Chemical vs Physical Sunscreen: uncovering the myths about kids sun protection

Go mineral with physical sunscreen

Many of the well known brands of sunscreen contain chemicals as the active ingredients for sun protection. But you can also buy mineral sunscreens, which have none of these substances in them.

Instead of these chemicals these ‘physical sunscreens’ use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide – two ingredients have been highlighted by the Skin Cancer Foundation as proven safe sunscreen ingredients for little ones. 

Mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin and work by deflecting the sun’s rays. They’re much gentler on the skin and less likely to cause irritation. 

In the past mineral sunscreens were often really hard to rub in and left behind a white chalky mark. These days though they are miles away from their humble beginnings, so you don’t need to worry that your child will look like they’ve been covered in goose fat. 

The only downside is that they’re a little pricier than chemical sunscreens. If you choose to go mineral look for one that is labelled as being ‘family friendly’ or ‘for kids’. You can now even buy waterproof mineral sunscreens too which we would advise if kids are splashing about in the water.

Choose creams over sprays

Any parent knows that putting sun cream on a wriggly toddler or small child is like wrestling an alligator. Spray creams seem like such an appealing choice as they’re easier to use and in theory make a lot less mess. But, especially for children, experts have recently advised us to use sun creams instead of sun sprays. 

The FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) is investigating the potential risks of spray sunscreen. They are looking into whether the spray function means that tiny particles can be breathed in through your child’s nose and mouth. This could cause irritation, coughing and irritate asthma. There’s no clear research either way yet, but the FDA advises parents to use creams over sprays until we know more. 

It’s also harder to know that you’ve covered every inch of your child’s body with a spray. It’s much easier for patches of skin to be missed or overlooked.

Sunscreen sprays also have the additional concern that we may not be spraying on enough. A quick squirt won’t do. It needs to be sprayed on close to your child’s body and in a thick enough layer to give them protection. 

If you do have spray sunscreens to use up, then:

• apply them in a well ventilated area and ask your child to hold their breath. 
• spray them onto your own hands first and then rub them onto your child’s face or body to make sure that you’re applying a thick enough layer. 
• make sure you use lots of spray and cover every inch of exposed skin.

But don’t go for sun creams with a super high SPF

Some sun creams claim to have an SPF of 70 or even 100. And our instinct is often to get the highest and therefore best sunscreen possible. 

But a higher SPF is often misleading. Research has found that the difference in additional sun protection might be marginal. 

And most importantly, creams with super high SPFs might contain a higher amount of chemicals, which can irritate the skin. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30-50 is fine.

Don’t miss any exposed areas

Make sure you don’t miss any of the exposed areas, which are easily overlooked.

Some of these ‘forgotten areas’ are the:

• ears
• shoulders 
• backs of necks
• feet 
• hands

No sunscreen for tiny babies – keep them out of the sun

Tiny babies have super sensitive skin and a much lower body surface-volume ratio meaning that any creams have a greater chance of penetrating the skin and affecting their systems. 

That’s why there are specially formulated baby products, which are gentle on the skin and have been tested to be safe in use on babies. 

You should not use any sunscreen on babies under 6 months. However, this does not mean that babies do not need protecting from the sun. Quite the opposite. 

Babies should stay out of the sun as much as possible. And you should use clothing to cover their skin and sun hats to cover their heads. It’s really important though not to let babies overheat. You can provide shade for your baby by using an umbrella or pop-up tent.

Always wear hats as well as sunscreen

Sunscreens are great and should always be applied.

But in addition, to give your child more protection on their most vulnerable skin like their face and shoulders, pop on a wide brimmed sun hat.

You can also add sun glasses if they want, and some light, loose clothing to cover their shoulders. 

Consider a rash vest or sunsuit for young children

Rash vests are a great choice for children as they are comfortable and lightweight to wear, and they also cover up more of your child’s skin. They offer them greater protection from the sun’s UV rays when used together with a high factor sun cream.

You can even buy rash vests with long sleeves to cover more of the skin when your child is in the sun.

Keep your child hydrated

Whenever your child is in the sun make sure they drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. 

If your child struggles to drink enough water, you can get creative by offering diluted fruit juice, fruit ice lollies, ice cubes and plenty of fruit or fruit salad.