Not all sunscreens are safe for kids: SouthFlorida.com

Tips for choosing the right protection

Parents in South Florida know it's important to protect their children's sensitive skin from sunlight. However, some of the chemicals in sunscreen may be more harmful than the sun.
Conventional sunscreens are absorbed into our skin, and youngsters, especially infants and toddlers, have a high body-surface-to-volume ratio, so they absorb proportionately more sunscreen than adults, and the chemicals have a greater effect on their developing systems. New studies are questioning the long-term safety of oxybenzone, which is an active ingredient in more than 90 percent of sunscreens. What's a concerned mom to do?
The best sun safeguard is to limit exposure, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when rays are strongest. However, in small doses, the sun is actually an ally. Overexposure and burning aren't healthy, but the sun's UVB rays help our bodies produce vitamin D, which is essential for our organs and prevents rickets, a childhood disease causing brittle bones and deformities, and osteoporosis later in life. Spending a day at the beach requires sun protection, but there's no need to slather your offspring in sunscreen to play in the backyard for 10 minutes. The best precaution is restricting the length of time spent in direct sun.
However it's difficult to keep kids shaded in sunny South Florida, so for longer periods of sun exposure, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises the best defense is protective clothing. Lightweight pants, long-sleeve shirts, a brimmed hat and sunglasses are effective at blocking sun. When covering up isn't adequate, such as for swimming, the AAP endorses sunscreen for babies older than 6 months old and recently suggested even newborns can wear sunscreen on "small areas." However, sunscreen researchers say it's best for young children to avoid oxybenzone, even though it's frequently found in sunscreens marketed for babies.
The best type of sunscreen to use on kids is "chemical-free" containing titanium dioxide as the active ingredient. It forms a barrier on the skin without being absorbed, it doesn't burn eyes, and it starts working immediately upon application. Chris Vaughn, president of SPF Consulting Labs, a leading independent sunscreen research center in Fort Lauderdale, said, "Titanium dioxide used in creamy lotions is the safest thing for kids between 6 months and 2 years."
While the long-term effects of oxybenzone are not established, it is known that babies are more susceptible than grown-ups. In addition, safety tests are performed on adult volunteers but not children, so the specific effects on infants have not been studied, and until the consequences are known, it's safest to avoid oxybenzone.
Sunscreens containing titanium dioxide also offer broad spectrum protection (they block both UVA and UVB rays). Historically, sunscreens only blocked UVB rays, which burn our skin, but UVA rays actually penetrate more deeply, causing wrinkles and some of the deadliest skin cancers. So a sunscreen that blocks just UVB rays provides merely superficial protection from the sun. Also, the sun protection factor (SPF) rating only applies to the level of UVB protection, so a higher SPF means skin won't burn for longer, but your body could still be absorbing dangerous levels of UVA rays. Therefore, a higher SPF isn't always beneficial. Vaughn recommends most people -- even in South Florida -- use an SPF around 30.
Burt's Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen or Earth's Best Baby Care Chemical-Free Sun Block are good choices.
Lastly, don't neglect those precious peek-a-boo eyes. Glaring sunlight isn't just uncomfortable for little eyes, but it increases the risk for cataracts and other eye conditions later in life. The AAP recommends a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for babies and children. Be sure any pair you select has 100 percent UVA and UVB protection, such as Julbo looping baby and kids' sunglasses or Baby Banz infant sunglasses.
Sunscreen To-Do's:

Look for "chemical-free" sunscreens made with titanium dioxide (they form a protective barrier without being absorbed into the skin and start working immediately)
Use sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB (called broad spectrum protection)
Sunscreen is recommended for babies older than 6 months (for younger than 6 months, use sparingly and stay out of direct sunlight)
Reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming
Despite using sunscreen, it's best to limit direct sun exposure (especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when rays are strongest)