Understanding UV spectrum is important in order to purchase the right sunscreen to protect against light. Ultraviolet light (UV light) is light from the sun. There are two different types of UV light. Ultraviolet A (UVA) light can penetrate the dermis and is associated with aging of the skin. Ultraviolet B (UVB) is associated with sunburn and damage to the skin. It is important to choose a “broad spectrum” sunscreen to protect against both UVA and UVB light.
The sun protection factor (SPF) is a number that indicates the level of protection against UVB rays. The numbering system is not user friendly.
Not all skin is created equally. However, when it comes to younger children, using the same product is generally not harmful. But keep this in mind, the skin on a child’s face is much more sensitive than the body and some children may require two different products.
In regards to teenagers, a second product should be considered. When looking for a sunscreen for the face there are four things to look for
Spray sunscreens are very popular because they are fast and convenient, easy to apply and help cover hard-to-reach areas. However, sprays do not provide guaranteed sun protection. In order to achieve an SPF similar to a lotion or cream, you need to spray each area for at least 6 seconds. This can increase the risk of inhaling the ingredients and possibly triggering asthma. For guaranteed sun protection, you are probably better off using a lotion or cream because you can actually measure the amount of lotion that is applied and it has less irritant.
During this research, I stumbled upon the history of sunscreens and the FDA regulations. I found myself heading down a rabbit hole and I could literally write a paper strictly discussing this matter. To sum up a few of my findings….
Several decades ago, the FDA began requiring manufacturers to do more safety testing of their products. Sunscreens have been around since the 40’s and therefor were kinda “grandfathered in” into the FDA’s system without any real safety testing.
However, many of the active ingredients have been determined to absorb into the the body and are known hormone disruptors. Recently the FDA enacted a Sunscreen Innovation Act (SIA) to provide a better process for reviewing safety measures of sunscreen active ingredients. Despite these findings, and despite the new ACT initiative, these chemical sunscreens are still on the market. The FDA has allowed sunscreen makers to sell their products under an assumption that the active ingredients they use are generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE). To date, the FDA has approved many clear chemicals known as endocrine disruptors.
All though there is evidence to prove the chemical ingredients absorb in the body, there is not enough research to prove the cause and effect it may have which is how the FDA considers these ingredients to be GRASE. Chemical sunscreens effects are subtle and take a long time to appear so that makes it difficult to study. However, because sunscreen is applied to the largest organ of the body, and is known as an hormone disruptor, it is plausible to conclude that chemicals from sunscreens increase the risk of various cancers and other endocrine disorders.
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck….
Keeping all of this information in mind, a parent then has to think well what do I do now? Does my child get skin cancer from the UV rays or the chemicals from a sunscreen. Why are these products still on the market. There are a lot of things on the market that perhaps should not be but we as parents have to better inform ourselves to make the best decision for our own children.
Sunscreen acts as a filter for UV rays. Active ingredients in sunscreen contain either mineral or a chemical UV filter. Chemical options absorb UV rays and mineral options deflect UV rays. Unfortunately, the most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters. Continue to read on so we can discuss each ingredient.
Best Ingredients to Look For
The two most commonly used mineral ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are considered the safest options to date. However, some mineral sunscreens contain Nano particles, which researchers have not fully assessed the long term effects on humans and the environment so it is not completely understood what kind of impact they could have. When choosing a mineral based sunscreen, try to find a product without nanoparticles. Make sure you read your labels because a lot of “natural” or “green” products contain nanoparticles.
Did you know that there are no federal regulations defining the use of words like ‘natural’ when it pertains to sunscreens!
Ingredients to Avoid
Most of the chemical UV filtered sunscreen products in the market contain ingredients that is absorbed through the skin and has been found in human urine, breast milk, and can be measured in blood samples after one use thus suspecting systemic absorption. Which basically means these chemicals are found everywhere in the body. Data about human exposure and toxicity according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 97% of Americans have one or more of these chemicals circulating in our bodies. These chemicals can lead to:
About 70% of sunscreens on the market are made up of chemical filtered UV ray blocker.
List of harmful Ingredients
Some sunscreens are labeled “reef safe”. However, read your labels. Again, “reef safe” and “natural” is not FDA regulated. Most of the harmful ingredients listed above have been banned in many places to protect coral reefs. It is important to keep our oceans clean and safe because we essentially rely on the ocean to oxygenate our planet.
Remember not all sun exposure is bad….vitamin D!
Don’t forget that the main source of vitamin D comes from the sun. Most people are vitamin D deficient. Early morning sun is less harsh and the perfect time to get your vitamin D.
The following are EWG tested and personally approved.
1) Think baby– This is one of my favorite sunscreens. It is broad spectrum coverage, a mineral based product and NON-nanoparticles so it is also ocean safe. It is pricier at $18/6oz bottle.
2) Badger baby– I love this product. It scores a one on the EWG scale. It is also a NON-nanoparticle with broad-spectrum coverage. It can be very thick so we personally use this on our children’s face. The price is about $13/2.9oz bottle. They have a lot of manufacturer certifications so over all, it is a very clean product.
3) Blue lizard– Is another broad spectrum coverage and scores a 2 on the EWG scale. Its price range is $15/5oz bottle. It is not as thick as most mineral based sunscreens. The scent is very mild. We personally use this often as well.
4) Babo– Is closely compared to Badger in my opinion. It is also non-nano and contains high UVB/UVA protection. The price point is similar at $13/3 oz bottle.
5) Babyganics– Although this one is not the cleanest sunscreen, I added it to my list because for me, it is medium range on the EWG scale, offers broad spectrum coverage and is cost friendly for those on a budget. It is about $10/bottle for 6oz. The scent is not over whelming but you can smell a bit of the other ingredients.
Sunscreens should NOT be irritating or cause skin allergies. Sunscreen products should only protect against harmful UV rays. Always remember to talk to your Pediatrician before trying anything new.
What sunscreen do you love that I can add to my list above?
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You have seen multiple physicians… You easily get upset… You’re cold, you’re hot… You cant get your GI system to function well…. Just to name a few things you have experienced today…. You are not alone.
Your baby/child is hyper emotional, cries often, cant get a hold of their feelings and it doesn’t seem quite “normal” to the extent this occurs…. You are not alone
Before we dive into why you’re still symptomatic, lets briefly go over the basics.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located on the front of the neck. It secretes three hormones and affects the developmental, cardiovascular and metabolic system in the body. The treatment for thyroid disorders is very misunderstood by many.
The thyroid secretes three hormones:
The Thyroid Influences
Thyroid Hormone Regulation
The pituitary and the hypothalamus control the thyroid gland. The production of T3 and T4 is regulated by TSH (TSH is released by the pituitary gland). TSH is regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which is produced by the hypothalamus. When thyroid hormones are too high, TSH production is suppressed and vice versa when thyroid hormones are too low. Still with me?…..
-TSH regulates T3 and T4
-Pituitary releases TSH
-Thyrotropin (TRH) regulates TSH
-Hypothalamus produces TRH
These thyroid hormones and regulators are on a continuous feedback loop. Feedback loops refer to the nervous system telling the endocrine system to control body conditions by receiving a signal, responding with the proper hormone and reacting. The hypothalamus acts like a thermostat of a feedback loop, the endocrine glands act like an air conditioning system and both determine if you need added heating or cooling to maintain balance.
Hypothyroidism is low or under active thyroid hormone production. This condition has various causes such as decreased iodine or pituitary gland disorders, just to name a few but commonly resulting from congenital (birth) or autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto’s
Symptoms
Hyperthyroidism is excessive thyroid hormone production. This condition can be caused by various reason such as autoimmune disorder Grave’s disease and excess iodine just to name a few.
Symptoms
Congenital Hypothyroidism is a deficiency of the thyroid hormone present at birth. It can be due to many reasons
Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial due to the nature that the thyroid plays a major role in fetal brain development. Hypothyroidism in an infant can lead to neuro-developmental disorders such as intellectual disabilities and cretinism. Other symptoms associated with congenital hypothyroidism….
Symptoms
There are numerous diagnostic tests to determine a thyroid condition. However, in regards to babies and children…
Most physicians request only a TSH, some will request a TSH, T4 and T3, and then there are some really intelligent doctors out there who think outside the box and will order an entire thyroid panel. THOSE are my kind of doctors.
If your child is diagnosed or believed to be suffering from a thyroid disorder, these are the labs that should be ordered every single time their levels are assessed in order to be properly treated. I repeat… Every. Single. Time. You can’t treat a thyroid patient with half the information. If your child’s physician does not understand the importance of these labs, find one who does understand or one who is willing to learn
Other labs to consider during initial diagnosing
There are plenty of medication options to choose based on lab values. It takes a bit of commitment to design a care plan specific to the thyroid patient needs but it is worth it in the long run to have some symptomatic relief. Thyroid patients suffer from subtle and not so subtle symptoms that can be a nuisance or very debilitating. It is so so so important to learn what works for you to find relief. Below is a few different forms of medication to educate yourself about.
Is your gut in check? Thyroid disease and GI disturbances go hand-in-hand. A big part of the immune system is in the gastrointestinal tract. Poor gut health can exacerbate autoimmune diseases by the body initiating an immune attack on foreign (undigested food particles). Hypothyroidism also contributes to hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) leading to acid reflux. There is a big misconception that high stomach acid can cause reflux. This can be true in some cases, however, more often than not, low stomach acid causes reflux. When your stomach acid is low, you dont have the proper tools to break down food causing food particles to sit in your gut leading to bad bacteria also known as SIBO but that is for an entirely different conversation. Another factor the thyroid can affect in the GI system is the gallbladder. If your body does not metabolize fats properly, this can cause a sluggish, congested gallbladder leading to gallstones. A sluggish, congested gallbladder also leads to poor liver detoxification hindering conversion of T4 and T3, and also preventing eliminating excess hormones such as estrogen. The above mentioned GI issues are one of the reasons a lot of woman have hormone disturbances. Repairing the gut starts here…..
Another thing to consider for kids who are having a hard time coping with emotional and/or sensory difficulties is Counseling/behavior modification therapy. Counseling can help your child with understanding why and how to cope with emotional highs and lows stemming from thyroid disease. Behavioral modification will help achieve the same thing but also educate the care giver to work with your child during the highs and lows.
If you take anything from this, it is that you are your child’s biggest advocate
The thyroid is a very complex gland because it controls our hormones. I even at times, have difficulty wrapping my brain around how it functions in our body including how lab levels and medication can affect that function. The thyroid plays a part in other systems of the body. It has a domino affect on your other hormones in that when one hormone is affected, they all are affected because one takes from the other but that conversation is for another time when we dive into the adrenal glands and sex hormones. If you take anything from this, it is that you are your child’s biggest advocate with their health care. Seek a physician that will listen to your concerns and help treat the cause not the symptoms. A physician that will hear you when you/ or child is still symptomatic despite the lab levels are in “normal” range. A physician who will think outside of the box and dig deeper into labs and diagnostics that help answer these “why” questions. If your child is still having symptoms, seek a physician who is willing to explore alternative options. YOU know your child best and only YOU can help them live their best life with optimal health care. I know too many people who are symptomatic and continue to suffer.
Do you or someone you love suffer from a thyroid disorder? If so, how do you manage your disorder? Will you share your story with us?
]]>First and foremost, process your own fears. Don’t dismiss your child’s fears.
When in doubt, contact your Pediatrician if you feel your child is not coping well or their behaviors have greatly changed.
How are your babies doing? How have you helped them cope with being home?
]]>“Every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. Meanwhile, only 5 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison.”
Consent matters. It is our job as parents to educate our children on consent and it doesn’t just start with high school sex education. In the eyes of the law, if you do not ask before you touch, kiss or do anything sexual with a partner, and they don’t give consent, that is a form of sexual assault. Here are some ways to educate your children on consent for each age group to ensure your child and their future relationships are safe.
Positive
NOT
The most important thing to take away during educating your child about consent is to keep an open mind and keep calm. The idea of talking about sex with your child/teen is scary and awkward but if you dont do it, then who will. It is better for this conversation to come from the parent.
How do you educate your child about consent?
]]>Vitamin A deficiency dates back as far as 1819, during a study with malnourished dogs. During 1912, a biochemist discovered there was an unknown substance present in milk that were not fats, proteins or carbohydrates. In 1917, researchers discovered this substance while researching the role of dietary fats. In 1920, the substance was finally referred to as vitamin A.
Some vitamins are not considered a single compound. What I mean by this is that there are various forms of Vitamin A including retinoids and carotenoids. There are also derivatives from these compounds such as retinyl. Sounds confusing I know. I will try to break it down to better understand the different forms to help choose the best for your needs.
Vitamin A comes from two sources. Carotenoids and retinoids. Carotenoids such as beta carotene, lycopein and lutein are plants based and retinoids such as retinol and retinal come from animal sources.
Beta Carotene, a carotenoid, is the precurser (ProVitamin) for Vitamin A. Beta carotene is a red/orange pigment found in many fresh fruits and vegetables. Once consumed, beta carotene converts to Vitamin A in the intestines and liver. The advantage of beta carotene is that the body only converts as much as it needs when needed.
Retinoid is preformed, readily used Vitamin A and includes retinOL and retinAL. It does not need conversion. The main difference of the two retinoids is the potency and how fast each works. A common retanOL used is prescription strength retinoic acid such as Retin-A.
They couldn’t just make this simple! Still with me?……
Lastly, we have synthetic, man-made version of Vitamin A derivatives known as esters found in supplement forms. These derivatives are also found from remnant retinoids. In other words, retinoids can convert into esters and esters are also found in supplement forms.There are few out there and they are named for the amino acid they are bound to.
Foods
A good way to get your vitamin A is to think about eating in color. Most yellow/orange foods contain Vitamin A. You can get recommended amounts of vitamin A by eating a variety of foods, including the following:
The following are some symptoms of vitamin A deficiency:
Vitamin A deficiency can result from inadequate intake, malabsorption of fat, and/or liver disorders. A prime example is people with Irritable Bowl Disease, Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease. These GI disorders have a hard time absorbing nutrients such as Vitamin A.
The Concern….
Vitamin A toxicity can occur due to high doses of preformed vitamin A retinol and esters found in some supplements. In some personal care products and supplements, vitamin A compounds and derivatives can be harmful.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble, meaning that any amount not immediately needed by the body is absorbed and stored in fat tissue or the liver. If too much is stored, it can become toxic resulting in liver damage. In contrast, preformed vitamin A, beta-carotene is not toxic even at high levels of intake because the body only coverts when it is needed.
What do you use Vitamin A for? Comment below.
]]>Zinc was originally established in 1869 but it wasn’t until 1961, human trials began for individuals in countries where bread, potatoes and milk were abundant in their diet. Administering animal protein and zinc supplements corrected the symptoms associated with the deficiency.
Zinc is naturally present in some foods and is available as a dietary supplement.
Chelated- Organic ZInc is easily digested and is attached to another substance such as an amino acid.
NonChelated- Inorganic Zinc is not digested but used out side of the body
Foods
Zinc is found in a variety of foods such as lean meat, seafood, eggs, beans, chick peas, seeds and nuts (cashews and almonds). Oysters contain more zinc then any other food. Whole-grain breads, cereals, legumes, and other foods containing phytates can inhibit absorption of zinc. The bioavailability of zinc from foods containing phytates is decreased compared to animal food products. In other words, you can still absorb zinc from all these food items mentioned above but you get more bang for your buck with animal foods.
The following can possibly cause a deficiency in Zinc.
Zinc is generally safe. However, toxicity can occur from acute high doses of zinc
Prolonged period of high zinc levels can inhibit copper metabolism
Zinc can interfere with absorption of certain medications and supplements
What do you use Zinc for? What form do you use? Does your sunscreen contain Zinc?
]]>If you are looking to make your own vapor rub with age appropriate essential oils and natural ingredients, this is place to be…..
Most store bought vapor rubs have a lot of toxic chemicals in them. Chemicals such as parabans, diazolidinl urea, PEG-100 Stearate, Turpentine and petrolatum. Some of these are often contaminated with PAHS. These very toxic compounds is linked to cancer and toxicity in the immune and reproductive system.
For the most part essential oils are natural and considered safe. However, not all are considered safe to all. Some oils can counteract the effectiveness of other medications. Some oils can irritate your mucus membrane and make your symptoms feel worse. Always use carefully with small children, pregnant women and pets. Below are some guidelines that will help you choose what is best for your child.
Infuse the following for 30 minutes on and one hour off as needed.
Dilution at 1% is the recommended starting point. However, it is appropriate to go up to 3% for short periods of time.
Instructions
Instructions
Castor oil has been used for centuries due to its therapeutic properties by penetrating deep into tissues to increase circulation and enhance healing. Do not digest castor oil internally.
Cayenne pepper clears out mucus.
Ginger acts as a diaphoretic to help bring out the toxins in your lungs
Garlic is an antimicrobial
Black pepper stimulates circulation and mucus flow
Eucalyptus adds more antimicrobial and works as a decongestant
Thyme leaves contain flavanoids that relax and lessen inflammation.
Cinnamon is knowns for reducing inflammation, boost immunity and eliminate viruses.
Cedarwood reduces coughs and congestion by its antispasmodic ability. It also rids buildup of phlegm
Lemon is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial
Do you have a DIY chest rub? What ingredients do you use? Comment below.
*Disclaimer- Please seek health advice from your provider before trying any of the above mentioned supplements. Only you and your provider understand your child’s health history. These supplements are not considered cures for any ailments
]]>The following are a few suggested treatments for a cough…..
Essential oils do not cure. However, they can alleviate symptoms. Here are the few takeaways for essential oils….. Use cautiously with children under the age of 6. Make sure you use a carrier oil. And do not skimp and buy cheap. You pay for what you get with oils. Here are a few essential oils that alleviate a cough.
What tried and true cough remedies do you use? Comment below. I am always interested in trying new remedies that work.
*Disclaimer- Please seek health advice from your provider before trying any of the above mentioned supplements. Only you and your provider understand your child’s health history. These supplements are not considered cures for any ailments
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