Sunscreen Questions Answered!
We had questions about sunscreen and figured you might too…
When the sun comes out, we want to be outside as much as possible with our kiddos! Guidelines for SPF and how often to apply have changed over the years, so here’s the latest from the American Academy of Dermatology
To protect your skin and reduce your risk of skin cancer, below are five common sunscreen mistakes — and how to avoid them:
Ignoring the label. There are a variety of sunscreens on the market. To effectively protect yourself from the sun, the AAD recommends looking for sunscreens that are broad-spectrum, water-resistant and have an SPF of 30 or higher.
Using too little. Most people only apply 25-50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen. However, to fully cover their body, most adults need about one ounce of sunscreen – or enough to fill a shot glass. Apply enough sunscreen to cover all skin that isn’t covered by clothing. Apply the sunscreen 15 minutes before going outdoors, and reapply every two hours while outdoors or after swimming or sweating.
Applying only in sunny weather. Alarmingly, the AAD found that only about 20% of Americans use sunscreen on cloudy days. However, the sun emits harmful UV rays all year long. Even on cloudy days, up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate your skin. To protect your skin and reduce your risk of skin cancer, apply sunscreen every time you are outside, even on cloudy days.
Using an old bottle. The FDA requires that all sunscreens retain their original strength for at least three years. Throw out your sunscreen if it’s expired or you’re unsure how long you’ve had it. In the future, if you buy a sunscreen that lacks an expiration date, write the purchase date directly on the bottle so that you know when to toss it out.
Relying solely on sunscreen. Since no sunscreen can block 100% of the sun’s UV rays, it’s also important to seek shade and wear sun-protective clothing, including a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection, when possible. For more effective sun protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) label.
Here are some of our tried and true favorites:
Sunscreen
Badger Kids is definitely on the top of our list. Gluten free for anyone with severe allergies, leaping bunny certified and reef friendly.
Super Goop Play Mousse makes sunscreen application fun. You know how kids act like you are torturing them every time you apply sunscreen? This might ease that situation a bit ;)
Baby Bum has our favorite glide on. We love this to toss in the diaper bag for easy application for faces and shoulders.
Sunglasses
Very Well Family has a great article, breaking down their favorites and we agree.
The bottom line, teach your kiddos about proper sun care at a
young age and it will stick with them!
Looking for more sun safety tips? Check out our other recent blog.
