

“These ingredients are considered physical sunscreens,” explains Marissa J. The active ingredient list should contain only titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (that's a good rule of thumb when shopping for your own sunscreen, too!). When shopping for baby sunblock, look for a formula labeled “broad-spectrum" - that means it will protect against both UVB and UVA rays. “You can keep them in a shade tent, under an umbrella and in sun-protective clothing.” Just remember that if you’re at the beach, the sun can reflect off sand or water and into your otherwise shady area. “Unless you have a child way ahead of their developmental landmarks, they aren’t mobile and running around,” notes Bernard Cohen, M.D., professor of pediatric dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The good news? For baby’s first summer, keeping her out of direct sunlight shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. For babies 6 months or older, you can apply a baby-safe sunscreen with SPF 30–50 to all exposed areas of your little one's body. But when it comes to sunscreen for babies, especially infants, the guidelines aren’t quite as clear.įor newborns and babies under 6 months, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that parents can apply a minimal amount of baby-safe sunscreen with an SPF of 30-50 (no lower than SPF 15, though) to the face, back of the hands and tops of the feet. “Such ingredients can directly affect the health of the fetus, causing developmental problems and birth defects as well as low birth weights, coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and others,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologic surgeon in New York City.You know you’re supposed to wear sunscreen every day, year-round. If a pregnant woman uses a chemical sunscreen that contains oxybenzone, she runs the risk of it being absorbed into the bloodstream, which can impact the fetus. What sunscreens should you avoid if you're pregnant?

"They never enter through intact skin, have no adverse effects on humans or the environment, and arguably give better broad spectrum protection.” “Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the only two sunscreen ingredients that currently meet the FDA criteria for being considered Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective (GRASE)," says Dr.

Specifically, you'll want to look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide on the label. If you're pregnant, your safest choice is a mineral sunscreen. What sunscreens are best if you're pregnant?
#Thinkbaby sunscreen review as a facial sunscreen skin
These sit on the surface of the skin and deflect and scatter damaging UVA rays away. The second type, physical blockers, (also known as mineral sunscreens) contain active mineral ingredients like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. “These compounds create a chemical reaction and work by changing UV rays into heat, then releasing that heat from the skin,” says Rhonda Klein, MD, and partner at Modern Dermatology. What is the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens?Ĭhemical sunscreens contain carbon-based compounds, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone. Scroll down for 15 expert-approved pregnancy-safe sunscreens to consider. The reality is, while it's important to protect your skin from the sun at all times, certain chemical ingredients in your everyday sunscreen can potentially be harmful to your baby's development.īut there’s no need to worry-we laid out everything you might be wondering about pregnancy-safe SPFs, including some options from brands specifically formulated for moms and babies. Dudley MD, ob-gyn and founder of The Sunscreen Company, Rhonda Klein, MD, and partner at Modern Dermatology, Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologic surgeon in New York City, Sheila Farhang, MD, board certified dermatologist and founder of Avant Dermatology & Aesthetics Dudley MD, ob-gyn and founder of The Sunscreen Company. "The greatest misconception is that all sunscreens are safe in pregnancy," says Denis K. But, you might not have thought to double check the ingredients in your sunscreen. Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, noticing early signs of pregnancy, or are about to deliver next week, you probably already know the basics to avoid when you’re expecting, like alcohol and sushi.
