Your Baby Today

Sun

SUNBLOCK SAVVY

By Beth Weinhouse

Dermatologists advise that daily protection with sunblock should begin at six months of age, and most sunblock products state on the label that they are not to be used by infants under six months of age. But according to both the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), that rule is not absolute. In the summer of 1999, the AAP issued a new recommendation which stated that "when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands." (Tops of the ears and back of the neck are also a good idea.)

Parents should check with their pediatricians before using sunblock on the littlest infants, but here are some guidelines for choosing a safe product and using it wisely:

There's no need to cover a baby's whole body with sunblock if she's properly dressed... in fact, it could be harmful. Infants don't perspire as efficiently as adults, and covering too much baby skin with sunblock could interfere with the body's cooling mechanism. Cover only exposed areas such as face and hands.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunblock (meaning that it blocks both UVA and UVB rays) with a SPF of at least 25. Broad-spectrum products contain one of three active ingredients: avobenzone (trade name: Parsol 1789), zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide. Avobenzone is a chemical sunblock, while zinc and titanium dioxide are physical sunblocks. While both have been tested for safety on baby's skin, some pediatricians recommend that children under six months use a physical sunblock, as it may be less irritating.
Do a "patch test" on your baby before relying on the product. Cover a small (quarter-size) area of skin with the sunblock, and wait a day or two to see if there's any irritation.
Apply the sunblock at least half an hour before sun exposure, to allow the skin to absorb the product.
Choose a waterproof or water-resistant formula, and reapply at least every two hours while babies are outdoors.
It doesn't matter whether you use a lotion, gel, or spray. "A lot of parents like a stick product, which is easy to apply and doesn't run into the eyes and sting," says Patricia Agin, a scientist with the Coppertone Solar Research Laboratory, who recommends Coppertone's Water Babies sunblock which comes in both lotion and stick form.
Choose a product specially designed for babies, since these sunblocks are liable to be gentler. Look for the words non-irritating, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic on the label. "Parents can also look for the Skin Cancer Foundation seal, which means that an objective third party has evaluated the formula and given its approval," says James SaNogueira, director of suncare research and development at Sun Pharmaceuticals, makers of Banana Boat Baby Block.
Sunblocks marketed for older children are also safe to use on babies... with some caveats. Some kids' sunblocks contain colors, glitters or dyes specially designed to appeal to children to encourage them to use sunblock daily. A baby who wears these products on her hands, for instance, may ingest some of the extra ingredients if she puts her fingers in her mouth. Small amounts of sunblock ingestion are not a hazard for babies, but its best to keep baby sunblocks as simple as possible.
Even if you're convinced that your baby is properly dressed, suitably sunblocked, and safely parked in the shade, check him constantly for signs of overexposure. If any area of skin appears reddened or pinkish, bring your child inside. Call your pediatrician immediately if your baby is severely sunburned.

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About The Author

Beth Weinhouse is a frequent contributor to Your Baby Today. She specializes in women's and children's health issues and lives in Oxford, Mississippi with her husband and 6-year-old son.