Healthy Kids Blog: Natural Organic Sunscreen: The Best Sunblock for Kids

Natural Organic Sunscreen: The Best Sunblock for Kids

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 06:16 PM PDT

Most of us have been in the habit of generously applying sunscreen to our kids every day during the summer. We’ve been flooded with the message that we have to constantly protect our children from the harmful rays of the sun. Yes, it’s true we need to protect them from sunburn, but let’s make sure we’re not harming them in the process.

First, we need to make sure they get enough sunshine so their skin can make an adequate amount of vitamin D. Sunscreen blocks vitamin D production. It’s more about managing healthy levels of sun, rather than eliminating sun exposure entirely.

And second, sunscreen can be very toxic and certainly not something you want to rub into your child’s body every day if not necessary. Some sunscreens can actually contribute to cancer due to their mutagenic properties and their ability to generate free radicals when activated by ultraviolet light from the sun. It’s also disturbing to find that sunscreen chemicals have hormone disrupters, which means they may interfere with normal sexual development or cause reproductive problems later in life. Sunscreen chemicals can also cause skin irritation and rashes.

Here are some of the sunscreen ingredients to avoid since they are suspected or known carcinogens and/or hormone disrupters:

benzophenone, avobenzone, oxybenzone, diethanolamine, triethanolamine (DEA, TEA), padimate-o, octyl dimethyl, PABA, homosalate, retinyl palmitate, octyl-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), salicylates, and parabens.

Studies show that some of the chemicals in sunscreens are absorbed into the bloodstream in significant amounts. The longer sunscreen chemicals are left on the skin, the greater the absorption into the body. One study notes “it would be prudent not to apply oxybenzone to large surface areas of skin for extended and repeated periods of time, unless no alternative protection is available. There may be an additional concern for young children who have less well-developed processes of elimination, and have a larger surface area per body weight than adults.”

Physical barrier-type sunscreens such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are assumed to be safer products. However, research now shows that though titanium dioxide sunscreens are safer than products containing chemicals such as benzophenone, they are not something we should be putting on our children’s bodies on a regular basis. Titanium dioxide has the ability to cause DNA damage in human cells and there is concern that it may be carcinogenic.

Zinc Oxide is the Best Sunblock for Kids

Zinc oxide is a mineral that provides complete UVB/UVA protection, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is considered a safe sunscreen ingredient. Zinc oxide is the only FDA approved sunscreen for use on children under 6 months of age.

However, the regular form of zinc oxide leaves a strong white residue on the skin. To create a clear skin product rather than one that leaves a white residue, zinc oxide is now made in the form of nano-size particles. There is growing concern about the toxicity of nanoparticles, and this concern has initiated a world-wide effort to study the skin absorption and phototoxicity of nanoparticles of preparations used in sunscreens and cosmetics. Recent research shows that nanoparticles can cross the human placenta, possibly exposing the developing fetus to the tiny materials. At this time, the safety of nanoparticles has not been proven, so caution is prudent, especially when pregnant or using these products on children.

Recommended Natural Organic Sunscreen

I'm happy to say I finally found a great zinc oxide sunscreen that is micronized with a larger particle size and contains no nanoparticles. It is made by Kabana Skin Care and the ingredients are excellent. Kabana's chemical-free, natural organic sunscreen formulas are created by Erik Kreider MS MBA, a pharmaceutical scientist who became dissatisfied with companies that mislead their customers and ‘market’ natural but don’t ‘sell’ natural ingredients in their mass-marketed skin care products.

In order for an ingredient to be deemed natural by Kabana's rigorous standards it must either be directly derived from a living organism via a sustainable process and free of petrochemicals, or is a mineral that has a proven safety record for use on and in the human body. Kabana's ingredients are of the highest quality, chosen specifically to ensure good health and environmental sustainability.

Mineral sunscreens are either micronized or nano. Anything larger than micronized becomes the size of fine sand which is useless in a sunscreen preparation and impossible to evenly apply. Many sunscreen manufacturers will say instead they use micronized, but micronized also includes nanoparticles, so it’s difficult to tell what exactly they mean unless they are very specific in the description.

Kabana products are in the micron range and are non-nano. Kabana uses neither nanoparticle (size) zinc oxide, nor micronized (manufacturing process) zinc oxide. Instead Kabana uses micron-sized particles, created by a clean gas phase process that involves no grinding and maintains a tight particle size distribution in the micron range, average size 0.260 +/- standard deviation of 0.012 microns, which is 20x larger than most nanoparticle sunscreens. This particle size range has been used in products for decades and is considered safe.

We use Kabana’s Green Screen® Organic SPF 22 – Skin Tone Tinted Sunscreen. It feels great on my skin, is non-greasy, and doesn’t make me look white. Kabana has a whole line of other natural products, including moisturizers, shower gel, diaper rash cream, lip balm, and gift sets.

Click on this affiliate graphic to learn more and to purchase these products.

Natural Bug Repellent for Kids

Posted: 19 Jun 2012 10:34 AM PDT

If you find that bugs or insects are feeding on your kids, be careful that the toxic "solution" does not put your children at greater health risk than the problem. Many of the bug repellent sprays, lotions or liquids that are used on children to repel ticks, mosquitos or other insects contain the chemicals Permethrin and/or DEET. The good news is that these chemicals are not necessary since there are natural bug repellent options that are safe and effective.

What’s the Problem with DEET?

DEET is a pesticide that is partially absorbed into the bloodstream and associated with skin and neurological reactions. Seizures and several cases of toxic encephalopathy (brain damage) have been associated with the use of DEET in children.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a Re-registration Eligibility Decision (RED) for DEET in late 1998, but with this decision, the EPA will not re-register DEET products marketed specifically at children, claiming them to be misleading. Due to their alcohol base, these low percentage DEET formulas may actually increase absorption into the bloodstream, especially when reapplied frequently to increase effectiveness. The EPA expressed concern about the fact that DEET is widely used, is one of the few registered pesticides applied directly to human skin and is potentially related to seizure incidents. As a result, the RED calls for stronger label warnings and restrictions that are protective of children and others who are sensitive to chemical substances.

Is Permethrin any Better?

Permethrin is a synthetic contact insecticide, causing nervous system toxicity that leads to the death of the insect. It is said to have low toxicity in mammals, and is poorly absorbed through the skin. However, it's wise to stay away from any synthetic pesticide, especially when there are safe alternatives to do the job.

Buy or Make Your Own Natural Bug Repellent

Essential oils that have been reported to work well as a natural bug repellent include citronella, cedar, verbena, geranium, lavender, pine, cajeput, cinnamon, rosemary, basil, thyme, allspice, garlic, and peppermint. Calendula ointment is also an excellent insect repellent. When tested, most of the essential oils tended to give short-lasting protection, usually less than 2 hours. But reapplying the essential oils is a small price to pay for keeping a child protected from insects while free from potentially harmful insecticides.

Neem Oil is a Natural Bug Repellent

Neem oil is a highly effective, non-toxic, natural bug repellent that can also be used on open sores and wounds. Neem oil heals wounds, cuts, sores, poison oak or ivy, and has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. Neem provides protection from not only mosquitoes but also from biting flies, sand fleas and ticks.

You can find products that contain Neem Oil or you can make your own natural bug repellent using 5% Neem oil mixed with coconut oil.

Recipe for Natural Bug Repellent

Here is a another recipe for making your own safe, natural bug repellent:

Insect-Aside Bug Repellent

(extracted from Herbal Healing for Children: A Parent’s Guide to Treatments for Common Childhood Illnesses, by Demetria Clark)

Yield: About ¼ cup

¼ cup olive, almond, or apricot kernel oil
8 drops cedar essential oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops orange essential oil
2 drops lemon essential oil
1 drop peppermint essential oil
1 drop clove essential oil
1 drop cinnamon essential oil

Combine all the ingredients in a 5- or 6-ounce glass bottle with a lid and shake to mix well. Stored in a sealed dark-glass bottle in a cool, dry place, Insect-Aside Bug Repellent will keep for 2 years. Shake well before each use.

Application Instructions: For children five years of age and older: Shake well before using. Apply liberally to exposed skin 3 to 4 times a day. Keep away from the eyes.

IMPORTANT: It’s possible for people to have sensitivities to essential oils so use with caution and if your child has a reaction, discontinue use. Never apply undiluted essential oils directly to skin. Always mix them in a carrier oil first.

Learn about non-toxic natural organic sunscreen

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Wednesday, 20 June 2012