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How do I know if sunscreen has parabens?

Mrs_DuneBuggyMrs_DuneBuggy
in Eco-Friendly Family

Hi,

Our daycare  provider just sent home a permission slip for parents to sign authorizing them to apply sunscreen. The brand they use is Rocky  Mountain SPF 50 for kids. If I don't want them using that brand, I can provide my own. They sent along an ingredient list for the Rocky Mountain brand. I just can't figure out if it has parabens in it. I don't see the word or suffix paraben on the list, but it's also not advertised as paraben-free. Also are there any other nasty ingredients I should be on the lookout for? I just bought some paraben-free Alba sunscreen for kids so I want to check that one out too.

Thanks! 

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Re: How do I know if sunscreen has parabens?

  • Mrs_DuneBuggyMrs_DuneBuggy
    Rats. I was looking at the wrong area of the ingredient list. The SPF 45 doesn't seem to have parabens, but SPF 50 does. Are parabens really bad??
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  • lovebooklovebook
    it's listed in the ingredients list - usually it is something like polyparaben or some derivitive of that ... if you google, you can also find any alternate names for parabens that they could be "hiding" under.
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  • kelbriankelbrian

    imageMrs_DuneBuggy:
    Rats. I was looking at the wrong area of the ingredient list. The SPF 45 doesn't seem to have parabens, but SPF 50 does. Are parabens really bad??

    They are certainly something that you want to avoid. I found a list of alternative names from DermNet.

    https://dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/parabens-allergy.html 

    ALTERNATIVE NAMES OF PARABEN? Methylparaben? Ethylparaben? Propylparaben? Butylparaben? Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)

    ? Parahydroxybenzoate (p-hydroxybenzoate) 

    According to the Environmental Working Group, both types of Rocky Mountain sunscreen are to be avoided. They each received a seven on the rating scale, which is quite high - it goes up to ten. 

    Can you bring in your own sunblock for your kiddo? You should be looking for a sunblock, not a sunscreen, by the way. Active ingredients should include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and you should stay away from avobenzont, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, as these are chemical blockers.

    Sunscreen is a chemical blocker that gets absorbed into the top layer of the skin and reflects the rays off of the skin. The chemicals are not safe for infants, and frankly, I wouldn't use it on my child at any age.  

    Sunblock is absorbed into the skin and makes a shield on the top layer of your skin to block out rays. 100% safe for infants and up. 

    Here is a list of recommended sunblocks from the Environmental Working Group. We use California Baby.

    https://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/

    Oh, and sunscreen and sunblock are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably by companies, so even if a bottle says sunscreen, just check the ingredient list to make sure.


     

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  • andrealynn0707andrealynn0707 member
    Ditto Kel. I would bring your own.
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  • Dobie_MamaDobie_Mama
    I'd send your own.
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  • jshfjshf member
    imagekelbrian:

    imageMrs_DuneBuggy:
    Rats. I was looking at the wrong area of the ingredient list. The SPF 45 doesn't seem to have parabens, but SPF 50 does. Are parabens really bad??

    They are certainly something that you want to avoid. I found a list of alternative names from DermNet.

    https://dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/parabens-allergy.html 

    ALTERNATIVE NAMES OF PARABEN? Methylparaben? Ethylparaben? Propylparaben? Butylparaben? Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)? Parahydroxybenzoic acid (p-hydroxybenzoic acid)

    ? Parahydroxybenzoate (p-hydroxybenzoate) 

    According to the Environmental Working Group, both types of Rocky Mountain sunscreen are to be avoided. They each received a seven on the rating scale, which is quite high - it goes up to ten. 

    Can you bring in your own sunblock for your kiddo? You should be looking for a sunblock, not a sunscreen, by the way. Active ingredients should include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and you should stay away from avobenzont, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone, as these are chemical blockers.

    Sunscreen is a chemical blocker that gets absorbed into the top layer of the skin and reflects the rays off of the skin. The chemicals are not safe for infants, and frankly, I wouldn't use it on my child at any age.  

    Sunblock is absorbed into the skin and makes a shield on the top layer of your skin to block out rays. 100% safe for infants and up. 

    Here is a list of recommended sunblocks from the Environmental Working Group. We use California Baby.

    https://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/

    Oh, and sunscreen and sunblock are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably by companies, so even if a bottle says sunscreen, just check the ingredient list to make sure.


     

    Thanks for the link! 

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