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Allergen Composition, Marketing Claims, and Affordability of Pediatric Sunscreens
Jonathan W Rick1, Madalyn Brannon2, Devea R De3
1From the Department of Dermatology.
Insights
Pediatric sunscreens vary widely in cost and ingredients. Many products, even those for sensitive skin, contain allergens, making careful selection crucial for sun protection.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Cosmetic Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood sun exposure increases future skin cancer risk.
- Sunscreens are vital for preventing UV damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate pediatric sunscreens.
- Analyze cost, marketing, ingredients, and allergens for consumer guidance.
Main Methods:
- Assessed top 50 pediatric sunscreens for price, claims, ingredients, and allergens.
- Compared ingredients against the American Contact Dermatology Society 2020 Core Allergen List.
Main Results:
- Mean price was $6.20/oz; mean SPF was 48.5.
- Products for sensitive skin were pricier and less likely to be allergen-free.
- Mineral sunscreens had fewer allergens than chemical UV blockers.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric sunscreen market shows significant variation in price and composition.
- Sensitive skin formulations often still contain allergens.
- Presence of contact allergens is a key factor in sunscreen selection.
Background:
Childhood sun exposure is associated with development of future skin cancers. Sunscreens are an important tool to prevent harmful ultraviolet rays.
Objectives:
The aims of the study are to evaluate sunscreens targeted to children and to analyze cost, marketing claims, ingredients, and allergens to help consumers select products.
Methods:
The top 50 pediatric sunscreens across retailers were analyzed for their cost, marketing claims, ingredients, vehicles, and containers. Ingredients were compared with the American Contact Dermatology Society 2020 Core Allergen List.
Results:
The mean price was $6.20 per ounce (range, $0.25-$39.98). The mean sun protection factor was 48.5 (range, 30-100; SD, 48.5). There was a mean of 17.5 ingredients and a mean of 1.1 allergens in products. On average, products marketed as "sensitive skin" were not only significantly more expensive ($8.90 vs $3.50 per ounce, P = 0.01) but also were significantly more likely to not contain any allergens (36.0%, n = 18 vs 12%, n = 6; P = 0.05). Products with mineral-only UV blockers were significantly less likely to have any allergen when compared with products that had chemical UV blockers (5.6%, n = 1 vs 94.4%, n = 17; P = 0.02).
Conclusions:
The current market of pediatric sunscreens varies significantly in price, marketing claims, and active ingredients. Products marked as suitable for sensitive skin had significantly fewer allergens, but a majority of these products still had at least one allergen. Many sunscreens contain contact allergens, which is an important selection consideration.
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