Rather than being just an option for your kids, sunscreen for babies is a non-negotiable when it comes to visiting the beach. If your tot is over 6 months old, you shouldn’t even consider letting them loose out in the sun without sunscreen protection. It’s worth saying again – you can’t even think about allowing them to go into the sun without protection. It’s just not possible to overstate that fact.
The reason is – and we don’t want to get too heavy here – but it’s cancer. We may only be talking about sunburn for your little one right now, but the long-term implications are huge, as the likelihood of skin cancer shoots up every time they are affected in this way.
The Vulnerability of Young Skin Requires Sunscreen for Babies
One of the most notable things about young skin is that it’s soft and delicate. Whatever the color of the skin, it’s naturally thinner and more sensitive than adult skin. The knock-on effect of that is it’s more susceptible to UV rays, meaning that sunscreen for babies is even more important. As such, if you’re taking your kids out to the park on either a sunny or cloudy day, you can’t afford to skip using it.
Research shows that there’s a direct link between sunburn in childhood and an increased skin cancer risk – particularly in terms of melanoma later in life. It’s not just a cosmetic thing, either, as it can very much be life-threatening. Even just a single bout of blistering sunburn can almost double the risk.
UVA & UVB Rays: Understanding the Threat
Sun rays that make it through our atmosphere come in two types: UVA and UVB. UVA rays penetrate deeply and are primarily responsible for premature aging, whereas UVB rays damage the skin’s surface causing sunburn. Both types are believed to contribute to the risk of skin cancer happening at some point in someone’s life.
So, when you’re out there looking for the right sunscreen for your children, you need a product that’s going to protect their skin against both. Believe it or not, some only protect against sunburn and not the damaging effect of UVA rays, meaning you have to go for something with broad spectrum coverage.
Generously applied to all areas of the body that come into contact with the sun’s rays, mineral brands that contain zinc oxide are invariably the best option for kids. That’s because they work from the moment they’re applied (unlike chemical options). A factor of 30 is the minimum recommended sun protection level.
Sunscreen For Babies – an Absolute Essential For Skin Health
No one should have to go through the skin tragedy that is cancer at any point in their lives. As such, if parents bear in mind the increased cancer risk even just a few bouts of sunburn brings in this area, they’ll be much more likely to do everything they can to avoid it.
Of course, you want your kids to enjoy the sun, but not at the expense of their long-term future. Food for thought and no mistake.
