The FDA approved these chemicals when they first regulated sunscreen in the 1970s. Studies show that chemical ingredients in sunscreens can increase the risk of endometriosis in women, decrease sperm concentration in men, and lower testosterone levels in adolescent males. You may be thinking, well I put all sorts of lotions and products on my baby so why is this any different? Well some of the compounds in sunscreen can affect the hormone levels in your body. Once they get into your blood stream, they can be transferred through your body and into other bodily fluids, including breastmilk. However, because these chemicals get absorbed by the skin, they can also seep into your blood stream. Therefore, the UV rays are never actually hitting your skin because they are absorbed before coming into contact with it. These ingredients include Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, and Octocrylene which have been shown by research to have potential risks.Ĭhemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sun’s UV rays and then forming a chemical reaction to extinguish the UV rays. Related Post: Summer Must-Haves for Toddlers Chemical SunscreensĬhemical sunscreens have harmful, non-natural ingredients that could potentially cause health problems for you and your baby. The main difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens can be found in their ingredients and the process by which they block the UV rays. There are 2 different types of sunscreen: Chemical and Mineral sunscreens. That’s why it’s important to use sunscreen to keep it safe from sun damage and the effect’s of the sun’s harmful rays.īut did you know that many sunscreens contain chemicals that may have negative health effects for you and your baby? The 2 different types of sunscreensĪ baby’s fresh skin is much more delicate than ours. However, your face and hands will still always be exposed so it’s best to apply sunscreen to those areas all year round. Therefore, most of your body is already protected. When it’s cooler, you’re most likely wearing long pants and long sleeves. So why do we only protect ourself from the sun during the summer time? It may be stronger in the summer, but it can still cause damage in the colder winter months. The sun comes out all year, not just in the summertime. Related Post: 11 Tips and Ideas for Being Outside With Baby Sunscreen should be used all year round Before that age, prevent sun exposure with hats, sitting in the shade or under a canopy. It is recommended to use sunscreen once your baby is 6 months old. Related Post: Summer Must-Haves for Your Baby What age should I use sunscreen for my baby? When the sun’s UV rays penetrate the outer skin layers and pass into the deeper layers, that’s the main risk factor for damaging skin cells, sunburns, skin damage, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. So while our bodies do use the sun in a healthy way, overexposure can cause issues. Our skin gets a suntan because the sunlight that hits our skin causes it to produce more melanin and darken. Melanin attempts to protect the skin from the sun’s UV rays, which can burn, and over time, reduce its elasticity, causing premature aging. However, its UV rays can have harmful effects on our bodies, as well.Ī brief lesson on how sunlight is used by our bodies: The outer layer of our skin (and a baby’s skin) has cells which contain the pigment melanin. The skin needs some sunlight to produce vitamin D, which is important for normal bone strength and formation. The sun does have one benefit to our bodies. Why is the sun harmful for my baby’s skin? Please read disclaimer and privacy policy for full disclosure. This post may contain affiliate links which I would receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. In this post, I will go through safe sunscreen habits, what types of sunscreen are the best for you and your baby, and why it’s important to keep their skin safe. That’s why sunscreen is so important during those early years and for the rest of their life. The powerful capabilities of SPF can have a huge benefit when it comes to protecting your body and skin from skin cancer, skin damage, and premature aging. And that’s just for your baby!ĭon’t forget about keeping yourself safe in the sun, as well! I am guilty of not practicing safe sun habits for myself because with 2 under 2, I have enough to think about that I forget forget to protect myself. From making sure they wear a hat, providing them with plenty of water, lathering with sunscreen, and keeping them cool, there’s a lot to remember. Now that summer is here, taking your babies and toddlers outside to play has a whole slew of extra to-dos.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |