Health Watch: Here are the best sunscreens for kids, according to a Maryland dermatologist

Health Watch: Here are the best sunscreens for kids, according to a Maryland dermatologist

Health Watch: Here are the best sunscreens for kids, according to a Maryland dermatologist

Sunscreen is not one size fits all, and Maryland dermatologist Dr. Kate Viola has recommendations that fit all age groups

Sun safety is a topic that is near and dear to Dr. Viola’s heart. The board-certified dermatologist with Dermatology Partners said when children and teens get five or more sunburns, the likelihood of them getting a melanoma later in life doubles.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

Dr. Viola recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours and after being in the water.

Sun care for babies

Babies under the age of six months old should not be out in the sun, according to Dr. Viola.

“Their skin is too sensitive even for sunscreen,” she said.

For babies six months and older, Dr. Viola recommends mineral sunscreen, which is great for sensitive skin.

Mineral sunscreens include ingredients like zinc oxide or zinc oxide plus titanium dioxide. The SPF should be at least 30, but Dr. Viola said this type of sunscreen is usually around 50 SPF.

She recommends products from Eucerin and Vanicream.

Sun care for toddlers to 5-year-olds

“What I love to do for the toddler to five years range is have your child actually put the sunscreen on themselves,” Dr. Viola said. “One great way to do it is with a stick.”

She recommends using four passes of the CeraVe Sunscreen Stick for optimal protection.

“You can teach your child how to use this, and this is really a gift for life of sun protection,” said Dr. Viola.

Sun care for teens

Since teens and tweens tend to have a little bit of acne, Dr. Viola recommends morning and evening face moisturizers from CeraVe and La Roche-Posay.

“A lot of acne products can be drying, so if you do an a.m. and p.m. with moisturizer, you get all of your bases covered, which is great,” she said.

Young athletes can use UV sports sunscreens. Sunscreen sprays are also a convenient option, but Dr. Viola warns against doing just one layer of coverage. You need to keep spraying until you shine, she says.

“That’s what we always say; until you glisten,” Dr. Viola said. “That’s the way to go.”

She recommends using sprays from Eucerin and La Roche-Posay.

“There’s several others [that] make great sprays that are both mineral as well as the non-mineral or chemical sunscreens, and those work very well,” she said.

Dr. Viola also said UPF clothing, which is designed to shield UV light, is equivalent to wearing 50 SPF. She recommends brands like Coolibar, which received the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation.

4th of July party preparation is in full swing. I’m sure by now you are checking to make sure you have everything on your list: ice, drinks, hot dogs, plates and napkins. But there is one product you may be forgetting that is essential for your health — sunscreen. Especially during the summer months, sunscreen is crucial to protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays, which can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. But with so many different SPF numbers out there, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. We asked a dermatologist, so you don’t have to.

What is SPF?

SPF, or sun protection factor, describes the amount of solar energy needed to produce a sunburn on protected skin relative to unprotected skin, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. Logic would follow, then, that wearing a higher SPF would offer you better protection when you’re out and about, basking in the sun’s rays.

Is a higher SPF better?

Is higher SPF sunscreen more protective in a measurable way that actually matters? The tested difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is small, according to Dr. Steven Daveluy, board-certified dermatologist and program director at Wayne State University Department of Dermatology. There was a difference of 96.7% blocking vs. 98% blocking, in one example he provided. Research on people wearing sunscreen out in “real life” has suggested higher SPFs are more protective, Daveluy said in an email.

Combine this with the fact you’re probably not wearing enough sunscreen — studies have shown people apply only 25% to 50% of the amount that they should, Daveluy said — and a higher SPF may come out reasonably more protective.

“You should use about 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover your head, neck, arms and legs when wearing shorts and a T-shirt,” Daveluy recommended, adding that people without hair should use a little more.

“That means your 3-ounce tube of sunscreen is only three applications,” Daveluy said. “Most people are not using that amount.”

What is the minimum SPF you need in a sunscreen?

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends your sunscreen be SPF 30 or higher. It also recommends you look for sunscreen that has broad-spectrum protection (it protects against UVA and UVB rays) and make sure it’s water-resistant.

“If you follow the recommendations for the proper amount of sunscreen, then SPF 30 is great,” Daveluy said. If you think you’re skimping on the layers, though, a higher SPF could offer more benefit. He added that he generally recommends looking for at least SPF 50 or 60.

Does skin tone matter when choosing an SPF?

People with darker skin tones have more melanin, which does offer some protection from the sun’s damaging rays. For this reason, skin cancer rates in people of color are lower than rates in white people, but the risk isn’t zero. Research also suggests that people of color may be more likely to experience a missed or late diagnosis of skin cancer, making outcomes more dangerous. (It’s also important to note that melanoma can have other causes besides exposure to sunlight or UV rays, and can show up in areas not typically exposed to sun.)

“SPF 30 is the minimum for everyone,” Daveluy said. He added that tinted sunscreens may be a better fit for darker skin tones, leaving less of a white cast.

“If you have very fair skin, the higher [SPF] numbers may be a good idea, especially if you aren’t using the proper amount, because you will see the consequences of underuse more easily,” Daveluy said.

Sunscreen red flags

As long as you’re wearing a minimum of SPF 30, applying it properly and also looking for products that are broad spectrum and water resistant, you’ve got the basics down. Daveluy added that for people with sensitive skin, finding a mineral sunscreen with “active ingredients of zinc and/or titanium” may be a good choice.

Daveluy pointed out other measures of protecting yourself from the sun, including wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sun-protective clothing and hanging out in the shade when possible. But don’t forget that sunscreen has a proven safety record going back for decades, he said.

“The biggest red flags for sunscreen are any people or reports that try to tell you sunscreen isn’t safe,” Daveluy said.

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If you are struggling to find a sunblock that doesn’t exacerbate oily or acne-prone skin as the weather warms up, you’re going to want to read this. We did some research and testing, and backed it up with expert advice from dermatologists, to create a list of the best options on the market.

“When looking for a face sunscreen for oily skin, you want one that has no greasy or occlusive properties,” says Serena Mraz, M.D., board-certified dermatologist of Solano Dermatology and Associates in California. That means looking for a sunscreen that’s non-comedogenic (a.k.a. not pore clogging) and oil-free, says Teresa Song, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical.

Specifically, Dr. Song recommends looking for mineral-based sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide, since these sit on the skin without exacerbating skin oil production. “You can also opt for matte-finished sunscreens, which contain oil-absorbing ingredients like dimethicone and non-nano zinc oxide,” she says.

Meet the experts: Teresa Song, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical; Serena Mraz, M.D., board-certified dermatologist of Solano Dermatology and Associates in California; Mary Lupo, M.D., board-certified dermatologist in Louisiana

With these expert insights in mind, find our top recommendations for the best sunscreen for oily skin, including mineral sunscreens, brightening sunscreens, and options for acne-prone skin. And if you’re looking for top sunscreens for your body, the best zinc oxide sunscreens, and best sunscreen for kids, we’ve got top-rated picks for those, too.

We’ve been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

I don’t leave the house without applying sunscreen on my exposed skin, no matter what the season or weather. And for good reason: Dermatologists agree that the most important thing you can do to keep your skin healthy and youthful long-term is wear sunscreen every single day — and that goes for all skin tones, from fair to dark. In addition to causing skin cancer, UV exposure causes about 80% of visible signs of skin aging, a study found. But after decades of trying countless SPFs, I know that finding one that you actually like to apply (and reapply) can be tricky.

Thankfully, Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab scientists are constantly testing body and face sunscreens to find the best on the market to protect your skin all year long. They evaluate both chemical sunscreens, which absorb UV light to prevent it from penetrating skin, and mineral sunscreens, which form a barrier that reflects, scatters and absorbs UV light off of skin.

In the GH Beauty Lab’s latest body sunscreen test, our experts collected 4,883 consumer feedback data points to identify the winning formulas, which were evaluated for sun protection efficacy, ease of application and look and feel on skin. Ahead, the Beauty Lab’s best-tested sunscreens for all skin types, from oily and acne-prone to dry and sensitive.

GH Beauty Lab note: None of the sunscreens recommended in this story contain the active ingredients octinoxate or oxybenzone, which are currently banned in Hawaii.

There are two types of sunscreen filters: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens use organic materials like oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octocrylene, and octisalate to offer sun protection. These work by absorbing the sun’s rays, turning it into heat, then releasing said heat through skin. This process takes about 15 minutes, so if you’re using chemical sunscreen filters, then you should be giving yourself at least that much time before heading outdoors. Because of their properties, chemical filters tend to be more cosmetically elegant and can be formulated into lightweight moisturizers and oils. There are a few drawbacks with chemical sunscreens. The first: They need to be applied more often than mineral sunscreens because they’re not photostable and break down upon exposure to UV light. Second, there have been studies suggesting that chemical sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate can seep into water while you swim and bleach coral reefs. Some chemicals have been linked to endocrine disruption, although the data isn’t conclusive. Chemical sunscreens tend to be more irritating, as allergies to the active ingredients are more common.

Mineral sunscreens act as a physical barrier between you and UV rays, scattering the light when it hits your skin. There are two main ingredients that act as physical blockers — titanium and zinc oxide. These block a wide range of UV wavelengths and are photostable, meaning you don’t have to reapply as frequently (though you should still stick to the two-hour rule). Titanium and zinc oxide are well tolerated by all skin types, including sensitive, and less likely to cause a reaction. The zinc oxide is a key component in preventing hyperpigmentation, so it’s often recommended by dermatologists for patients with melasma or dark marks. In contrast to chemical sunscreens, physical filters aren’t as smooth or lightweight. They tend to leave a white cast on skin, which makes it challenging for deeper skin tones. Mineral formulas have come a long way thanks to zinc nanoparticles, which rub in more easily.

To get the benefits of both, you can opt for a hybrid formula, which contains chemical and mineral filters.