Best Baby & Kids Sunscreens of 2015

Now on to Baby Sunscreen!

I pulled the following information from Lucie’s List and wanted to share! I found it very helpful after our pediatrician told me to do some research on baby sunscreen before lathering our kids up this summer!

Sunscreen vs. Sunblock

Technically speaking, sunscreens use chemicals to absorb UV rays so they don’t penetrate the skin, while sunblocks use minerals, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to physically deflect rays from the skin. However, these terms are often used interchangeably, so it’s a little confusing. Case in point: all of the recommended kids’ “sunscreens” below are technically sunblocks. But they’re called sunscreens. So, yeah, just… FYI.

Sunblocks are generally recommended for babies and children (over sunscreens) by pediatricians, advocacy groups, environmentalists, etc. for various reasons [read more below in “sunscreen controversies“].

The general sentiment is something like this: “A natural mineral (aka physical) sunblock is, by far, the safest option to get your SPF. The minerals zinc and titanium sit on the skin’s surface and reflect sun rays out away from the body like tin foil. Chemical ingredients [found in sunscreens] are absorbed into the skin to deal with sun rays in a chemically reactive process in the skin cell itself, with potentially unintended and harmful consequences to the skin and body,” says Kim Walls, M.S.

The downside to sunblocks is that they are generally more expensive because of the cost of the minerals used to make them. Just note that a little goes a long way, and a single tube or two can last you the whole season.

Remember: Sunscreen is just part of the equation that also includes protective clothing, hat and eye protection, and staying out of the sun when the rays are strongest, between 10 am and 2 pm generally.

Sunscreen Controversies (If you need the details)

The 3 main controversies of sunscreens (particularly for children) look something like this:

1. The Nanoparticle Debate

   Over the past few years, there’s been a lot of talk about the safety of “nanoparticles.” You see, in the past, mineral sunblocks consisted of large enough particles so that they always remained white and chalky on the skin. More recently, many products have been formulated to reduce the size of the mineral particles, called nanoparticles, making them less visible on the skin. No more ghostly white-face — yay, right?

   However, there are concerns that nanoparticles may possibly pass THROUGH the skin (especially in pre-term babies and very young babies) and may be photo-reactive, forming free radicals that can cause cell damage. Those espousing this position recommend using only mineral sunblocks that contain “micronized” particles rather than nanoparticles. [Technically, a nanoparticle is any particle less than 100 nanometers in diameter, but a particle must actually be less than 50 nanometers to enter skin cells, less than 70 nanometers to enter the lungs, etc.] Got it? Okay good.

   Essentially, the jury is still out on this, folks. The American Academy of Dermatology [AAD] says, “Considerable research on the use of nanoparticles on healthy, undamaged skin has shown that the stratum corneum – the outermost layer of the skin – is an effective barrier to preventing the entry of nanoparticles into the deeper layers of the skin” [AAD, 2012]. Still, others suggest otherwise. Basically, nobody knows for sure. *All the products I recommend [above] are NON-nano 

2. Oxybenzone

   The good news is that oxybenzone is one of the few FDA-approved ingredients that provide effective broad-spectrum protection (see #3) from UV radiation. The bad news is that oxybenzone might be an endocrine disruptor, which could affect the nervous system, has been linked to cancer in some laboratory studies, and creates free-radicals when exposed to the sun. Woohoo!

   The jury is out on this one as well. According to the AAD, “Available peer-reviewed scientific literature and regulatory assessments from national and international bodies do not support a link between oxybenzone in sunscreen and hormonal alterations, or other significant health issues in humans,” claims Dr. Siegel [AAD, 2012].

   However, many pediatricians warn parents to avoid oxybenzone. So… yeah. *All of the products we recommend [above] are free of oxybenzone. Just in case.

3. Many sunscreens only protect from UVB rays, giving people a false sense of security about spending time in the sun. UVA radiation doesn’t cause sunburns per se, but can increase the rate of melanoma and AGING of the skin (ack!), so many people using sunscreens may be exposed to high UVA levels without realizing it. So… look for sunscreens with broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) protection (for adults too)! Natural sunscreen ingredients, including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide protect from both UVA and UVB overexposure.

Now go buy some sunscreen! 🙂

Thanks Lucie’s List!