Sunscreen and kids

[taylor3297]

Have you tried Blue Lizard yet? It's the only thing I have found that my DS3 can use. Its very frustrating not being able to just grab a bottle off the shelf at Target or the grocery store, but I'm glad I finally found something that works for him.

My dd would get a rash when we used any sunscreen until we found Blue Lizard. This stuff isn't cheap but it is worth every penny. Around here you can find it at CVS and Harris Teeter grocery store. A small 5 oz bottle costs $11.99. I just recently ordered 3 bottles at drugstore.com for $9.99.

My children use sunscreen at the pool and the beach. We reapply often.

When the kids are out playing in the cul-de-sac we do not put on sunscreen so they can get their vitamin D.

 

[Christine]

I used Blue Lizard last year with no problems. This year I bought Vanicream for Sensitive Skin through drugstore.com and, believe it or not, it seems even more neutral/less offending than Blue Lizard. I'm so happy!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS11 and I have very fair skin (red hair, blue eyes, fair skin). We burn very easily. He wears a swim shirt when we go to the pool or the beach. He very rarely goes without coverage. We found that even with coating him with sunscreen multiple times, he burned...so we started buying the swim shirts when he was around 7 y/o. For myself, as I get older and find more and more weird spots on my skin, I am more anal about the sunscreen. I use the spray for convenience, but have found that it doesn't cover very well sometimes. (found this out the hard way...think "candy cane"...) I go to the dermatologist yearly and he does the check...I've only had one thing on my face removed, and it was nothing (thank God). He always reminds me to wear sunscreen, and a hat (which I never do...I hate hats!) and better yet, stay out of the sun (yeah, right...I've got kids!)

My DS15 also has fair skin, but he tans better than the rest of us. He is at an age now that he'd rather die than have me (or anyone for that matter) spray his back with sunscreen. He'll spray the rest of his body that he can reach. He is going to camp in a couple of weeks, and I do worry about him burning. All I can do is reiterate the importance of using the sunscreen and pray that he uses it. What else can you do when you're not there with them?!

I can remember as a kid...there was no sunscreen! When I was about 8 years old, Johnson&Johnson came out with Sundown...I think this might have been the first sunscreen. Even when that came out, my parents didn't buy it right away. I can remember spending the entire day on the beach or in the pool, with NO coverage. I'd be burned so bad that blisters formed and I couldn't sleep on my back for days. I shudder to think of the damage done to my skin because of those days!

ETA: when my kids are just outside, playing catch in the yard, or riding bikes, or whatever, they don't wear sunscreen. They do wear ball caps most of the time. We mostly use sunscreen when we are in the water, or at an amusement park...

 

[Magpie]

Of course he applied it at home! I am not going to embarrassed him and have mommy apply the sunscreen at the field.

The kids asked him, and he is honest as can be and he said yes. They told him they could smell it, which is the reason I went on the search for unscented suncreen but could not find any. We were and still are using Coppertone Sport (or the generic). It works the best on my kids.

I could not fathom why they were teasing him, it seemed a no brainer to me that if you are going to stand on a baseball field for up to 3 hours that you would apply suncreen to the parts exposed.

I saw some of the moms pulling their kids off to the side to put the sunscreen on and the kids were embarrassed by it.

Oh and DH did confirm that DS was being teased, not that DS was just being overly sensitive, which he can be. DH kept the scorebook and was in the dugout. He was the one that asked me to find a unscented brand if I could.

I don't know your DS, but there's a good chance that getting an unscented sunscreen won't stop the teasing. The kids will just find something else to tease him about.

What I always told my children is that kids will tease as long as they're getting some kind of awesome reaction out of you. So don't entertain them. Laugh it off. Raise an eyebrow and look down your nose at them, like you're thinking, "Wow, these kids are SO immature." (My daughter's really good at this one, ) If you happen to think of a funny or snarky comment, make it.

And most importantly of all, project confidence. Even if they have hurt your feelings, don't let them see it. Even just seriously looking at them and saying calmly, "Wow, that's really mean. I'm not going to talk to you now," is better than letting them see you get upset.

Because kids are like sharks. If there's blood in the water, they'll go on a feeding frenzy.

"Sticks and stone will break my bones,
but words will never hurt me!"

Unless you let them.

 

[SaraJayne]

The only time I use sunscreen on the kids (or myself) is when we're at Disney or when we'll be at the beach all day.

Otherwise, we don't wear it. They have my olive skin and tan easily, so I'm not worried about burning (the only reason I would use sunscreen).

So, no, we rarely use it. Maybe a few times a summer.

 

[MineMail]

Because I have light eyes, I always wear sunglasses outside. As a result, I look like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz by the end of a day at the beach - my nose tans/burns more than the rest of my face. The sunblock sticks are great for that spot and for the ears as well.

This year, I've been using Neutrogena's moisturizer with SPF 45 daily and their SPF 100 sunblock for the pool/beach/park/gardening. It works great (no more red nose) and doesn't have that heavy sunblock smell. It's hypoallergenic, too. The only drawback is the cost, but BJs and Costco carry it in bulk and it goes on sale elsewhere regularly.

In the past, I always put sunblock on the kids during the day, but not if we went to the pool in the late afternoon/evening. We bring a canopy to the beach and find an umbrella-shaded seat at the pool. I took a new tact with my kids this year - I provide the sunblock and a reminder, but they have to apply it themselves. I'll help with backs, but it's really up to them to get the job done. Now that they can go to the pool by themselves, it's important that they remember to do it themselves. After two sunburns in May, they learned that it's better to spend five minutes applying the sunblock before they go to the pool, rather than be uncomfortable and in pain for days. I was impressed that they thought to take it with them to day camp, so they could re-apply it after swimming.

I just bought rash guard shirts for the first time. They wanted them so they could body-surf and boogieboard without getting scraped up by the sand. They wore them for a little while, but then took them off to swim and play in the sand. I'll have to point out the sunblock potential to see if they'll wear them more next time.

 

[DVC-Don]

We all use sunscreen here. I've had 8 bouts with basil skin cancer and one bout with melanoma (scared the crap out of me). My daughter (18 yo) is leaving for WDW next week with 4 friends and she told one she is packing plenty of sunscreen. Her friend looked at her and said "don't you know suncreen causes cancer?" and said she never uses it.

 

[Mkrop]

I don't know your DS, but there's a good chance that getting an unscented sunscreen won't stop the teasing. The kids will just find something else to tease him about.

What I always told my children is that kids will tease as long as they're getting some kind of awesome reaction out of you. So don't entertain them. Laugh it off. Raise an eyebrow and look down your nose at them, like you're thinking, "Wow, these kids are SO immature." (My daughter's really good at this one, ) If you happen to think of a funny or snarky comment, make it.

And most importantly of all, project confidence. Even if they have hurt your feelings, don't let them see it. Even just seriously looking at them and saying calmly, "Wow, that's really mean. I'm not going to talk to you now," is better than letting them see you get upset.

Because kids are like sharks. If there's blood in the water, they'll go on a feeding frenzy.

"Sticks and stone will break my bones,
but words will never hurt me!"

Unless you let them.

Because he is so sensitive, we work on this with him all the time. Telling him not to react, giving him comebacks etc. He is getting better.

DH was there when the teasing occurred but #1 is was not his team (he was not a coach just kept the book) so he did feel it was his place to say anything or even remind the kids about staying hydrated and or applying sunscreen like has has done in the past as a coach. and #2 he is a big proponent of letting kids work this out themselves and teaching DS to deal with it which is what we did.

We were just hoping an unscented version would just lessen it until they could find something else to tease each other about. I know boys rib each other all the time about stuff, just trying to find one less thing for them to joke about.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I'm guilty of being an "iffy" sunscreen applier. When we are at the pool on the weekends, I always forget. My son got his dad's complexion, so he doesn't burn. Now, over the weekend, we were out all weekend, and I did apply sunscreen on him and myself.

 

[sunlver]

I guess what I dont get it, so many say "Well my kids tan well and dont burn"..BUT..cant u still get skin cancer ??? I have heard on the news/and other programs, that most of our skin damage occurs when we are children?

I am the OP of this. I dont put it on my kids when they play in the backyard(though not out there long..too hot)..but I make sure it is applied all over when we go to the pool or to the beach, and reapply depending how long we are out there for?

 

[cepmom]

I used Blue Lizard last year with no problems. This year I bought Vanicream for Sensitive Skin through drugstore.com and, believe it or not, it seems even more neutral/less offending than Blue Lizard. I'm so happy!!!

I am wondering if I should try these for DD10...the past couple of weeks she has been getting an itchy rash after being out in the sun. First time it was on her tops of her feet the worst, this time on her shoulders. Not sure if its the sunblock she used or a reaction to the sun or just itchy from being burned or what. I used 3 different sunblocks and it happened each timeShe is pretty fair and does burn easily, but never had this problem before this year. I guess it's worth a shot anyway!

 

[Ember]

I guess what I dont get it, so many say "Well my kids tan well and dont burn"..BUT..cant u still get skin cancer ??? I have heard on the news/and other programs, that most of our skin damage occurs when we are children?

I am the OP of this. I dont put it on my kids when they play in the backyard(though not out there long..too hot)..but I make sure it is applied all over when we go to the pool or to the beach, and reapply depending how long we are out there for?

OP, this is one of those issues you'll have to trust yourself on. The short answer is, yes, even those who tan can get skin cancer as can dark skinned people. However, moles and other warning signs aren't as noticeable on darker skin which is why Asian American and African American melanoma patients have a greater tendency than Caucasians to present with advanced disease at time of diagnosis. To be fair, the risk is much higher for light skinned people, but tanning or dark skin is not an immunity by any stretch of the imagination.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world and incidences of it are on the increase. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. (The statistics include the fact that those born in the 1990's have a three times higher lifetime risk than those born in the 1960's.) There's also a misconception that skin cancer is easily treated by removing a mole or some such, so not really anything to be worried about. While if caught early the common types of skin cancer are highly treatable it is still a serious and potentially fatal disease. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 700,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the US, resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths.

If all that isn't enough to wear sunscreen, how about the idea that 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun. A bottle of anti-aging cream will do nothing but moisturize damaged skin. A bottle of sunscreen will prevent many of the signs of aging from happening.

All that said, the risks associated with the sun are still a mystery to many people. And the idea that the sun can be harmful is still a hard concept for many people to wrap their minds around. Add to that the fact that sunscreen is a bother to apply and you have to pay for it, and it's not hard to see why it's easier to do without.

The only thing I would contest in your statement is the idea that "most of our skin damage occurs when we are children." This isn't actually true. Contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure is not acquired before age 18; only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18.

Here's a little graph from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

Lifetime UV Exposure in the United States
Ages Average = Accumulated Exposure*

1-18 = 22.73 percent
19-40 = 46.53 percent
41-59 = 73.7 percent
60-78 = 100 percent

*Based on a 78 year lifespan

For more information try www.skincancer.org or www.canadianskincancerfoundation.com

 

[2binak]

DH's family has a history of skin cancer so we're careful about DD's sun exposure, but we're also careful about her exposure to the nasty chemicals in sunscreen. We want our DD to get enough sun that we don't have to worry about vitamin D deficiency, so if she is just running around the yard for a bit, we don't use sunscreen but if she's going to be in the sun for an extended period of time, we will use small amounts of sunscreen. We try to keep her out of the sun as much as possible though (canopy over her pool & sandbox & a Rayshade on her stroller) to avoid the need for sunscreen.

 

[LMC]

My daughter did this too and it was something as simple as coco butter in the lotion. Not the chemicals breaking her out but the coco butter.

well, I use it more on DD6 than DD8. The problem is DD8 has very very sensitive skin and every sun screen I have tried (believe me I've tried a lot...special ordered and everything) has made her break out in an itchy rash. Luckily she does tan easily and not burn. I do still use it in a light amount when we're really out all day in the sun (pool, festival, disneyworld, etc). Burts Bees has worked the best and has had the least reaction for her, but still makes her a little itchy even though we wash it off as soon as we're inside.

 

[C.Ann]

Everyone here at the lake uses it - consistently.. And even though they do, the sun was so strong this past weekend my adult DD got a nasty, nasty sunburn - using SPF 60.. DGD and her dad got a bit of a burn too (using the same) and of course now I'm concerned.. They reapplied it frequently - had applied it 15 minutes to a half-hour before they went outside - and burned anyhow..

I suggested she purchase a different brand this week because that one obviously didn't do what it was supposed to do..

What kind does everyone here use? Those of you who spend an entire day at the lake? Any suggestions for the best would be greatly appreciated..

As for the "tanning" remark that the mom made, both my DD and my DGD have always turned tan over the summer (with the use of sunscreen) as DD in particular is not fair-skinned at all.. Yet this weekend they burned..
That worries me..

 

[PollyannaMom]

Between the need for vitamin D, and the fact that DS hates sunscreen - when he's just playing outside here at home (and in and out of the shade a lot) I let it go. For the beach, amusement park, or when we're swimming, I get tough and make him wear it.

 

[Ember]

Everyone here at the lake uses it - consistently.. And even though they do, the sun was so strong this past weekend my adult DD got a nasty, nasty sunburn - using SPF 60.. DGD and her dad got a bit of a burn too (using the same) and of course now I'm concerned.. They reapplied it frequently - had applied it 15 minutes to a half-hour before they went outside - and burned anyhow..

I suggested she purchase a different brand this week because that one obviously didn't do what it was supposed to do..

What kind does everyone here use? Those of you who spend an entire day at the lake? Any suggestions for the best would be greatly appreciated..

As for the "tanning" remark that the mom made, both my DD and my DGD have always turned tan over the summer (with the use of sunscreen) as DD in particular is not fair-skinned at all.. Yet this weekend they burned..
That worries me..

That must have been one high UV index!

Sunscreen is generally divided into two types, physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens protect your skin from the sun by deflecting/blocking the sun's rays. This is what is known as sunblock. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sun's rays. They are known as sunscreens. Chemical filters offer more coverage against UVA and UVB rays than physical sunscreens.

You may want to look for a product with both physical and chemical protections if you're burning with an SPF 60.

Physical sunscreens include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Chemical sunscreens include octylcrylene, avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, oxybenzone, homosalate, 4-MBC, Mexoryl SX and XL, Tinosorb S and M, Uvinul T 150, Uvinul A Plus. (Though I believe Mexoryl isn't available in the US, while it is in Canada.) You can check the "active ingredients" on labels to see what the UV filter being used is.

Here's a short article on how to apply it properly (from http://cancer.about.com/od/skincancerprevention/ht/applysunscreen.htm ):

Many people apply sunscreen the wrong way. Learn how to maximize your sun protection by applying sunscreen properly.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 5 minutes

Here's How:

1. Fifteen to 30 minutes prior to going outdoors, apply sunscreen to areas of the body that will be exposed to the sun. You need to give the product time to be absorbed into the skin.
2. Enlist the help of a friend to apply sunscreen to the areas of the body that you may not be able to reach like the back.
3. Don't forget to apply sunscreen to areas that are commonly neglected, like the ears, face, hands, neck, and feet.
4. Every two hours, reapply sunscreen. Reapply after going into the water, even if sunscreen is "waterproof" or "water resistant." Waterproof and water-resistant sunscreens only offer 40 to 80 minutes of protection. It is essential to read the sunscreen label for exact times because every manufacturer is different.

 

[Pembo]

We always use sunscreen but I am the fair one that burns easily. We just returned from a week in Orlando and I have a nice tan (for me) after using my 30 spf every day religiously.

 

[Mommee]

Shouldn't' the below statistic be the other way around if sunscreen were the answer? More people use sunscreen today than before, but the number of cases kept rising?

OP, this is one of those issues you'll have to trust yourself on. The short answer is, yes, even those who tan can get skin cancer as can dark skinned people. However, moles and other warning signs aren't as noticeable on darker skin which is why Asian American and African American melanoma patients have a greater tendency than Caucasians to present with advanced disease at time of diagnosis. To be fair, the risk is much higher for light skinned people, but tanning or dark skin is not an immunity by any stretch of the imagination.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world and incidences of it are on the increase. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. (The statistics include the fact that those born in the 1990's have a three times higher lifetime risk than those born in the 1960's.) There's also a misconception that skin cancer is easily treated by removing a mole or some such, so not really anything to be worried about. While if caught early the common types of skin cancer are highly treatable it is still a serious and potentially fatal disease. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. An estimated 700,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the US, resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths.

If all that isn't enough to wear sunscreen, how about the idea that 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun. A bottle of anti-aging cream will do nothing but moisturize damaged skin. A bottle of sunscreen will prevent many of the signs of aging from happening.

All that said, the risks associated with the sun are still a mystery to many people. And the idea that the sun can be harmful is still a hard concept for many people to wrap their minds around. Add to that the fact that sunscreen is a bother to apply and you have to pay for it, and it's not hard to see why it's easier to do without.

The only thing I would contest in your statement is the idea that "most of our skin damage occurs when we are children." This isn't actually true. Contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of a person's lifetime sun exposure is not acquired before age 18; only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18.

Here's a little graph from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

Lifetime UV Exposure in the United States
Ages Average = Accumulated Exposure*

1-18 = 22.73 percent
19-40 = 46.53 percent
41-59 = 73.7 percent
60-78 = 100 percent

*Based on a 78 year lifespan

For more information try www.skincancer.org or www.canadianskincancerfoundation.com

 

[C.Ann]

That must have been one high UV index!

Sunscreen is generally divided into two types, physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens protect your skin from the sun by deflecting/blocking the sun's rays. This is what is known as sunblock. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sun's rays. They are known as sunscreens. Chemical filters offer more coverage against UVA and UVB rays than physical sunscreens.

You may want to look for a product with both physical and chemical protections if you're burning with an SPF 60.

Physical sunscreens include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Chemical sunscreens include octylcrylene, avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, oxybenzone, homosalate, 4-MBC, Mexoryl SX and XL, Tinosorb S and M, Uvinul T 150, Uvinul A Plus. (Though I believe Mexoryl isn't available in the US, while it is in Canada.) You can check the "active ingredients" on labels to see what the UV filter being used is.

Here's a short article on how to apply it properly (from http://cancer.about.com/od/skincancerprevention/ht/applysunscreen.htm ):

Many people apply sunscreen the wrong way. Learn how to maximize your sun protection by applying sunscreen properly.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 5 minutes

Here's How:

1. Fifteen to 30 minutes prior to going outdoors, apply sunscreen to areas of the body that will be exposed to the sun. You need to give the product time to be absorbed into the skin.
2. Enlist the help of a friend to apply sunscreen to the areas of the body that you may not be able to reach like the back.
3. Don't forget to apply sunscreen to areas that are commonly neglected, like the ears, face, hands, neck, and feet.
4. Every two hours, reapply sunscreen. Reapply after going into the water, even if sunscreen is "waterproof" or "water resistant." Waterproof and water-resistant sunscreens only offer 40 to 80 minutes of protection. It is essential to read the sunscreen label for exact times because every manufacturer is different.

Thanks so much for all of that info.. I'm really concerned about this and since they spend the day out on the boat (no shade; sun reflecting off the water; etc.) they really need to find something that offers better protection..

I was really upset when I saw that they were burned and made no bones about it.. I practically demanded that they find a better product to use.. I have a friend who lost her DH to skin cancer at the age of 45 - less than 6 months after he was diagnosed - and it scares the heck out of me!!

I will do some research this week to find the best product possible for their circumstances.. I don't want to see any more burns like that!!