Now that the warmer weather is around and we are spending more time outside, I’m looking for safe ways to protect our 14 month old daughter Emma from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

We thought it was a simple as picking a high sun protection factor (SPF) rated lotion in a cute bottle that says “safe for babies”. All of the sudden we found ourselves hearing and reading news stories about suntan lotion effectiveness and safety. Not only was our confidence shaken but we realized we didn’t know what we didn’t know; we were just following blindly using yet another product that we knew nothing about, what the ingredients were, how it worked, or whether or not we really needed it!

So, we went back to basics which meant a lot of research and a lot of questions to answer such as: what we are trying to protect ourselves from and what is the best way to do that? The research we have to-date follows. We have YET to buy a lotion that we feel good about, as we haven’t found any products that meet our requirements of being natural and safe. In the meantime, we have tried some alternative natural solutions that are included at the end of this article.

What do we need to protect ourselves from?

UV radiation is the concern. There are two types of UV radiation that can damage your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer: UVB and UVA.

UVB radiation is the main cause of sunburn and tanning. Our exposure to UVB radiation is often limited to the time of year and the ability of the UVB rays to reach the earth. As the sun is closer to us during the summer, the rays are more potent. UVB rays can only penetrate the top layer of the skin, however experts now believe UVB overexposure leads to basal and squamous cell carcinomas, as well as melanoma, i.e. cancer.

So does that mean UVA Radiation is safe?

Because UVB was thought to be the ‘bad’ radiation, sun tanning beds became popular as users were only exposed to UVA radiation. Now experts know that not only does UVA exposure lead to wrinkles, leathery skin, sagging, and other effects but the UVA rays actually penetrate the skin much deeper than UVB. UVA radiation is now known to exacerbate the carcinogenic effects of UVB rays, and increasingly is being seen as a cause of skin cancer.

And, UVA exposure tends to be an all-year round threat and not just when you are in direct sunlight as it passes through windows and some clothing.

Isn’t sunlight healthy for us?

According to the Health Research Forum out of the UK increased exposure to sunlight or greater intake of vitamin D has been found to reduce the risk of five common cancers in case/control studies. These include cancers of the colon, breast, ovary, prostate and lymphoma.

Sunlight also helps us to produce vitamin D, which is essential for calcium metabolism, thus healthy bones, teeth, etc. And, sunlight helps to boost mood and combat symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other mood disorders. Ten to 15 minutes of sun exposure two times per week will provide adequate vitamin D, while minimizing risks from UV exposure. Further, sun exposure and tanning will not produce vitamin D when the sun is too low in the sky.

So, how do we get enough sunlight and still avoid skin damage?

You may want to:

o Watch your sunlight exposure: The rays of the sun are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m An easy way to determine if the sun is too strong and you are getting too much UV radiation is to check your shadow. If your shadow is shorter than your actual height, the risk of sunburn is much higher.

o Use a Sunscreen: Sunscreens are the lotions that you apply to your skin that chemically react with the UV radiation to lessen its effect on your skin. Sunscreens have SPF ratings, which indicate how much sunburn protection they have relative to unprotected skin. The higher the number, the more protection.

Note: In my research I read it is recommended that you put the lotion on 30-60 minutes before going out in the sun, so it can penetrate and bind to the skin. When I saw “penetrate and bind to the skin”, I got a bit concerned and with just reason. I discovered that the safety of these chemicals and other ingredients found in lotions is under scrutiny. In fact, some of the chemicals used in sunscreens are even more toxic and dangerous than the potential damage the sun can cause. If you would like to learn more about the toxicity and safety of sunscreens and sunblocks, check out this incredible database and search tool developed by the Environmental Working Group (see related links below)

o Use a sunblock: Sunblocks physically deflect the UV rays. Sunblocks work by reflecting the UV light and are typically opaque. Both Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are classed as sunblocks. When you see kids with white or bright coloured noses, they are using zinc as a sunblock.

o Cover up with clothing: most clothing, especially natural fibers, block much of the UV radiation. Some clothing manufacturers are now starting to create clothing that is designed to protect you from the sun and have a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating. Unlike SPF, that measures only UVB protection, UPF measures both UVA and UVB. A rating of UPF 15 is the lowest level of protection that is labeled on UV protective clothing. This is rated to block 93.3 per cent of the sun's rays; UPF 30 blocks 96.7 per cent of the sun's rays and clothing labeled UPF 50 blocks 98 per cent.

o And, there are always natural sunblocks such as umbrellas, shade, and trees.

We are still working our way through all of the information out there. If you are in the market for a sunscreen or other cosmetic product, please check out the Environmental Working Group’s database. Your skin is your largest organ and it is your body’s first line of defense. Protect it and nourish it with healthy, natural ingredients.

Good luck, enjoy the sun, and if you have any recommendations please drop me an email. I would be very interested in any home-made natural recipes for sunscreens or sunblocks.