Sun Screen

My child's doctor told us to use Neutrogena with Helioplex. She said it is the only thing on the market that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. It is fairly easy to find and you can get it in either a spray (mist) or a cream. The SPF on the one I have is 70. It is the Waterguard Kids version and I have been very happy with it. My friend who's daughter is a fair skinned, red haired girl has also been happy with it. Hope that helps.

Most sunscreens really work, the key is to use them properly. You will need to apply a chemical sunblock 30 minutes prior to sun exposure because they do take time to activate and start protecting. Physical blocks like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are effective immediately. No matter which sunscreen you choose you will need to reapply every 2 hours or even more frequently if your child is sweating or swimming.

Banana Boat w/ 50 spf works on my toe headed little guy. I just have to continually put it on him - every 30-60 minutes. I also have a sunscreen stick that I use on his nose, cheeks, forehead and top of ears - it seems to stay on longer b/c it is thick like a chap stick.

My dermatologist said that Neutrogena and Coppertone are the best brands. They are the ones that do the research and the other companies follow them. She also said to use 50 spf or higher. I use the Neutrogena with helioplex. These work for my kids and they are light skinned, mainly b/c I always put sunscreen on them! :o) Make sure you apply it often. Your child might be getting red b/c of heat not just sunburn. Arbonne works but is a bit pricey. Apply it every 2-3 hours especially if in a pool or sweating.

Arbonne- it is like a shield! I too have very fair skinned children. I had my son out playing in th pool a week or so ago- his first real time playing directly in the sun for hours and nothing..not even the tiniest bit of pink anywhere. One other great thing about it- I may reapply it once- maybe twice while we're at the beach, playing in the ocean, during an entire day.

I agree with the use of something that has zinc oxide - an actual block. I use one from on an on-line company - it works great for sensitive skin too - like my son's.

Be very careful of what you put on your little blondies' skin; it too may cause a problem in years to come.

The best remedy is cover up your little blondie with a sun hat; no sun visor because the scalp can get sunburned as well; it happened to my daughter who is fair. Dress your little blondie with colors that reflect the sun rays and see how she/he fairs.

--D

Bullfrog! It works like a charm and it is made specifically for kids. I used it on my oldest daughter when she was little because she was so fair-complexioned. She would burn at nothing. Her pediatrician's nurse actually told me about Bullfrog. I used it on her when we went to the lake and it did wonders so it went with us to the beach every time we drove down and she wore it at the pool and when playing in the yard here in the summer because it gets so hot.

Our summer temperatures can get up as high as the 100s with almost as high humidity so the kids, though now there is only our youngest, only go out in the summer until 11am and then they are inside until well after 4pm when it starts cooling down outside. I wrap our youngest in Bullfrog too even though she's darker than her sister (she has my complexion unlike her sister) but still with 100-degree heat, you can burn regardless of how dark-skinned one is. I use it if I'm going out too because lupus and Sjogren's disease not to mention almost every medication I take for it doesn't mix well with heat and especially when that heat is from natural sunlight.