woman caring for baby with childrens sun cream

Children's Sun Cream For Very Sensitive Skin

Everything you need to know about children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin.

Childrens sun cream for very sensitive skin

Children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin: Why it’s important to find the best children’s sun cream

Keeping babies and children safe in the sun is a priority for any parent. Little one’s skin is far more delicate and sensitive than adults and is highly prone to sun damage and irritations. Finding the best children's sun cream for very sensitive skin is imperative for the wellbeing of your baby or child - and for your own peace of mind.

As we head into summer, here’s what you need to know about children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin as well as the best children’s sun cream.

Why it’s important to use children’s sun cream for sensitive skin

Children and babies’ skin is much more sensitive than adult skin and far less ‘hardened’ to the effects of the sun. As such, their skin is more likely to burn and suffer sun damage. And it’s not just about protecting them in the present day: damage caused by repeated exposure to sunlight as a child can lead to skin cancer developing in later life.

Finding the right children’s sun cream for sensitive skin is crucial. The role of sun cream is to protect your child, but if it sparks an adverse reaction, or exacerbates an existing condition such as eczema, it will affect their wellbeing. Not only will this make them uncomfortable in the short term, but it could make it more difficult to convince them it’s OK to wear sun cream. Children and sun cream application are rarely a smooth, happy mix at the best of times, and if they think the stuff in the bottle their mum or dad is wielding is going to make them itchy and sore, your job is going to be twice as hard.

Children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin

Babies under six months should be kept out of the sun as much as possible and covered up. But once babies and toddlers start crawling and walking, it is difficult to stop them enjoying playing in the sun. While keeping them covered remains important, it is wise to buy the best children’s sun cream to apply to exposed areas of your child's delicate skin, including the hands and feet. According to the NHS, babies and children should wear sunscreen with a sun protection (SPF) factor no lower than 25, and preferably 50, between March and October in the UK. Take extra care when choosing your kids’ sun protection and use children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin that will not only keep them safe from damaging UVA and UVB light but also be gentle on their precious skin.

woman applying best childrens sun cream to daughter

Childrens sun cream for very sensitive skin

Why is the skin sensitive to sunscreen sometimes?

It is not unusual for kids to be sensitive, or even allergic, to any of the ingredients used in sunscreens. Reactions to sunscreen can range from mild to severe and can be triggered by factors including fragrance, preservative or UV absorber. More rarely, a reaction can be triggered when an active ingredient in the suns cream comes into contact with sunlight itself. This is known as photocontact dermatitis. The reaction may look like severe sunburn or eczema, and most commonly occurs on the face, arms, back of hands, chest and lower neck.

Childrens sun cream for very sensitive skin

What makes children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin less irritable to delicate skins?

woman kissing baby wearing best childrens sun cream

woman applying best childrens sun cream on son

Sunscreens are typically divided into two types: mineral (also known as physical) and chemical (what can be described as ‘conventional’). Both offer protection from the sun’s damaging rays, but the difference is in how they do it. Children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin often uses minerals, such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide to protect them. These mineral creams act as a physical barrier on top of the skin that deflects the sun's rays before they can damage the skin. Chemical filters, meanwhile, absorb harmful UVA and UVB rays, converting these rays into heat and expelling them from the body. As chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the ingredients into the skin, they can trigger a reaction in already sensitive skin that can lead to inflammation and irritation. Children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin is often fragrance-free to reduce the number of potential allergens in the cream.

Common chemical filters that parents should look out for in children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin are:

- Oxybenzone
- Octinoxate
- Octocrylene
- Perfume

It’s important to note that these ingredients are not harmful to those with less delicate skin. Traditionally these ingredients have made ‘conventional’ sunscreen easier to apply, but the consistency and ease of application has really improved in mineral creams in recent times.

Whether you choose a mineral or a chemical sun cream for yourself or your child depends on the unique needs of your’s and your kids’ skin.

Childrens sun cream for very sensitive skin

Tips for applying children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin

Involve them in the application process so it becomes a fun task that you do together rather than a battle.
Be generous with the sun cream (this applies to yourself as well as your child). You should be using around 2mg of sun cream per cm2 of skin - depending on your child’s age, that’s about half a teaspoon on the arms, another on the legs etc.
Don’t forget to protect ears, noses, lips, and the tops of feet.
Reapply every two hours and after swimming, sweating, or towelling off.
Try the lotion on your child before you head out into the sun. You don’t want to get all the way to the beach before you discover the cream provokes an allergic reaction in your little one.
Limit exposure during peak times, typically from 11am to 3pm.
Don’t rely on sun cream as the only method of sun protection for their child. Your child should be wearing a hat and a long sleeve top at the very least.
Lead by example. It is always so much easier to get kids to do something they see you doing regularly.

If your baby has particularly sensitive or eczema-prone skin, make sure you use a product that has been clinically tested as suitable for this skin type. You may choose to seek advice from a dermatologist or GP.

Childrens sun cream for very sensitive skin

Which children’s sun cream for very sensitive skin are best?

As babies and children’s sensitive skins can react to sunscreen, it is important to choose a lotion that is designed for kids’ delicate skin, one that is gentle on their skin and eyes while being very much not gentle on the sun’s punishing rays. NIVEA's Sensitive Sun Lotion provides children with highly effective SPF 50+ is specially designed for children with very sensitive skin. It is easy to rub in, absorbs wonderfully and doesn’t feel overly greasy on the skin, which is good for fidgety, fussy little ones. It does not contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene or perfume.

The spray option offers a super simple application for squirmy kids while NIVEA's Sensitive Roll On Sunscreen is perfect to pop in the baby or beach bag so you have all the sun protection you need for sensitive skins at hand.