Dr. Neil Alan Fenske, Director of Dermatology at USF Health, recommends physical sunscreens for children over chemical sunscreens. The main ingredients in physical sun blocks are Zinc or Titanium Oxide. He said children’s skin is still developing, and it’s best to not have chemicals absorb into their skin. He said children six months or younger should not be exposed to the sun at all.
Dr. Fenske said with physical and chemical sunscreens, you need to look for broad spectrum and use at least SPF 30. If you are using physical sunscreen and are spending time in the water, you may want to increase your SPF to 40 or 50.
Dr. Fenske said he recommends cream over spray sunscreens. He said spray coverage can be inconsistent. It is also flammable and you are at risk of inhaling it.
You want to avoid natural sunscreens.
“There aren’t, in my opinion, good, effective, botanicals as sunscreens to use on the skin… And we’ve had patients who have used them and gotten burns because it just wasn’t effective. So, it sounds good, but at the end of the day, it’s what works,” Dr. Fenske said.
Some good rules to follow: Put sunscreen on 15 minutes before you go outside, make sure you use at least an ounce, and re-apply every two hours.
How to Lower the Risk of Oral Cancer
How to Lower the Risk of Oral Cancer It is Oral Cancer Awareness Month which means it’s a good time to learn about how to lower the risk of Oral Cancer. Lowering your risk of oral cancer can be done by following these simple steps. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables...
Identifying Signs of Mouth Cancer
Identifying Signs of Mouth Cancer How can one tell if they have oral cancer? It’s important to know the specific areas in which cancer can spread in the mouth as well as knowing the signs and symptoms. If any of the symptoms persist for more than two weeks it is...
Oral Care Products for a Beautiful Smile
Oral Care Products for a Beautiful Smile Are you someone who loves smiling? Or are you someone who hides their smile because they feel as though their teeth don’t look healthy enough? Regardless if you’re either one of these people then you should already know that...