Kids and sunscreen: Some advice for new parents

As summer fast approaches, as evidenced by high-than-average temperatures this weekend, new parents may be wondering which kind of sunscreen they should apply and where and when.

CBC Windsor spoke with Dr. WajidAhmed of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit to get some advice and answers.

Which SPF is needed?

It depends on the age. For children, SPF 30 is the recommended sunscreen they should use. If their kids are under the age of six months old, parents should talk to their health-care provider to see if it's good and feasible to use sunscreen.

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How often should sunscreen be applied?

It depends on the kind of activities kids are involved in. If they're sweating a lot or swimming or bathing, there's a tendency for the sunscreen to wash off and it needs to be applied it again in two or three hours.

Does waterproof really mean waterproof?

Ahmed said it's hard to comment because of the different manufacturers. However, the Canadian Cancer Society recommends buying any sunscreen that is labelled water resistant.

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Lotion or spray?

Ahmed said it depends on the product, so he declined to comment. However, dermatologists CBC spoke with in summer 2015 said sunscreen creams and lotions tend to provide better coverage than sprays or liquids.

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Additional tips for parents

The first thing is to avoid staying outdoors during the time of the day when the sun is most active and hottest, between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. If you cannot avoid it, and you're active, make sure your body is protected by sunscreen and by wearing light and lightly coloured clothing that prevents the heat from accumulating in the body. Drink water as much as you can.