Sun Screens

[cherryapple]

I'm just wondering which sun protections other mums use.Im concerned about the amount of different chemicals that are used in making them and am considering buying organic
After doing a lot of research I found there are some nasty chemicals in sunscreens, even the baby ones. Parabens, SLS, octocrylene. There's lists of them. You can look at the ingredients of sunscreen on
www.cosmeticdatabase.com/

[newpup]

Never considered the content as I thought I was doing the right thing protecting them from the sun! I do not use children's sunscreens though just factor 30/50 ambre solaire. Same bottle for all of us!

[cherryapple]

I agree I thought the same, but after looking at the chemicals it made me think again and try to look for an alternative,I really would like to know what other mums views are on this, a few people have said to me its better to use these products than let your child into the sun without protection but we need to remember that these products are being absorbed into our childrens bodies.

[newpup]

I absolutely see your point but I would imagine that sun damage is a worse proven risk. My friend died of skin cancer so I suppose I worry more than most about the dangers of sun damage.

I am sure there will be a market for an alternative as long as it is as effective as the current products at preventing sundamage.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

You can buy natural sun screens, with non of the chemicals. Will find a link.

[CUPCAKE1]

Hello - I have three girls, 6mths, 4 and 7 and I use Banana Boat's Tear Free sprays as products specifically for babies seem to undergo far more vigorous testing than those for adults. Also, the fact that you can accidentally spritz it in their eyes when they're wriggling all over the place comforts me on the chemical front! I was under the impression from doing my own little bit of research that organic doesn't necessarily mean no chemicals? You have to be really careful about reading between the lines. If a product has no chemicals it would go off very quickly and not form enough of a barrier to the skin which in my view is the most important thing with little childen.

[paisleyleaf]

The inorganic creams are barrier creams which block the harmful rays
rather than chemical
so this is what children's creams usually are...like the ones that show up green.
they are a thick cream

You also need to look at the UVA star rating
as UVA rays cause longterm damage and skin cancer too
5* is best

[nappyaddict]

We use this because it is free from parabens.

My friend told me about this the other day but couldn't tell you if that one has parabens or not.

The green people do one but they only do up to factor 25.

IMO sun block is better than sun screen because with sun block the cream sits on the skin where as with sun screen it is absorbed bby the skin.

[cherryapple]

All your views have been very interesting to read.The soleo sounds good but doesnt mention Parabens and it isnt made in a high factor I usually use factor 50 on my dd.Tbh I am worried about which sun screen to buy this year I used Nivea colour last year.

[eidsvold]

this brand of sunscreen was recommended to my brother after he had a number of skin cancers removed We live in Aus and I have been told that beyond factor 30 there is no real difference in terms of coverage.

I used the toddler milk with my three children. They also wear sunsuits or rashvests with long boardshorts.

Interestingly my brother used zinc all his life which is supposed to totally block the sun and yet ended up with sun damage and skin cancers.

[cherryapple]

Hi eidsvold, I hope that your brother is ok now. I never use anything less that 50 on my lo.The product you mention sounds great but because its a milk does that mean you have to apply it more frequently? I normally use thick lotions that stay on the skin rather than absorb quickly.

[eidsvold]

well we tend not to spend a long time out in the sun and so I apply it once. If we are at the beach we apply sunscreen - go out for a couple of hours max earlyish morning. Then indoors until about 3pm and then apply more sunscreen and then out again.

[nappyaddict]

Eidsvold is right. Anything over factor 30 is unnecessary.

[CUPCAKE1]

That's interesting about factor 30 being enough as I've never used anythng less than 50 on my babies. Also, I remember reading an article last year that had tested several branded creams and found that the actual SPF was lower in many than stated on the bottle. Did anyone else see this? By using 50, I guess I was ensuring it would be at least high enough. It's always been such a battle to get it on them, I was just thankful I'd found a spray they liked and didn't sting their eyes etc!

[CUPCAKE1]

You're right, but I would hope that any ingredient proven to cause cancer would be banned from any suncream, not just children's?

[cherryapple]

The more reasearch I am doing on kids sun screens the more worried I am getting.I didnt realise the amount of chemicals that went into them and the effects on health. Ladies google ewg its the Environmental consumer work group website its frightening to read up on the products. I am going on holiday soon so I really need to buy some sun screen but I really dont know which on e now.

[CUPCAKE1]

Lucky you - wish I was going on holiday! I have always gone with an Australian brand as a dermatologist I knew told me they were the most advanced protection products and Australians certainly know their stuff where suncreams are concerned - 'slip, slop, slap' and all that!. For that reason, I have always used Banana Boat as it is one of the few that is tested by paedatricians. At the end of the day, children who have burned in the sun have a proven increased chance of getting skin cancer and as we use suncreams for such a short period of time, I for one want the best possible protection for them. I'm probably more worried about products I use over a prolonged period i.e. bubble bath and lotions as the chemicals in some of these are seriously worrying. Hope you have a lovely holiday!

[cherryapple]

Hi Sooty7 I also read about Banana boat sun screen. I have looked at the Green People website the childrens sun screen only goes as far as factor 25 and only has 3+ stars its sounds like a good product but its a shame its only a 3+ and isnt sold in a higher. Maybe there is a reason for this. Thankyou for your reply too Cupcake and tips
I am thinking about buying from Green people although the factor is only 25 but it seems to be the best I have found so far.

[stitchtime]

the best sunscreen, is long loose clothing, and staying out of the sun.
i would never use a suncscreen on a baby, because i dont want those nasty chemicals near my babies skin. but then, i was brought up in the desert, andmy attitude to the sun and the heat is very different from that of most people in the uk. i stay as far away from the sun as i possibly can. and whenother people are gettingtheir tiny vests andshorts out to wear, i am gettingmy long sleeved cotton tunic tops out.

[wasabipeanut]

Really interesting thread. I buy Green People bath and shampoos for all of us and have looked at sunscreens and their massive list of chemicals in horror.

I have been using an Aloe based one by Forever that is SPF30 but I'm still not happy. I was planning on getting some of the Green People stuff as it has recently appearned in Waitrose. I'd be more worried about ds getting burnt though as my dad has had 2 x chunks cut out of his ear which the doctors reckoned were a direct result of sunburn when he was a kid.

[wasabipeanut]

Stitchtime - totally agree with you on the clothing front and I practice this anyway. If ds wears a hat (I am obsessive on hat wear) does that mean we can do away with the sunscreen?

I thought we needed both?