By: Kim Walls, M.S.
Founder & CEO of Episencial®
Parents today are floating amidst a sea of controversy and confusion about proper sun protection for children. Frequent questions range from: “How much sun protection do children really need?” to “What on earth is a nanoparticle anyway?” Many parents know that most sun damage occurs before the age of 18 and that preventing sunburn is essential for preventing ultra-violet induced skin damage, which can range from unsightly hyperpigmentation to deadly melanoma. However, many people are not aware that too much protection from the sun poses serious health risks in the form of Vitamin D deficiencies that can lead to increased risk of cancer, reduced immunity, poor bone formation, and more.
Investing a small amount of your time in increasing your understanding and raising your awareness of the key issues at play will serve you well – giving you a foundation from which to make the informed decisions that are best for your family.
As a mother and skincare expert, I recommend using only all natural, mineral based sunscreens for both the safety of my children and that of the planet.
What Does SPF Mean?
SPF is an acronym for “Sun Protection Factor”. Protective products typically range from an SPF of 2 to an SPF of 60. Recently, more products have come on the market claiming an SPF of 100 or more. The SPF factor refers to how much longer it will take the skin to burn with a given SPF product than it would take to burn with no protection at all. For example, if your baby’s skin is very fair and would usually burn after 10 minutes in the sun and you use an SPF 15 product, it would take 2 and 1/2 hours (10 x 15 = 150 minutes) for the skin to burn. So in theory, a higher SPF product provides longer lasting protection; however, you need to remember that product wears off with sweat, water, drool, and when the skin comes in contact with clothing, food, sand, dirt and so on. Even if you use a product that technically offers your baby 3 or more hours of protection, you still need to reapply the product at least every 2 hours to be safe. Also keep in mind that an SPF 20, for example, will probably provide you longer lasting protection than it would for your baby. Your baby’s skin is probably fairer than yours and does not yet produce much melanin – the body’s own version of SPF.
How much SPF is enough?
If you’ve chosen a mineral sunscreen (with the active ingredients of zinc and/or titanium) then you’ll be hard-pressed to find a product with an SPF greater than 35. If the SPF is higher, look more closely at the ingredient label because you will probably find a chemical sunscreen ingredient.
The best SPF value for you or your child depends on what you will be doing and the season. A Zinc or Titanium-based sunscreen with SPF35 is just right for playing at the beach, park, or in the back yard and is perfect for newborn skin. Doctors recommend minimal sun exposure until at least 6 months of age, but if your baby will be exposed then the AAP recommends using an SPF product.
Remember that a great deal of UV exposure comes from reflected light off the ground and other objects, so a hat or canopy is not quite enough protection. Lip protection is also important to apply, and reapply often, as it is quickly wiped or licked off. Keep in mind that dry or damaged skin, as you might see with eczema, should be regularly protected, even during the winter, with an SPF of 6 or more.
SPF 35 will protect from about 97% – 98% of the harmful wavelength of UV rays. There are all natural mineral based products available that do not leave a white residue and are affordable. An SPF of 50 or even 70 using a mineral sunblocking agent only adds 2%-3% additional protective value. Using enough mineral ingredient to achieve an SPF 50 or more generally results in product that is chalky white, sticky, hard to apply and can be very expensive. If a product claims to have an SPF higher than 35 and promotes a mineral sunscreen, then read the label carefully. It is very likely that the mineral has been combined with a chemical sunscreen agent. When a company features an ingredient but doesn’t use enough of it to be active, we call it “showcasing”. Showcasing is a very common and misleading practice. For example, zinc is often used as a featured ingredient that isn’t actually the key or active ingredient because it is significantly more expensive than synthetic chemical alternatives. Many manufacturers showcase zinc oxide, but then don’t use enough of it to provide actual sun protection. They must add synthetic chemical blocking agents to achieve the desired SPF. If enough zinc oxide is used, then the synthetic chemical ingredients aren’t necessary.
If you are looking for chemical-free sunscreen, which is what I make for my company Episencial and what I use on my boys, then you want an all-natural product that uses zinc or titanium as the sunblocking agent. Manufacturers of all-natural sunscreens use enough of these skin, body and planet-loving ingredients to actually do the job of protecting your skin from harmful UVA and UVB sunrays.
**Kim Walls, M.S., is the CEO of Episencial® and chief formulator the company’s skincare products and philosophy. A second-generation skin care expert from the family that developed the world renowned Epicuren® anti-aging skin care products, she now combines her activism for health and environmentalism with expertise in clinical skin care and nutritional science to develop green, effective skin care for pregnant women and children. An esthetician with more than a decade of experience, Walls has honed her perspective focusing on botanically-based skin care and transdermal nutrient absorption as a pathway to improved health and beauty for women and children. She shares her experience internationally with dermatologists and estheticians, as well as childbirth and postpartum professionals, underscoring the relationship between optimum health and skin care. Now through Episencial, she is dedicated to sharing that knowledge with new and growing families to support the enhanced health and immunity that effective, all natural products can provide.
Kim’s strong, personal commitment to organic and environmentally-responsible living is at the core of Episencial’s high standards for green manufacturing and product development. Having grown up on ranches in the Pacific Northwest and now the mother of two young boys, Kim marries her innate understanding of the importance of sustainability, her birthright in luxury skincare with her post-graduate work as a nutritionist to establish a new standard in skincare research and products that support lasting health for today’s families.
Kim is a spokesperson not only for Episencial, but also for her broader mission to support actively healthy choices for a new Vivid Green Generation™. She is a sought after industry advisor to leading health advocacy organizations including Healthy Child, Healthy World, Infant Massage USA, the Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association and Pregnancy Awareness Month. Kim is often a featured speaker on television and at industry events, a contributor to high-traffic websites such as Ecomom.com, www.drgreene.com, and www.mindfulmama.com. Kim is currently writing two books on healthy lifestyle parenting and has authored articles for periodicals in the health and wellness industry to create awareness of skincare as a health issue in support of Episencial’s mission.
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