Babies And Sunscreen: What Doctors Want You To Know

NEW YORK, NY — Putting on sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn and the long-term risks of skin cancer is a no-brainer, and dermatologists strongly recommend its use for adults or children spending a significant amount of time outside. But you should think twice before assuming this commonsense advice is as sound for babies as it is for everyone else. When it comes to young infants, sunscreen poses its own risks.

“Babies’ skin is less mature compared to adults, and infants have a higher surface-area to body-weight ratio compared to older children and adults,” said Dr. Hari Cheryl Sachs, a pediatrician with the Food and Drug Administration. “Both these factors mean that an infant’s exposure to the chemicals in sunscreens may be much greater, increasing the risk of side effects from the sunscreen.”

Most sunscreen is safe for people more than 6 months old. (For more national stories, subscribe to the Across America Patch and receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Of course, the sun itself remains a danger for vulnerable infant skin.

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

In a press release, the FDA offers the following tips for protecting infants younger than 6 months from the sun without using sunscreen:

• Keep your baby in the shade as much as possible.
• Consult your pediatrician before using any sunscreen on your baby.
• Make sure your child wears clothing that covers and protects sensitive skin. Use common sense; if you hold the fabric against your hand and it’s so sheer that you can see through it, it probably doesn’t offer enough protection.
• Make sure your baby wears a hat that provides sufficient shade at all times.
• Watch your baby carefully to make sure he or she doesn’t show warning signs of sunburn or dehydration. These include fussiness, redness and excessive crying.
• If your baby is becoming sunburned, get out of the sun right away and apply cold compresses to the affected areas.
• Hydrate! Give your child formula or breast milk if you’re out in the sun for more than a few minutes. Don’t forget to use a cooler to store the liquids.

As always, any concerns unique to your child should be discussed with your doctor.

Watch: Make Sure You're Doing Everything To Protect Yourself Against Sun Damage

Photo credit: Angie Garrett via Flickr