Everybody's Free ... To Wear Sunscreen

The 90's taught us all one important thing - wear sunscreen (thank you Baz Luhrmann).  With so many options on the market, how do we know what is best for us and our kids?  Here are some tips.

Avoid Aerosol/Spray Sunscreens

In 2013, the FDA officially warned that some aerosol sunscreens are flammable and can cause serious injury.  They are also very ineffective - we tend to miss large areas of skin when we use spray-on sunscreens.

As an aquatics director, I have really come to despise aerosol sunscreens over the years.  Parents tend to think that "spray on" means that you don't have to rub it in at all (which is how large sections get missed).  They spray their kids, don't rub it in, and let their kids jump in the pool.  Without time to absorb into the skin, the chemicals bond with hypoclorous acid (used to disinfect pools) and form a smelly gas that hovers just above the surface of the water.  This gas bonds to the skin of all swimmers and causes eye, skin, and lung irritation for anyone breathing it.

So the next time you leave a pool with scratchy eyes and smelling like "pool", blame spray-on sunscreen!

Chemical vs. Physical Sunscreen

There are two main types of sunscreen.

• Chemical Sunscreens (oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate, etc.) absorb the sun's rays.  They offer more coverage against UVA and UVB rays, but can sometimes cause skin irritation.  It is important to wait 20 minutes after applying the sunscreen before sun exposure for maximum protection.

• Physical Sunscreens (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide) work by deflecting the sun's rays from your skin.  It is effective immediately after application, but it is generally thick and harder to rub in.  It also needs to be reapplied more frequently.

Understanding SPF

SPF, or sun protection factor, indicates a sunscreen's effectiveness at preventing sunburn.  Although widely misunderstood, it's actually a simple formula.  You take your natural skin protection (low for individuals with light skin, higher for individuals with darker skin) and multiply it by the sunscreen's SPF and you get your total period of protection before you need to reapply.

Lil' H inherited my fair skin, so let's say her natural skin protection is 10 minutes.  If I use SPF 15 sunscreen on her, her period of protection is 150 minutes (this would be shortened if she was swimming).

It's not necessary to spend extra money on sunscreens with an SPF higher than 30.  SPF 30 is rated to block 97% of UVA/UVB rays, while 50+ (the FDA maximum) is only rated to block 98%.  Additionally, new research shows that too much SPF interferes with the body's ability to convert Vitamin D into calcium for bone growth and development.

Protecting Itty Bitty Baby Skin

For kiddos under six months old, it is best to skip the chemicals in sunscreens.  Use blankets, long-sleeves, hats, etc. to minimize sun exposure.

For kids over six months, it is still a good idea to limit sun exposure but if you do use sunscreen, stick to physical sunscreens instead of chemical.  The main ingredient (usually zinc oxide) is the same as diaper cream, so you know it's safe!

A lot of parents like the Badger Baby Sunscreen, but personally, I find it VERY difficult to rub in and it has a funny smell.



I prefer the Babyganics Mineral-Based Baby Sunsceren.  It has a light, fresh, smell and it is easy to apply.