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Is there a limit to how long she can be in the Sun?

Hi Kay, At what age can I start applying Sunscreen? I have purchased "It`s All Good UV Natural Sunscreen for Baby 30+". Is this Ok or is there a more suitable sunscreen you can recommend? My Daughter is 6 Months and we would like to take her to the Beach in the early morning or late afternoon. Is there a limit to how long she can be in the Sun?
Thanks Adena

Kay (...
Answer: Dear Adena,
I`m not familiar with the sunscreen product you mentioned. It’s great that you have looked for a sunscreen that has an SPF rating of 30+ but to get the best protection, it’s also important to check that the sunscreen is labelled ‘broad spectrum.’ This means that it filters out both UVA and UVB radiation from the sun – both of these types of UV radiation can damage the skin and increase the risk of skin.

In Sydney in January, children and adults can burn in as little as 15 minutes. Babies and young infants have sensitive skin so it`s really important to protect them by using clothing (eg rash vests), broad brimmed hat, SPF 30 plus broad spectrum sunscreen and shade.

UV radiation levels peak in the middle of the day so going to the beach in the early morning or late afternoon is a good idea.

The Cancer Council recommends using sun protection when UV levels are forecast to be 3 or above. The SunSmart UV Alert is a graph that shows the forecast daily UV levels. You can find it in the weather section of many newspapers or by going to www.bom.gov.au/weather/uv
I hope this helps.

Answered: 22 Nov 2007

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