Sunscreen Tips

My son and daughter-in-law went to Seven Peaks a week ago with their little 6 month old cutie.  They applied sunscreen but the two adults ended up with bad sunburns.  Luckily, little miss stayed mostly covered up and was fine.  I received this information from Macaroni Kid and want to pass it on.

• SPF refers to "Sun Protection Factor" and until recently, mainly indicated how well a sunscreen would protect you against the sun's UVB rays - meaning the rays that cause sunburn.  The problem is that it's the UVA rays that contribute most to skin cancers.  So slathering yourself or your kids with a high SPF UVB protectant may just give you a false sense of security.  Since you're not getting burned, you assume the sun is doing no damage, and you don't limit the amount of time in the sun.  This means you are actually increasing the level of cancer-causing UVA rays reaching the skin.  New FDA regulations require that sunscreen companies list the amount of UVA protection somewhere on the bottle, but until folks understand what all the initials mean, the skin cancer danger persists.  Look for labels that list "Broad Spectrum" sun protections and an SPF between 15 - 50.

• Use enough (usually at least a golf-ball sized blob), read the directions, and reapply the sunscreen at least every two hours and after being in the water, no matter how tedious it seems.

• The FDA has now banned sunscreen powders, which can be aspirated into the lungs, but they may still be on store shelves, so avoid them.

• Stay away from sunscreen sprays!  They can be inhaled, then absorbed into the lungs and bloodstream.  They're also inefficient against UVA rays and end up in the air instead of on the skin.

• Steer clear from sunscreen products that contain Vitamin A, retinyl palmitate or retinol.  Studies since 2010 have linked these ingredients to tumor development and sores on sun-exposed skin, but the FDA has not yet required companies to remove the potentially harmful chemicals from their sun products.

• About half of all U.S. marketed sunscreens, including those considered "kid-friendly," contain Oxybenzone - a potential hormone disruptor and allergen.  You'll have to work harder to find sunscreens without this chemical, but it's worth the trouble to ensure your child's safety.

• Look for zinc oxide sunscreens that have no nano-particles (the kind that turn the skin another color). If it goes on clear or almost clear, stay away from it.  The nano-particles may make the sunscreen less visible on the skin, but they do not adequately protect against cancerous UVA rays, though they improve UVB ray effectiveness.  Though nano-particles are not usually absorbed through the skin, they can damage the lungs and other organs, or may end up in the bloodstream, if they are inhaled.  If ingested, they could damage the intestinal tract.

• Keep infants under 6 months-old out of the sun completely.  Keep older children out of the sun as much as possible during the peak sunlight hours (10 - 2) and be sure to provide them with a hat and broad spectrum protection sunglasses and clothing when they are exposed to sunlight.