By Dr. Deborah Schwartz, Chester Pediatrics
Spring has sprung, which means we will be spending more time outside. While we soak up the rays, it is very important to remember your sun safety!
• Wear clothes with a tight weave (items may be labeled with Ultraviolet Protection Factor)
• Wear a hat with a three-inch brim to cover your face, ears, and neck
• Limit exposure between 10 am and 4 pm when the UV rays are the strongest
• Wear sunglasses with 99% UV protection
• Use sunscreen (and do not forget to reapply)
• Keep babies under 6 months of age out of direct sun exposure
The best choice of sunscreen is those that are both PABA and chemical-free. The ONLY ingredients should be ZINC OXIDE and TITANIUM OXIDE. They are inert mineral substances that are hypoallergenic and should not irritate eyes. Anytime that you are using a new brand, we suggest that you apply it to a small area of skin to check for an allergic reaction.
The following brand’s manufacture products that contain these active ingredients:
Badger
Bare Republic
Banana Boat Baby
Blue Lizard
Botanical
CeraVe
Coppertone Pure and Simple
Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin
Mustela
Naturally Serious Mineral Sun Defense
REN Clean screen
Poof 100% Mineral Part Powder (great for your scalp)
Sun Bum
Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas
Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before going outside
Use sunscreen even on cloudy days.
No sunscreen is completely waterproof. We suggest reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating or drying off with a towel
SPOTMYUV® is the world’s first clinically proven UV Detection Sticker that gives you a clear view of your sun protection. Each time you cover your SPOTMYUV® sticker with sunscreen, your SPOT will turn clear, showing you that you’re protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays. When your sunscreen wears off, SPOTMYUV® turns purple again to remind you to reapply your sunscreen. Each SPOT lasts one day, 12 hours of outdoor sunlight. Learn more at www.Spotmyuv.com.
