Babies and children are much more vulnerable than adults to the damaging effects of the sun's rays. Their skin is thinner, more sensitive and still developing. In fact, the first 20 years is a critical period for sun exposure as it has a significant impact on the chances of developing skin cancer later in life. One severe sunburn in childhood can double the chances of developing melanoma in adulthood (Mudditt, 2022). Suffice to say, early protection from the sun's UV rays is paramount.
Babies 0 - 6 months
Although they are most vulnerable to the sun, babies aged 0 - 6 months should not be exposed to sunscreen. They are most likely to lick the sunscreen on their skin and inadvertently ingest its chemical ingredients. Additionally, absorbing the sunscreen through their skin can lead to the build up of toxins which can impede their health. Toxins within the sunscreens can act as allergens, carcinogens and endocrine disruptors that hinder their development. Instead of sunscreen, babies' skin should be protected with lightweight loose clothing when outside.
Babies 6 months and older
Babies 6 months and older along with children should use sunscreen in combination with coverage from clothing and hats. Their delicate skin can get burnt within the first 10 minutes of sun exposure regardless of skin type or pigmentation. Even without a sunburn, the sun's UV rays can deeply penetrate their skin and cause long term damage. This is possible on cooler and cloudy days too.
The problem with SPF
When making sunscreens intended for babies and children, many companies produce them with a high sun protection factor (SPF) value. This number is often misleading. Parents and guardians assume that the higher the number, the higher the degree of protection but this is not actually the case. The SPF value only considers how well a sunscreen protects against UVB rays; which are responsible for sunburns and non-melanoma skin cancers. SPF does not consider protection against UVA rays; which are responsible for aging and other cancers including melanoma. UVA does not cause sunburn so sunscreen users can not see the damage being done internally (The Trouble with SPF, n.d.). Many common sunscreen products do not meet the European Commission standards for adequate UVA protection.
There are additional dangers to simply choosing babies' or children's sunscreen products based on a high SPF. SPF is not a linear scale so a higher value only provides a negligible increase in protection. Lulled into a false sense of security, users may not take the same precautions as with a sunscreen with a lower SPF. More concerning is that sunscreens with a higher SPF contain more chemicals that provide UVB protection at the expense of chemicals that protect against UVA (thus an overall lower protection from UVA rays) (The Trouble with SPF, n.d.). The higher concentration of chemicals can act as toxins with unintended harm on young bodies (see our article on safe sunscreens).
What to do?
So what to do? Babies and children still need to go outside. The key is to look for a mineral based sunscreen formulated for babies' or children's skin. Mineral sunscreen does not absorb into the skin, instead it forms a physical barrier on its surface and reflects the sun's rays. Its key ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which are biodegradable and do not build up in the body. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide should not be ingested so if your baby is still licking everything, avoid it. They should also not be inhaled so look for non-nano products if you wish to buy it in an aerosol form. Mineral sunscreens allow you to avoid the toxic ingredients found in chemical sunscreens.
The sunscreen does not necessarily have to have a high SPF, instead it should have a value of at least 30 and offer a broad coverage for UVA and UVB rays. By looking for a babies' or children's variety, the additional ingredients in the sunscreen should take their delicate skin into consideration. There should not be harmful chemicals present.
Canadian Suncare Products
Here are some Canadian brands that offer safe sunscreen for babies and children:
Boo Bamboo
Boo Bamboo has a Baby Boo line of sunscreen for babies. It is mineral based (zinc oxide) and made with organic bamboo extract that is gentle on baby's skin. The parent company, Hush Brands Inc., is responsible for making products primarily from bamboo and hemp. They focus on natural but effective ingredients and adhere to safe practices including cruelty free, paraben free and SLS free.
Shoosha
Shoosha is the first complete USDA certified skincare line in North America. They offer a mineral based sunscreen for babies and another for children composed of 70% USDA-certified organic ingredients. The sunscreens are free from synthetic or harmful chemical components. The active ingredient is uncoated zinc oxide and the non-medical ingredients are added with babies' sensitive skin in mind: Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, and Organic Calendula Oil.
Attitude
Attitude's sunscreen line is mineral based and formulated with non-nano zinc oxide to provide sun protection. As with all of their products, their sunscreen is produced with an emphasis on safe, natural ingredients while being hypoallergenic, cruelty free, vegan, ocean safe and distributed in recyclable packaging. Attitude makes a sunscreen line for babies and kids that is gentle on sensitive skin. It comes in a stick (for easy application) or lotion. It also comes unscented or with a choice of scents.
Green Beaver
The Green Beaver founders have a background in biochemistry and microbiology and have applied their knowledge to make natural and safe skin care products free of dangerous chemicals. They are responsible for developing the first Canadian organic mineral sunscreen with support from the National Research Council. The key ingredients of this mineral based sunscreen are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These form a physical barrier on the skin and are not absorbed. 100% of the total ingredients are from natural origin. In addition, the sunscreen moisturizes the skin and does not leave a sticky residue. They make a mineral sunscreen specifically for kids (Junior Beavers) in a lotion or spray.
Ombrelle is recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association for their sunscreen and their products are cruelty free. Ombrelle uses Mexoryl Technology. This is a patented term for a carbon based sun filter. It does not readily absorb into the skin. They offer a mineral sunscreen line as well as chemical based sunscreens. We, at Norther, recommend their mineral line. The mineral sunscreen for kids is made with titanium dioxide. It is lightweight and hypoallergenic.
Live Clean
Live Clean products are available in major retail stores. They have built a reputation as a Canadian brand committed to offering plant and naturally derived, eco-conscious products. They abide by a list of standards including: SLS Free, Dye Free, Paraben Free, Cruelty Free, Petrolatum Free, Dermatologist Tested, Hypoallergenic and Certified Organic Botanicals. They offer a mineral sunscreen for babies consisting of non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. It is pediatrician tested and fragrance free.
Sources:
Mudditt, J. (2022, July 5). Why sunscreen is not enough to prevent sunburns. BBC. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220704-why-childhood-sunburns-are-so-dangerous
The trouble with SPF. (n.d.). EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/whats-wrong-with-high-spf/