Can Adults use Kids Sunscreen?
Huff Post spoke with Dr. Green this week, just in time for the summer sun at “You Might Actually Be Better Off Wearing SPF For Kids — Here’s Why.”
“Sunscreens formulated for babies or kids are very gentle and typically do not contain any known skin irritants,” said Dr. Green, and in fact a kid-friendly option might work quite well for those with very dry skin or chronic skin conditions such as rosacea or eczema. She mentions how “physical sunscreens sit on the skin and create a physical barrier, preventing UV rays from penetrating the skin,” and most of the kid-friendly formulas fall into this category. They also do leave that white residue though which many adults are not fans of.
She also talks about the top sunscreen brands and mineral sunscreens – saying that “many pediatricians and dermatologists recommend mineral sunscreens for babies and children, as mineral sunscreen is not absorbed and sits on the top of the skin, reducing the risk of irritation.”