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Skin Care for Baby
Dear Anai,
I use sunscreen religiously as does my husband whether it be summertime or
winter. We have a 2 week old and we worry about the sunlight's effects on our
baby. Is sunscreen safe for a baby?
Thank you for any help!
Donna
Dear Donna,
A baby's skin is very thin and vulnerable, especially from birth up to six
months of age. Unfortunately, there is little current data showing the risks of
sunscreen for infants under six months old. The worry is that a baby that young
has more of a chance of absorbing the sunscreen into the skin faster.
Until your baby is at least six months old, you must take great care when
going out. Make sure to keep the baby out of direct sunlight always. This
includes indoor, outdoors, in sunny and in cloudy weather. Keep the stroller
partially covered, so that the face is not bombarded by the sun's rays.
After six months, apply the sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going
outdoors. During the summer months while at the beach or swimming pool, re-apply
the sunscreen often after bring baby out of the water.
Never use any sunscreen before testing a small area of the baby's skin
such as behind the ear or wrist for possible allergic reactions.
Thank you for writing,
Anai Rhoads
© Copyright 2004 Anai Rhoads.
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