Do infants have to wear sunscreen?
The answer is absolutely!
Preventing unprotected exposure to UV light can help reduce the risk factor for skin cancer. Excessive exposure to UV light can cause immediate and long-term effects such as severe sunburn which can lead to skin blisters or long-term effects such as skin cancer.
What can I use/do to protect my infant from long and short-term effects from UV light?
- While being outside seek or create shade by using an umbrella, canopy, or the hood of a stroller.
- Avoiding peak sun hours (10 am – 12 pm)
- Using UV light protective clothing
- Choosing a waterproof, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30
- Dr. Shokeen’s favorite roll-on child sunscreen is Sheer Zinc Kids Mineral Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50+
- Use sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as these will be less irritating to a baby’s skin
- Reapply every 2-hours (and after swimming or sweating)
