Of course, I should have known.
I was skimming the FDA’s Web pages for information about sunscreen. One page (inexplicably misspelling “safety” in the URL) said that if I had questions about “Safer Sunning,” I should ask them.
Of course, as I said, I should have known that I’d never get a thoughtful response. But I went ahead and sent them this:
—
I’m looking for a sunscreen for my 1 year-old daughter.
Should I worry about the effect on a baby’s skin from chemicals in
sunscreens?
I know to get a broad spectrum 15 SPF or higher. I just need to know
about safety for babies.
—
And here’s the admirably quick response I got back, just an hour or so later:
—
Thank you for writing the Division of Drug Information, in the FDA’s
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
This e-mail account provides general information on drug products.
Recommendations of a product or treatment–either your own or that of a
family member, should always be addressed to your primary care physician
for advice and care appropriate to your specific medical needs. Please
discuss your baby’s sunscreen options with your pediatrician.
Yes, sunscreen should be used on babies 6 months and older. For sun
tips for you and your baby, please visit:
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/sunsafty.html
Best regards,
Drug Information CC
Division of Drug Information
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Food and Drug Administration
—
I guess, in a way, they’re saying that sunscreens are safe for babies over six months. I hope they’ll forgive me if I keep looking around for info.
Try: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Thanks.
Hey, it’s not hard to find people on the Internet giving advice. What I wanted was information from the government administration responsible for assessing and approving the use of drugs.
I guess that’s what I get for skimming your post as I waited for a friend’s flight to land indicating that I needed to leave for the airport.
Those government workers… good for nothing. ; ) if you wrote to EPA R10 about our website, you’d get advice from me! Scary, huh?
I was totally just about to write to EPA R10 about the website!
Didja know I used to teach sun safety?
Yes, sunscreens are safe for babies over 6 months. Use the same stuff as you’d use. And like on you, if it causes a rash or she seems uncomfortable, try another brand.
We have a whole drugstore’s worth, because what I like makes my girls itch.
As I recall, the reason they don’t recommend sunscreen on babies 6 months and under is that babies may react to the sunscreen more than adults, partially because their mass to area ratio is smaller than for older people.
But here are a couple of links that seem reasonable (they both refer to the American Academy of Pediatrics), which say it’s that and also that babies don’t cool off as easily. So it’s not the sunscreen, it’s the sun: it’s better to keep them shaded.
http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bsafety/0,,3q6f,00.html
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/baby_sunscreen.htm
I’ll email you the current person at EPA’s SunWise Schools Program so you can contact her if you like.