really slather on the sunscreen with toddlers and children–and keep reapplying it after they swim, sweat, and roll around on the ground and towels. Have kids wear rashguards, hats, sunglasses, and board shorts – and it’s not a bad idea for you, either! Covered skin is protected skin.
