Sunblock

Browsing the drugstore shelves, it is easy to get confused at the differences between sunscreen and sunblock. Many products describe themselves as sunblock, even when they don't actually have any sunblock ingredients in them.

Does it matter? It does if you really want a sunblock, instead of just a sunscreen.

Sunblocks do have some benefits, including that many experts believe that the main sunblock ingredients, including titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, can be less irritating and are less likely to cause allergic reactions than avobenzone (Parsol 1789), the main sunscreen ingredient that provides UVA protection and other chemical sunscreen ingredients.

So if your child commonly gets a rash when using sunscreen, a sunblock might be a better alternative.

The main differences between sunblock vs. sunscreen is in how they work. According to the EPA, sunscreens are chemicals that 'protect your skin by absorbing and/or reflecting UVA and UVB rays.' On the other hand, sunblock is made of physical or inorganic ingredients that actually block, reflect and scatter the sun's rays.

Since many products labeled as a sunblock really aren't or are a combination of a sunblock and sunscreen, how do you find one? The best way is to simply look at the product's ingredients.

The two sunblock ingredients available in the United States are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Unfortunately, there are only a few pure sunblocks available, including:

Sunblock

• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream SPF 30 Baby - a pure sunblock with both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream SPF 30 Sensitive - a pure sunblock with both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
• Neutrogena Sunblock Lotion Sensitive Skin SPF 30 - a pure sunblock with just titanium dioxide

Unlike older sunblocks which were opaque (picture the white creamy sunblock that you used to see on a lifeguard's nose), newer sunblocks become just as clear and transparent as regular sunscreen.

Sunscreen with Sunblock

• Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 45 - a good sunscreen, plus has both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
• Banana Boat Baby Tear Free UVA & UVB Sunblock Lotion SPF 50 - a sunscreen with the sunblock titanium dioxide
• Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sweatproof UVA & UVB Sunblock Lotion SPF 30 - a sunscreen with the sunblock titanium dioxide
• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream SPF 30+ Face - a sunscreen with zinc oxide
• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream SPF 30+ Regular - a sunscreen with zinc oxide
• Blue Lizard Australian Suncream SPF 30+ Sport - a sunscreen with zinc oxide
• Bull Frog SuperBlock Sunblock Lotion with SPF 45 - a sunscreen with the sunblock titanium dioxide
• Coppertone Kids Spectra 3 SPF 50 Sunblock Lotion - a sunscreen with zinc oxide
• Coppertone Water Babies SPECTRA3 Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 - a sunscreen with zinc oxide
• Hawaiian Tropic 45 Plus Sunblock - a sunscreen with the sunblock titanium dioxide

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