With all the beautiful weather and outdoor fun, summer also brings with it lots of insect bites and potential sun damage! According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. So, let’s talk about the best ways to protect your kiddos from harmful sun rays and lower the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

For babies less than 6 months old the key is to cover up as much skin as possible. That means put on a wide brim hat and long sleeves and leave the super cute itty bitty bathing suit at the house! Babies this young need to be kept out of direct sunlight and in the shade as they can easily overheat and their sensitive skin is more likely to burn.

For babies older than 6 months and young children, I recommend using mineral sunscreens which are not absorbed, but actually stay on top of the skin and physically reflect the sun's UVA/UVB rays. These sunscreens consist of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and they tend to leave a white film on the skin. Make sure you look at the label, because you don’t want just titanium dioxide by itself as it is not quite as broad spectrum as zinc oxide.

For older children and teens, based on current research, it is considered safe by the FDA, to apply chemical sunscreens which are designed to absorb the sun’s harmful rays rather than reflect them. Some ingredients you might see on a label might be: oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, or octocrylene to name a few. Be cautious of aerosol sunscreen as it is difficult to apply evenly and has the potential to be ingested if used on the face. As of now, there is no research showing harm from these topical ingredients. However, the FDA is currently researching the level of absorption and effect that these chemicals have on the human body. Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen, so it is recommended to continue to use these products until more data is available.

It is best to plan your outdoor play time when the sun’s harmful rays are the lowest, which means avoiding direct sunlight during the hours of 10am to 2pm. Please choose a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30-50 and remember to reapply sunscreen at least every 90 minutes, sooner if spending time in the water or with excessive sweating. UV blocking sunglasses will also help protect your eyes from sun damage, so grab some cool shades and enjoy your summer!

If you have any questions leave a comment below. Happy summer!

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