What next? It seems nothing is safe anymore. Even when you are trying to protect your children, you could be harming them!
This one really freaks me out. It applies particularly to us mommies (the over-vigilant, worried, overprotective, generally freaking-out-over-every-little-thing types)
Here's an excerpt of the article, just so we can have something else to worry about!
"The Dangers Of Sunscreen And Bug Spray
You could be poisoning your children and not even know it. University of Oklahoma doctors say two everyday items can be toxic if used together. News On 6 anchor Scott Thompson reports sunscreen and bug spray are summertime staples, now researchers say using them together in the wrong way could be hazardous to your health.
This time of year bug spray flies off drug store shelves. Many say this season's wet weather has produced an army of mosquitoes, and they're preparing for battle. Summer's other big seller is sunscreen. While shoppers are calculating SPF's, researchers are investigating the dangerous consequences of combining sun block and bug spray.
"If they're both in solution at one time, it appears that you can increase the amount that gets into the system," said Dr. Bill Banner, Poison Control Medical Director.
Toxicologist Dr. Bill Banner points to new research that says using bug repellent and sunscreen together can have potentially toxic side effects. He says the combination makes it easier for the chemical DEET in bug spray to be absorbed into the skin. Too much can cause seizures and he says children are at highest risk."
So what can you do? You can either 1) Put the insect repellant on & let it dry so it's not there in its liquid phase, and THEN apply the sunscreen OR 2) Use one of the combination products containing both sunscreen AND repellent.And no spray of any kind for babies less than 2 months old--keep those little ones inside or cover them up for their own protection.
Aaaaaah! Living in Florida, where mosquitoes are as big as horses and the weather forecast
includes the words SUNNY and HUMID nearly every day, we have to have sunscreen AND bug repellent. Otherwise, the giant, disease-infested mosquitoes would carry our sun-scorched bodies off into the swamp!
Brainy Mom's Tip of the Day is do what you gotta do to take care of your kids. It sounds like the best choice if you need both sunscreen and bug repellent is to go ahead and buy the product with both in it. Sure it costs more, but it saves having to smear (or spray) two different products onto a screaming, writhing, complaining child. (Hey, we can't take any chances around here--it's for their own good, after all!)
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