Keep babies out of the sun

Sun Protection

Can sunscreens be used on babies and young children?

We have no evidence to suggest that sunscreens are harmful to young children when used in small amounts on the face and hands. Their skin, however, is more likely than an adult's to absorb the ingredients in the sunscreens, and the rest of their body is best protected with clothing rather than sunscreen. Babies under 6 months old should be kept out of the sun altogether.

What do SPF numbers mean?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and is a laboratory measure, which grades the ability of a sunscreen to filter out UVB rays. The higher the number, the more protection you get. The number gives you an idea of how much longer it would take your skin to become red when using a sunscreen, compared to being in the sun without using a sunscreen. For example, SPF 15 means you can spend fifteen times as long in the sun than if you were unprotected, before getting burned. However, we also now believe that life time exposure to the sun increases our risk of skin cancer. So the Cancer Research Campaign recommends the use of SPF 15+ products for everyone. If you are unsure ask your pharmacist for advice.

What is the shelf life of a sunscreen?

Most sunscreens will last about two years, and should be stored at a temperature less than 80C. Sunscreens vary considerably in their ability to survive heat undamaged, but if you leave them in excessive heat (for instance in the glove-box of a hot car or in the sun on a beach), you run the risk that the product will deteriorate.

Types of sunscreens

Cream sunscreens read more