What is the ideal sunscreen for children?

Excessive and careless exposure to the sun can harm your skin and health. Burning, burning, peeling, blemishes, moles and even skin cancer are on the list. Therefore, do not neglect yourself or your children. Do you know which sunscreen is ideal for children? We have prepared a guide on the subject!

What is the minimum age of a child who can apply sunscreen?

Babies can start using the product from 6 months of age, always with medical advice. But don’t even think about applying any sunscreen or even the adult version. Each age group has a specific composition to match the characteristics of the skin.

Anyone who thinks that dark skin does not need sunscreen is mistaken. All children should receive products with a protection factor of at least 30. The highest factors are usually intended for very light, sensitive skin, with spots or with a family history of skin cancer.

What sunscreen can babies use?

Babies have more sensitive skin. Therefore, from 6 months to 2 to 3 years, the products must be from the “baby” line. The filter must only be physical, composed of natural minerals – including titanium oxide, zinc and iron – to reduce the chance of an allergic reaction. The result is a very dense protector, more difficult to spread.

Over the years, protectors may begin to receive chemical compounds with greater irritating potential. The texture is lighter and easier to apply.

Be sure to talk to a dermatologist about the subject. He can indicate the best product for each skin type and age.

What is the difference between children’s and adult sunscreen?

The composition is different, with specific ingredients to reduce the chances of allergies and other skin discomfort. Many only offer physical protection (composed of natural minerals), while others associate it with chemical effects (with the presence of products that can cause reactions).

Therefore, children should not use adult sunscreen, but the opposite is not true. Parents can invest in their children’s items, the only inconvenience will be the greater effort to spread it on the skin due to the thicker texture.

What is the ideal sunscreen for children?

Pay attention to the labels to identify the age range of the product. This is because each age has specific needs and sensitivities.

The “baby” line is usually used from 6 months to 2 to 3 years. It has a physical barrier, which cannot be absorbed by the skin, and the texture is denser. “Kids” starts from 2 to 3 years old and can start to come with the addition of a chemical barrier, obtaining a thinner and easier-to-apply texture.

Water resistance is another important point when going to the beach or pool. It needs to resist between 40 and 80 minutes, which must be specified on the label. But this does not exclude the need for reapplication immediately after leaving the water.

Consultation with a dermatologist guarantees the best choice for each child. It is important to be aware of the presence of skin sensitivities, for example, such as dermatitis.

Children’s sunscreen up to what age?

The recommendation is that the child protector be used until the skin is completely developed. This occurs in adolescence, with its characteristic hormonal changes, between 12 and 18 years old. The process is usually faster for girls. Therefore, it is interesting to make an appointment with a dermatologist so that he or she can advise you on the best time to change products.

How to apply sunscreen to your child?

Take the product with at least SPF 30 and check the expiration date. If it is expired, it may not do its job as expected and may even cause skin irritation.

Apply a generous layer to all parts of the body, spreading well to completely cover. Don’t forget your ears, neck, head, lips… This process should be carried out about 30 minutes before exposure to the sun.

Many sunburns occur because people forget to reapply sunscreen. Therefore, do it every two hours or whenever you get wet or sweat a lot.

Keep in mind that protection should not only occur when you go to the beach or pool. Care extends to all moments, including walks in the street, playing in the yard…

Other sun protection measures

The use of children’s sunscreen is essential above 6 months of age. In addition to replicating the product after diving and as the hours pass, other measures can protect children’s skin and health.

One of them is to take into account the time of exposure to the sun. Prefer before 10am and after 4pm. Ideally, the periods should also be short, especially for children under 3 years old.

Physical barriers also play a very important role. Invest in clothing with UV protection, hats or caps, sunglasses, shoes that cover the instep…

It’s worth adding that the shade is really refreshing on hot days, but remember that it doesn’t fully protect the child. All precautions must always be taken.

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