On sunny days at the pool, it’s easy to remember to slather sunscreen on the kids. But one local skin expert says that’s not enough. Especially in Arizona, daily sunscreen needs to be as second nature as wearing sunglasses.
We asked Dr. Jennifer Linder, a Scottsdale dermatologist and skin-cancer surgeon (she’s also a biomedical engineer and chemist), why it’s important for both kids and adults to be vigilant about sunscreen.
“Sunburn is detrimental to skin of any age, as it increases your chance of developing skin cancer,” says Linder, who also is chief scientific officer for PCA Skin, an international skin-care company based in Scottsdale. “Daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, all year long, is critical.”
A mother of three girls—ages 5, 2, and a newborn—Linder says her active family isn’t afraid to get outdoors, but they’re vigilant about reapplying sunscreen every two hours and staying out of the midday sun. Here’s her sun-safety advice:
Why is it wrong to think about sunscreen only at the beach, park or pool?
The reality is that most people don’t think to wear sunscreen every day. They think of it as something to use when they go to the beach. This mind-set is slowly changing, but not quickly enough. Sunscreen is, of course, something I see as a non-negotiable for all ages, all year long.
It’s especially important in Arizona. What are the best ways to protect young skin?
Although there are more days of intense sun here in Arizona, skin can burn even in overcast weather, and damage is still being caused. Daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day all year long is critical. The best way to protect skin is to avoid the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You should wear wide-brimmed hats, protective clothing and lots of sunscreen.
What are the ingredients to look for in a good sunscreen for kids?
It is best to opt for formulations consisting of physical sunscreens, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Although chemical-sunscreen ingredients are safe, infants have a higher skin-surface area compared to their weight, meaning that more transdermal absorption of drugs or cosmetics can be expected. This makes physical agents safer for these young children. As they [children] age, chemical sunscreens are perfectly safe.
The FDA [recommends] that a pediatrician needs to be consulted prior to applying sunscreen to anyone younger than 6 months old. Certainly sunburn is detrimental to skin of any age, as it increases your chance of developing skin cancer. With young infants and babies, the first-line strategies should always be sun avoidance, wide-brimmed hats and protective clothing.
How often do you need to reapply sunscreen?
It is important to reapply SPF every two hours or immediately after swimming or heavy perspiration.
Does the SPF number matter, and what one should you look for on a label?Â
The number on the bottle only represents the protection from UVB rays. What is the most important is that it is broad spectrum, meaning it protects from the whole UV spectrum. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 is a good option.
What do you say to people who are concerned about sunscreen blocking production of vitamin D?
No amount of unprotected sun exposure is a good thing due to the potential of skin cancer. Vitamin D is easily boosted through diet and oral supplementation.
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