According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, kids accumulate 50 to 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure by age 18. And we all know that the more sun exposure you rack up in your lifetime, the more you increase your risk of skin damage and skin cancer. Excess sun exposure is even more dangerous for kids with less melatonin in their skin, that is, kids who happen to be fair, have light eyes and/or freckles. To protect your kids, sunscreen is essential.
What to Look for
Choose a sunscreen labeled "broad-spectrum." Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against UVA rays, which cause wrinkling and skin damage, as well as UVB rays, which produce sunburns and skin cancers. To be most effective, you need the sunscreen to stay-put. Look for one that is water-resistant, waterproof and even sweat- or rub-proof.
Next, think about application. Spray-mist sunscreens are great if you have to reapply the product on a sandy child. Just point the nozzle and shoot for no mess. Thick, creamy lotions, especially those that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, are good options for delicate skin, since the coating they provide actually acts as a physical barrier against the sun. Stick varieties are great for around the eyes, nose, lips and ears, and they don't drip the way lotions do. Lastly, choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will allow your child to stay in the sun 15 times longer without burning than if she were unprotected (a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will allow her to stay in the sun 30 times longer without burning, and so on).
Common Pitfalls
The biggest mistake parents make with sunscreen is not using it liberally or frequently enough. Apply a generous amount, covering every inch of exposed skin, and reapply it about every 2 hours. Sunscreen should be applied about 20 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, so it has time to be absorbed into the skin.
Formulations made especially for kids are a good bet, as they tend to cause fewer skin reactions than those made for adults. (Plus, they often come in kid-friendly colors and scents.) Many dermatologist recommend steering clear of sunscreens with PABA, an ingredient that can cause skin allergies.
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