In principle, children under 36 months should not be exposed to the sun. But what to do when you don’t necessarily have a choice? Can you apply sunscreen to a baby and at what age? Which one to choose ? We take stock with Pr Annabel Maruani, dermatologist.
Babies’ skin is particularly sensitive to the sun’s rays. Beyond sunburn, there is a risk of sun allergy, dehydration and sunstroke. Good sun protection is therefore essential. Here are the recommendations of Pr Annabel Maruani, head of the pediatric dermatology unit and coordinator of the Reference Center for Rare Skin Diseases in Tours, before exposing her child to the sun.
Why should a baby not be exposed to the sun?
Given his immaturity, babies’ skin is thinner and more sensitive than that of adults. Consequently, it is more permeable to chemical agents and to UV rays until the age of 3 years. Little resistant, the skin of the infant bears the brunt of external aggressions (cold, wind, rain, friction). It is therefore more prone to dryness, irritation and other redness. As for exposure to the sun, it has long been known that sunburns caught in childhood considerably increase the risk of developing skin cancer in adulthood.
From what age can you put sunscreen on a baby?
“Babies under 36 months should not be exposed to the sun at all because their skin is not able to defend itself against ultraviolet rays“, warns Professor Annabel Maruani. And for good reason, the production of melanin is lower than in adults, which makes babies’ skin is extremely sensitive to ultraviolet rays. In the same way, as it secretes less sebum, the skin dries out more easily. “Beyond 6 months, in the event of forced exposure, it is possible to use a sunscreen containing a mineral screen, in addition to the hat, glasses and light clothing that covers the child’s body.“, she continues.
“Babies under 36 months should not be exposed to the sun at all because their skin is not able to defend itself against ultraviolet rays.”
With which cream to protect an infant from the sun?
“There is no sunscreen to apply to toddlers since they should not be exposed to UV rays. When we take them for a walk and it is sunny, we manage to stay in shaded areas and we make sure that they are always covered. We put a hat, glasses, clothes and protection on the level of the stroller, because the UV rays always infiltrate”, argues the pediatric dermatologist.
However, if exposure is truly unavoidable, the best sunscreens for children under 2 are those that do not have filters and contain mineral screens. For what ? Because conventional sunscreens are potentially allergenic and are slightly endocrine disruptors.
What sunscreen to use for a baby?
The best baby sunscreens containing mineral screens are:
- Baby and child sunscreen spf 50+ Alga Maris – Biarritz Laboratories
- Photoderm Pediatrics Mineral Multi-Resistant Sun Protection SPF 50+ BIODERMA
- Uriage Baby 1st Mineral Sun Cream SPF50+ 50ml
How often do you put sunscreen on it?
Although it is recommended to avoid the sun as much as possible, it is possible toapply sunscreen to a baby every 2 hours. We also make sure to avoid the hottest hours (between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.).
Thanks to Pr Annabel Maruani, head of the pediatric dermatology unit and coordinator of the Reference Center for Rare Skin Diseases in Tours