What is the best sunscreen?

I love summertime! It is great to be outdoors enjoying beautiful days at the beach, pool and water parks. I feel a good mood in the air!

Even though we should apply sunscreen on every day, it is especially important during summer.

According to World Heath Organization (WHO) kids are at higher risk of suffering UV damage than adults, requiring special protection. They say that skin cancer risk significantly increase with a single sunburn in childhood, which could be prevented by adopting simple precautions.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that unprotected skin can be damaged by UV rays in as little as 15 minutes and the WHO says that tanned skin is damage skin. Any change in the color of your child's skin after time outside - whether sunburn or suntan - indicates damage from UV rays.

For better protection, WHO and the CDC recommend to stay out of the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. during summer, to cover up your child's skin with clothes and hats that protect against UV rays and to apply sunscreen generously 30 minutes before going outdoors on the parts of the body that remain exposed , like the face and hands. They also say that sunscreen should never be used to prolong the duration of sun exposure and that it is important to reapply it every 2 hours specially after your child swims or exercise ( and this apply to "water resistant" and "waterproof" as well).

According to Patricia Treadwell, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis " The sun protection factor (SPF) should be at least 15, but you generally don't need to go higher than 30: Over than that and you're getting smaller and smaller amounts of added protection - which, in a chemical sunscreen means a higher dose of unwanted chemicals."

Today there is a large variety of sunscreens on the pharmacy's shelves, but which one is the best?

Consumer Reports Health identifies tree "CR Best Buys:"

1 - Up & Up Sport SPF 30 (Target) - Spray

2 - No-Ad with Aloe and Vitamin E SPF 45 - Lotion

3 - Equate Baby SPF 50 - Lotion

All three products provide "Excellent" protection against UVB (which causes sunburn) and "Very Good" protection against UVA (penetrates deeper than UVB causing tanning and aging of the skin).

Good thing to know is that you don't have to pay to much to get a very good sunscreen. Some very expensive ones scored lower overall comparing to a less expensive.

So, let's protect ourselves and enjoy the summer!

Picture's source: http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=19791&searchId=cd7d7c15cba840f8cc7c835623e80f69&npos=22