by Heidi Green
July 12, 2009

Articles about childhood vitamin D deficiency leave me shaking my head. Well, that may not be true in the winter, but it sure is in the summer. Many days, my children are asking to go outside and play before they’ve even rubbed the sleep from their eyes. Recommendations that children get “10–15 minutes of sunlight without sunblock most days of the week” seem ludicrous when the kids are rolling through the yard (shady as it is) for long stretches of the day.

And yet… I do apply sunblock when I know that the kids will be in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time during peak sunlight hours, such as when we go to the beach or an amusement park.

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been promising to regulate sunscreen since 1978 and, in 2007, suggested setting UVA and UVB standards, the agency has yet to do so. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) fills this important gap with its annual product assessment.

In 2010, only 8 percent of the 500 available beach and sport sunscreens made their recommended list.

Why so few? The EWG attributes it to exaggerated SPF claims and a better understanding of the hazards of some sunscreen ingredients—including data possibly linking vitamin A used in 41 percent of sunscreens to an increased risk for skin cancer (albeit in mice not humans). Products with high SPF rating mislead people into thinking they can stay in the sun longer because they are better protected. But even products with a high SPF rating provide little protection against harmful UVA radiation. Out of 1,400 sunscreen products including beach and sports lotions, sprays, creams, moisturizers, make-up, and lip balm, only 39 beach and sports products earned EWG’s “recommended” rating.

The EWG rating system , enables users to check out the list of the top 10 sunscreens, look at a list of the leading “easy-to-find” sunscreens, or check the rating of particular brands. It’s a valuable tool for anyone who wants to make sure that their sunscreen actually provides the level of protection they need. For a complete list of recommended sunscreens, click here.

Safe sun exposure
Here are some helpful tips to being smart and safe when it comes to sun exposure:

• Protect kids. Too much sun can cause heat stroke, sunburn, and—later in life—skin cancer.

• Protect babies. Keep those younger than 6 months of age out of direct sunlight.

• Think coverage. Lightweight clothes, hats, and UV-protective sunglasses are good for everyone.

• Avoid sunlight during peak hours. Some sources say noon to 2 p.m. is the time to worry about; others (including EWG) say 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use your judgment, and be sure to consider the particular details of your location (such as altitude).

• Use ample sunscreen. Use an SPF 30 or higher and look for at least 7 percent zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Apply it 20 to 30 minutes before you head outdoors, so it has time to be absorbed by your skin before you’re in the sun.

• Reapply sunscreen often. Water will wash it off; sunlight will break it down. Reapply as often as needed.

• Use SPF lip balm. Lips need sun protection, too.

• Use a daily moisturizer with SPF when indoors near bright windows. UVA penetrates windows and can damage unprotected skin.

• Avoid combination products. It may seem more convenient to use a bug spray/sunscreen-in-one, but the required reapplication of sunscreen would expose you to higher levels of pesticide.

• Wait on the bug spray. Wait at least 15 minutes after you apply the sunscreen to apply bug spray. That way, less of the pesticide will be absorbed through your skin.

• Buy new sunscreen each year. It may seem wasteful, but the active ingredients do degrade over time. For full protection, use a fresh product—purchased after checking EWG’s latest sunscreen guide.

• Consider vitamin D. It seems almost counterintuitive to include this item on this list, but those who want to get vitamin D naturally through sun exposure must have some sunblock-free time. Experts suggest 10–15 minutes per day. This doesn’t need to be during peak hours.

We all know that too much sun is bad, potentially causing short-term sunburn and long-term skin damage.

But we all seem to need some sunlight, too, and the main reason is vitamin D. While researchers used to think of vitamin D as a hormone affecting only bone and calcium metabolism, ongoing research has identified a host of additional conditions it affects, including inflammatory and long-latency diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, diabetes, various cancers, and more. In light of this research, it’s not surprising that vitamin D recommendations were recently increased. (You can read about it here.)

Of course, you’ll want to talk with your child’s pediatrician about supplementation, as well as safe sun exposure. But in the glorious days of summer, it seems we should be able to find a way to both enjoy the sun safely and get adequate vitamin D with no problem!

Heidi Green has been researching and writing about women’s and children health since she moved to Pittsburgh more than 10 years ago. She is also a children’s book reviewer in her spare time. She is mom to Ben, Katie, Sam, and Max.