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how often to reapply sunscreen????

DandRDandR
in Parenting

we spent the entire weekend outside....I put sunscreen on in the morning before heading out....after lunch time...and once again around 4:00.  Tay is still red and burnt......

Do I need to apply every hour?  Is there a super good one that works better (we were using Aveeno 50 or 55 spf I think???  )

Audrey and Mitch are fine...I applied the same to them...Audrey maybe got a touch tan...but is no where near burnt.  Mitch looks exactly the same....no color.....pale, pale boy with red hair.

But for whatever reason, for Tay it wasn't enough.

 

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Re: how often to reapply sunscreen????

  • lzybeanielzybeanie member
    Somebody once told me that the level of protection (SPF #) is indicative of how often you should reapply. So like 15 means you should reapply every 1.5 hours, 20 is 2 hours, etc. etc. However, that doesn't explain why your 50 didn't help your child with 3 applications. Maybe his skin is just more sensitive and you need to reapply every hour just to be safe?
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  • veloelleveloelle member
    It needs time to soak in. It should be applied 15-30 min before sun exposure, each application. I just read in Parents that a family of 4 should use an entire 8 oz bottle of sunscreen in 1 day at the beach.
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  • joseysbridejoseysbride member

    What I have always heard is every 2 hours (from the lady on the Today Show, etc.).  It takes 30 minutes for it to really go into effect, so you need to put it on 30 minutes before going out, too.  If you are using waterproof and they are in the water or sweating a lot, it supposedly only lasts for around 80 minutes.

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  • AZ_EricaAZ_Erica member
    I am very fair and burn very easy.  If I plan on being outside a long time I use Blue Lizard.  I have never had a problem with it, and reapply about every 4-5 hrs or so and haven't gotten burnt.  For shorter trips or if I don't have that I use the Coppertone Baby spray (that's what I have for DS)  I tend to reapply a lot with that every 1-2 hrs, or when I start feeling "hot".  Also, did your daughter happen to be wet when the sunblock was applied.  DH applied it right after his shower when we went to the water park and he got extremely burnt, and pale me was just fine.  I think his skin must have been wet when he applied it.
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  • DandRDandR

    she was definately in the pool more than her brother and sister....duh. 

    ok...apply more often when she's in the pool.  I need to get her a hat as well.

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  • cmw&tdmcmw&tdm member

    Is Tay your oldest (with the red hair)?  Redheads are known for being super sensitive to the sun.  I'd put it on in the morning and then reapply mid-morn, lunch, mid-afternoon (about every 2 hrs).  We use Neutrogena baby 60 (I think they have a kids 70 too ... a higher SPF couldn't hurt, butI think reapplying will make a difference more than anything.

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  • DandRDandR
    yep..she's the sensitive skinned red head......
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  • joseysbridejoseysbride member
    imageDandR:

    she was definately in the pool more than her brother and sister....duh. 

    ok...apply more often when she's in the pool.  I need to get her a hat as well.

    Lightbulb moment! Idea I personally have a hard time keeping things straight with one kid.  I can't imagine three!

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  • TTCnumber2TTCnumber2

    I was just at the dermatologist and asked the same question. Apply 30 min before sun exposure- reapply every 2 hours UNLESS you were in the water, then immediately after getting out (or if they are in the pool for extended periods of time- every 45 min while in the water).  No sunscreen is truly waterproof.

    You might want to check out a rashguard shirt too! :)

    HTH!

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