To use factor 30 on a 2 year old?

[wowsaid]

Should I be using 50?

Factor 50, unless you’ve run out and it’s an emergency and you can’t keep them out the sun then 30. Why would you choose to use 30 otherwise?

As long as it's 5 star there really is no difference. Or so I've read. I've always used factor 30 on my ds.

I heard after a certain number there's no difference. Something is better than nothing.

I find 50s so heavy! But I shall continue to use 50

Also, I would like one bottle for the whole family, instead of a few. But that's a minor annoyance

There is negligible difference between factor 30 and factor 50. Just make sure you apply properly and reapply often - most people don't apply enough and don't reapply often enough.

Honestly op a 5 star factor 30 is fine. Provided you use enough, reapply and keep your toddler in the shade when the UV is highest it is totally fine.

If you're looking for a better factor 50 try Altruist. You can buy on amazon. Developed by dermatologists at a great price and part of the proceeds go to charitable causes. Fragrance free and great to apply. We don't use anything else. My eldest son has albinism so needs a good sunscreen from April to September and he's never had a burn.

I'm negligent because I've been using whatever is in the cupboard on my 2 year old, which is 15. It's UVA and UVB protection. I just put it on a bit more often than if it was 30 or 50. She's been outside every day since lockdown pretty much and she's still white as a sheet.

Not a toddler, but I am a very fair skinned red head, there's negligible difference as long as you apply thoroughly and regularly. I get spots with fifty, it's just too heavy and greasy

Yes I much prefer 30

I thought 50 was bad because it clogs up pores and doesn't let the skin breathe?

So 30 but apply more times.

My girls are really fair, and we've used 30 or 50 depending on time of year.
People may not like my opinion but I like them to get a little sun, I think it's important too. As long as it's done safely - If they are on holiday in the pool all day I put them in a swimsuit to ankles & wrists as they don't want factor 50 smothered on them all day.
It's your child you decide what's safest for them and

The SPF just tells you how long you can stay in the sun for. So SPF30 just means less time in the sun or you reapply more.

The actual protection it gives is the same. It's to do with time spent between applications.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz thanks that's my understanding too. We don't bathe in the sun ever so I think 30 could be ok

I remember not that long ago a Dr on the television saying factor 30 was safer than factor 50.
There is a tiny difference in the proportion of UV rays that SPF50 blocks out compared to SPF30, so I use 30

@CherryStoneTree Factor 50, unless you’ve run out and it’s an emergency and you can’t keep them out the sun then 30. Why would you choose to use 30 otherwise?
I don’t think you understand how suncream works. Say you would burn in ten mins with no cream you can stay in the sun for 300 minutes if you use factor 30 or 500 minutes with factor 50. So you just apply more if you will be outside for a long time.

The amount of light that gets blocked is 1 - (1/SPF)

So 30 SPF blocks out 1 - (1/30) = 96.6%
And 50 SPF blocks out 1 - (1/50) = 98%

So the difference is marginal to be honest. What really matters is liberal application

We've all used 50 since the kids came along, it's easier than having multiple bottles!

We always allow ours a little sun as vitamin D is really important and it's hard to get through food alone.

@wowsaid

As someone who was diagnosed earlier this week with melanoma skin cancer, I am following the dermatologist advice for myself and will be for my daughter (due in a few months) and any future children - factor 50 for March-October, applied every 2 hours. Ensuring it is at least a 4* rating and that it is broad spectrum. Sunburn in the first 20 years of your life ups your risk a lot according to my skin cancer nurse.

I'm keen to make others aware so that they are spared what I am currently going through.

Vitamin D

We always allow ours a little sun as vitamin D is really important and it's hard to get through food alone.

If only there were widely available, cheap to buy supplements for vitamin D.....

I would use factor 50 tbh, I’m fair skinned, not a red head or really pale, and I get burnt with five star factor 30 despite applying frequently and very heavily, not in the UK mind you, I use factor 15 here and am fine and get a nice tan, but for a child I would use the highest factor possible.

I lived in Australia between 2009 and 2017, and couldn't buy Factor 50. Factor 30 was the highest. The reasoning was, that people assumed that F50 was almost twice as effective as F30 for UV protection, when actually the difference is minimal (F50 is 1% more effective than F30). You just need F30, applied more often and correctly.