What SPF rating is good for toddlers and adults?

What is SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor which is a method of measuring how much UVB light reaches the skin in a given amount of time. When you purchase a sunscreen with a higher SPF rating, then you can stay in the sun for a longer time period before your skin will start to burn.

Recently in the news there was an expose on false SPF rating coverages (see below).  Basically you do not need to go out and get the 100 SPF lotions because the 50 and 30 SPFs will do just as well.

In addition to packing a high-quality sunscreen, be sure to use a hat to product your baby or toddler’s scalp from the sun. You should also reapply the sunscreen every few hours or sooner if your child is participating in water activities.

For moms we recently tried:   “Kiss My Face” sunscreen for face+neck 50 SPF.  A little goes a long way and it does not dry up white and chalky, it blends in very nicely AND it is not sticky to touch.  You can find Kiss my Face  at most drug stores, The Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods.  Or go to their website to order it online.  If you are going to the store there is a coupon for $1 off here that you can use.  It expires June 20th.

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For toddlers we recently tried:  Kids Sun Stick Spf 30.  The stick is for nose, cheeks (face) and ears, and not all over, but it is possible like with my new toddler to put some sunscreen on exposed areas.

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Consumer group flags high SPF ratings on sunscreen as misleading 05/20/2013

Many consumers assume that SPF 100 is twice as effective as SPF 50, but dermatologists say the difference between the two is actually negligible. Where an SPF 50 product might protect against 97 percent of sunburn-causing rays, an SPF 100 product might block 98.5 percent of those rays.

“The high SPF numbers are just a gimmick,” says Marianne Berwick, professor of epidemiology at the University of New Mexico. “Most people really don’t need more than an SPF 30 and they should reapply it every couple of hours.” Berwick says sunscreen should be used in combination with hats, clothing and shade, which provide better protection against ultraviolet radiation.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com

Looking for gifts for the expectant mom?  Noodle & Boo is filled with everything she could ever desire before and after giving birth. Just check out what this extraordinary company has for expectant and new moms.  We tried the Baby Balm and loved how smooth and creamy it is.

Sites with SPF, UVA and UVB info:

1 chooseskinhealth.com

2 rasmussen.edu/student-life/blogs/main/the-health-risks-that-come-with-a-lack-of-summer-sun-protection-i/

3 melanomafoundation.org/prevention/facts.htm

4 mvorganics.com/pages/uva-aging-sun-protection

5 sfrbeauty.com

6 lorealparis.com.au/articles/uva-and-uvb-the-difference-explained.aspx

7 cdc.gov/excite/skincancer/mod06.htm

8 skincancer.org, melanoma foundation

9 itthing.com/shining-light-on-skin-cancer

10 well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/04/slathering-on-sunscreen-early-and-often/

11 skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen

12 webmd.com/beauty/sun/high-spf-sunscreens-are-they-better

13 menshealth.com

14 aloette.com/skin_care_tips_healthy_skin

Sunscreen Moms & Babies: What You Need to Know Now

You’re at the beach, slathered in sunscreen. Your 5-month-old baby is there, too. Should you put sunscreen on her? Not usually, according to Hari Cheryl Sachs, M.D., a pediatrician at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“The best approach is to keep infants under 6 months out of the sun,” Sachs says, “and to avoid exposure to the sun in the hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense.”

Sunscreens are recommended for children and adults. What makes babies so different?

For one thing, babies’ skin is much thinner than that of adults, and it absorbs the active, chemical ingredients in sunscreen more easily, explains Sachs. For another, infants have a high surface-area to body-weight ratio compared to older children and adults. Both these factors mean that an infant’s exposure to the chemicals in sunscreens is much greater, increasing the risk of allergic reaction or inflammation.

The best protection is to keep your baby in the shade, if possible, Sachs says. If there’s no natural shade, create your own with an umbrella or the canopy of the stroller.

If there’s no way to keep an infant out of the sun, you can apply a small amount of sunscreen—with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15—to small areas such as the cheeks and back of the hands. Sachs suggests testing your baby’s sensitivity to sunscreen by first trying a small amount on the inner wrist.

More info:

• Sun Safety Tips for Infants

Product Recommendation for Moms:

Mary Kay® Sun Care Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30*

Yard work, daily errands, vacations – now you have UVA/UVB protection for everything under the sun. Very water-resistant and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes, Mary Kay® Sun Care Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30* is a lightweight, oil-free sunscreen for face or body. Enriched with antioxidant vitamins and free-radical scavengers, it absorbs quickly, leaving your skin feeling soft and moisturized – part of a total Skin Wellness® regimen.

• A good rule of thumb: Adults should use about one ounce of sunscreen to liberally coat all exposed areas and reapply at least every two hours. A single 4 fl.oz. tube of Mary Kay® Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30* can protect your skin for an 8-hour day at the beach!

Get the expert facts on sun care. Click here.

Our take:  I had the opportunity to test out the Mary Kay Sun Care Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and SPF 50 collection and loved it.

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Product Recommendation for Babies:

Episencial Sunny Sunscreen

Ages: 0+

Uses: Gentle face and body lotion with UVA/UVB protection

Benefits: Comforting, balancing and transparent

Safety: Doctor recommended, EWG top rated for safety, reef safe, water resistant for up to 80 minutes

Smells Like: Unscented, Like fresh air

Feels Like: Cooling, safe and hydrating

Actively Healthy(™) ingredients: Organic, transparent zinc, green tea

This broad spectrum, lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer is water resistant for up to 80 minutes of sprinkler –proof fun! Safe minerals work to protect the skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays, while aloe and green tea extract keep skin cool and protected from IR damage.

Our take: I really do love the application of this sunscreen on our infant. It smooths on very nicely and no whiteness!  How nice to have a sunscreen that is good for baby, as well as effective at blocking UVA’s.

Check out the Parent’s Library that is chuck full of great information.