Why Sun Protection Matters Early in Life: Your skin remembers every sunburn.

Summer in the Pacific Northwest means beach days, backyard barbecues, hikes, and long evenings outdoors. Sunshine is wonderful for our mood and helps our bodies make vitamin D, but too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause lasting damage to our skin.

The good news? Most skin cancers are preventable, and many of the habits that protect your skin start in childhood

Research shows that UV damage accumulates over a lifetime, and even a few blistering sunburns during childhood or adolescence can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. A 2025 cohort study of over 44,000 people found that each additional blistering sunburn before age 15 raised melanoma risk by roughly 3% — and that risk held regardless of eye color, hair color, or other sun-sensitivity traits. Children’s skin is especially vulnerable because it is thinner and more sensitive than adult skin. Protecting your child’s skin now can dramatically lower their risk of developing:

• Basal cell carcinoma (the most common skin cancer)
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer)

Think of sun protection like brushing teeth or wearing seat belts — a simple habit that provides lifelong benefits.

How to Protect Your Family’s Skin:

Seek Shade: Whenever possible, limit direct sun exposure between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, when UV rays are strongest.

Wear Protective Clothing: Clothing is one of the most effective — and lowest-toxicity — forms of sun protection, since it requires no chemical absorption at all. Consider:

• Wide-brimmed hats
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Long-sleeved rash guards for swimming
• Lightweight UPF clothing

Protect Babies

Both the FDA and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend keeping babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight whenever possible — their skin is thinner, absorbs more of what’s applied
to it, and their sweat glands aren’t yet mature enough to regulate heat well. Shade, a stroller canopy, and lightweight protective clothing are the first line of defense.

If sun exposure truly can’t be avoided, a small amount of a mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) can be applied to exposed areas like the face and hands — check with your pediatrician first, since infants are more prone to skin irritation from any topical product.

Understanding Sunscreen: Which Type Is Best?

Mineral (Physical) Sunscreens:

• Active ingredients: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide

How they work: Sit on top of the skin and reflect/scatter UV rays, rather than being absorbed into it.

Pros:

• Broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays
• Less likely to irritate sensitive skin
• Good choice for children and people with eczema
• Begin working immediately after application
• The only two sunscreen active ingredients the FDA
• currently recognizes as GRASE (Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective)
• Minimal to no systemic absorption
• Considered the least environmentally impactful option

Cons:

• May leave a white or gray cast, though newer “sheer” formulations have reduced this
• Can feel thicker or greasier
• Sometimes more expensive
• Best for: Babies, children, sensitive skin, eczemaprone skin, and anyone prioritizing a lower-toxicity option.

Chemical Sunscreens

Common ingredients: Avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, oxybenzone, homosalate, octocrylene, and others.

How they work: Absorb UV rays and convert them into heat.

A note on regulatory status: the FDA has not determined these 12 chemical filters to be unsafe — but it also hasn’t confirmed GRASE status for any of them. The agency has requested additional long-term safety data, largely because these ingredients are measurably absorbed into the bloodstream (well above the FDA’s threshold of concern with regular use) and have been detected in breast milk, urine, and blood plasma. A 2022 National Toxicology Program study of oxybenzone in rats did not find evidence of reproductive or hormonal effects, but the European Commission’s 2025 review flagged octinoxate as an endocrine-active substance warranting a concentration limit. The evidence is mixed and evolving rather than settled.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to apply
• Usually rub in clear (no white cast)
• Often more water resistant
• Popular for sports and everyday use

Cons:

• Can irritate sensitive skin
• Oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned in Hawaii, Key West, and several other locations due to coral reef and marine ecosystem damage
• Systemically absorbed at levels the FDA has flagged for further study
• Need to be applied about 15 minutes before sun exposure to be effective
• Best for: Older children, teens, and adults who prefer a lighter feel and don’t have particular sensitivity or environmental concerns

Worth watching:

In June 2026, the FDA granted GRASE status to a new chemical filter, bemotrizinol — the first new sunscreen active ingredient approved in the U.S. in over 20 years, and the first chemical filter ever to receive that designation. Early data show minimal systemic absorption and a favorable safety profile, with approval down to 6 months of age.

Spray Sunscreens:

Pros:

• Convenient for active children
• Easy to reapply

Cons:

• Easy to miss spots
• Difficult to know if enough has been applied
• Should not be sprayed directly onto the face
• Avoid inhaling the spray

Tip: Spray into your hands first and then apply

Stick Sunscreens

Pros:

• Great for the face, ears, and nose
• Easy to carry
• Less messy

Cons:

• Can be difficult to apply evenly over larger areas

What SPF Should I Choose?

For most families:

• Choose SPF 30 or higher.
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
• Reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
• No sunscreen blocks 100% of UV rays. Sunscreen works best when combined with shade and protective clothing.

How Much Sunscreen Should You Use?

• Most people do not apply enough.
• Adults need about one ounce (a shot-glass amount) to cover the entire body.

Don’t forget:

• Ears
• Lips
• Back of the neck
• Tops of feet
• Scalp & hair part
• Hands

Check Your Sunscreen Before You Use It

Sunscreen does not last forever. Most sunscreens have an expiration date printed on the bottle, and the active ingredients can become less effective over time. Heat can also damage sunscreen. Leaving it in a hot car, beach bag, or direct sunlight for long periods can cause the ingredients to break down, even before the expiration date.

Before using sunscreen:

• Check the expiration date.

Using expired or heat-damaged sunscreen may provide much less protection than the SPF listed on the
bottle, increasing your risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage.

• Replace sunscreen that has expired.
• Throw it away if it has changed color, separated, become grainy, or developed an unusual smell.
• Store sunscreen in a cool, shaded place whenever possible.

When Should I Worry About a Mole or Spot?

Remember the ABCDEs of melanoma:
A — Asymmetry: One half looks different from the other.
B — Border: Edges are irregular, ragged, or blurry.
C — Color: Multiple colors or uneven coloring.
D — Diameter: Larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser).
E — Evolving: Any spot that is changing in size, shape, color, or symptoms.

Schedule an appointment if you notice:

• A new mole that looks different from your other moles (“the ugly duckling”)
• A sore that does not heal within several weeks
• A spot that bleeds easily
• Persistent itching, pain, or tenderness
• A rapidly growing bump
• A scaly patch that does not go away
• A mole that suddenly changes appearance
• Early detection of skin cancer can be lifesaving.

Dr. Kristina’s Favorite Sun-Safe Tips

1. Make sunscreen part of your morning routine.
2. The best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually use.
3. Apply sunscreen before you head outside.
4. Reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
5. Wear hats, sunglasses, and UPF clothing whenever possible.
6. Don’t forget the sneaky spots: ears, lips, scalp, hands, and feet.
7. Keep a “Sun Kit” in your beach bag.
8.Teach children early that sun protection is self-care.
9.Remember that a tan is still skin damage.
10. Make skin checks a family habit.
11.Check your sunscreen every season — sunscreen expires, and heat can deactivate some of its protective ingredients.
12.When possible, reach for mineral sunscreen first — it’s the best-studied, least-absorbed option, especially for kids

My Bottom Line
Protecting your skin isn’t about avoiding the outdoors — it’s about enjoying the sunshine safely so you can continue making memories in the sun for years to come. The habits we teach our children today can help protect their skin for decades to come.

Stay safe, stay informed, and let’s keep Seattle healthy.

* This post was originally printed in the Village Medicine Seattle’s Wellness Quarterly Magazine, 3Q26 Edition. Read and download the full publication

About The Author

Dr. Kristina Olson-Kuyper is a Naturopathic Physician and practitioner at Village Medicine Seattle. Kristina works closely with patients to educate, empower, and guide them toward lasting wellness. Her approach is rooted in compassionate listening, collaboration, and a deep respect for each person’s health journey. Learn more about Dr. Kristina