Sunscreen time....

[IADad]

okay, time to haul our the "which sunscreen" thread....

Kims thread on getting ready for Hawaii had me thinking about sunscreen.

The BIG problem we had last year was staining, most of our kid's clothes has at least some ugly orange staining around the collars - I hate it.

From a little bit of internet research this morning, I've found some explanation that it's "avobenzine" that is in some sunscreens reacting with the iron in our well water that causes the staining. So that explains why some people have no problems at all with one type and others do. I also found some advice that lemon juice, chelating soap, and barkeeper's friend, all are supposed to work on removing the stains, ostensibly even old stains, I need to try that yet.

So, anyone buy that explanation? take exception? Have any other advice to share from experience? I'm hoping for a sun safe, stain free (well, grass stains, mud stains are welcome as always.) summer....

[mom2many]

I don't have that problem and we have well water also....interesting! I would be careful with lemon juice, it can fade the clothes.

I wished I had advice, I just have no clue.

[Jeremy+3]

We use Piz buin I think thats how you spell it, then for children/babies we use simple suncream, both in factor 40 or 50.

[Xero]

Ick I hate well water. I have grown up with it though, we live outside the city and pretty much everybody has well water. We specifically have city water, but that's not common. We are in just the right place, that's all.

Anyway, that doesn't surprise me about the explanation. Well water is so much different than city water. It has a lot of extra stuff in it that you really can't filter on your own. My mom is having problems with hers right now. She is blonde, and she actually had problems with the water turning her hair this orange color because of stuff that's in it. So I absolutely believe that explanation.

The best sunscreen for kids? Well, I have done some research on this and everything says that the top most protective, and also sensitive brand would be Neutrogena. Neutrogena Waterguard Kids (its 70 SPF) and there's also a Neutrogena Pure and Free baby sunblock which is 60 SPF. Its kinda pricey for sunblock, but it is apparently the best. They also advertise that you can't sweat it off and it wont rub off on towels.

I also have read that the other best kinds that are right up there with Neutrogena are Coppertone (I use Coppertone on Eli, mainly because the Neutrogena seems hard to get your hands on for some reason) and this other stuff I've never seen called Blue Lizzard or something. Next in line would be Banana Boat, which I know a lot of people like. And that's what I know! lol

[IADad]

Interesting...

Mom2many, I wonder if it's a matter of hardness, we have very hard water and lots of iron. I know different places have different natural hard and softness. I'd gladly trade faded for the ugly orange stains we have now that can ruin a shirt in one wearing.

Jeremy, I think part of the problem or at least what I 'm looking for is which ones stain for people and which don't. There seems to be about 6 potential ingrediants in sunscreen and most of the manufacturers use 4 of them in varying quantities, so, think it's difficult to say "normal suncream."

anybody have a brand and type the swear has never stained?

[IADad]

thanks Xero - I've used the Banana boat and don't recall having problems with it staining for me. I think I'm going to have to clear out all the odd bottles and do some controlled testing.

[Xero]

What kind have you used so far that stains?

[Jeremy+3]

Well water doesn't exist in the UK, so our water only varies slightly in 'hardness' thus I've never heard of sun cream stains.

[bssage]

Originally Posted by Xero

I also have read that the other best kinds that are right up there with Neutrogena are Coppertone (I use Coppertone on Eli, mainly because the Neutrogena seems hard to get your hands on for some reason) and this other stuff I've never seen called Blue Lizzard or something. Next in line would be Banana Boat, which I know a lot of people like. And that's what I know! lol

The coppertone is #2 at consumer reports. Which is really almost the same as #1

The 2 number one's kids sunscreens per 2009 consumer reports

Walgreens Continuous spray sport SPF 50

Aveeno Continuous spray SPF 45

[Jeremy+3]

I found links to ours

Baby sun cream

The children's, it smells a little odd when you apply it as it doesn't have added fragrance.

Me and my wife use this, she is allergic to the sun and this is the only sun cream that helps her, I used it as well as we get it on prescription.