![]() The company petitioned the FDA, asking for a recall of the contaminated products, and requested that the FDA better define limits for benzene contamination in drug and cosmetic products. What’s perhaps most troubling is that it is not an intended ingredient in any sunscreen product or production process, which leaves many wondering how it got in there and how they can protect themselves if there is no way to know how and when it was introduced.Īccording to Valisure’s report, 27% of the tested samples-which included aerosol sprays and lotions-contained detectable levels of benzene, and some contained up to three times the conditionally restricted FDA concentration limit of 2 parts per million. Long-term exposure to inhaled benzene can cause leukemia. It is also used to make some types of lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. It is a highly flammable chemical that is a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke and is used to make plastics, nylon, and synthetic products. Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, and other regulatory agencies. The FDA regulates sunscreen as a drug product and after-sun products as a cosmetic.īenzene is known to cause cancer in humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. The bottom line: Lotions tend to be best unless you can diligently apply a spray or stick sunscreen.Last May, Valisure, an independent quality assurance company in New Haven, Conn., detected high levels of benzene, a known human carcinogen, in 78 sunscreen and after-sun care products. “Sticks are also crowd favorites, but need four passes on each area of skin to have any effect,” he adds. But if you must use a spray, “The nozzle should be about 2 centimeters away from the skin and you should see the liquid on the skin,” says Dr. Think of application: Experts prefer lotions for surer application. ![]() Translation: Avoid using sunscreens with chemical ingredients (such as oxybenzone or avobenzone), as they have a higher risk for irritation. Because their skin absorbs more per unit of body weight than an adult does, “it’s important to make sure that whatever you put on their skin is ‘pure,’” she adds. (Mineral formulas are also reef-safe, so you’ll keep coral-damaging chemicals out of our oceans too.) “Babies and kids have thinner skin and a higher surface-to-volume ratio,” says Dr. These natural sunscreens are often gentler on kids’ sensitive skin. mineral) sunscreens made of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which deflect sun rays, whereas a chemical sunscreen absorbs them, says Dr. ![]() This ensures your sunscreen protects against both harmful UVA and UVB rays.Ĭhoose mineral: Many dermatologists prefer physical (a.k.a. Use a high SPF: A water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher will be the safest choice for your kids. Once your child is 6 months old, make sure you apply SPF liberally for outdoor time. ![]() Instead, if your infant must be exposed to the sun, dress them in lightweight long sleeves and pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses to protect them from head to toe. Important reminder: If your child is less than six months old, both the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend keeping your baby out of the sun (and avoiding sunscreen if you can), as their skin is highly sensitive and has too little melanin, making them more susceptible to sun damage. Meet the experts: Meghan Feely, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist Julia Tzu, M.D., founder and medical director of Wall Street Dermatology Adam Friedman, M.D., professor of dermatology and residency program director at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Joel Schlessinger, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and president of. So we tapped dermatologists to share the must-haves to look for in children’s sunscreen. No matter how your child reacts to putting on sunscreen, with all of the lotions, sticks, sprays, and creams with “baby” or “kids” on the label, the hardest thing may be choosing which one to use. But it’s essential to protect your little ones from the sun’s harmful UV rays by using the best sunscreen for kids. Wrestling with your toddler as you try to apply SPF is nobody’s idea of fun. We updated this article in May 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team. ![]()
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