My friend John Duffy (check out his blog here) forwarded me an update regarding spray-on sunscreens to the June 11, 2014 PediaBlog post “Sunscreen: Use Early And Often”:
The Food and Drug Administration announced their investigation of spray sunscreen safety in 2011, but have yet to release a verdict. However, Consumer Reports recently issued a warning against the sprays that advises parents to stay away from using them on children.
“We now say that until the FDA completes its analysis, the products should generally not be used by or on children,” says Consumer Reports. “We have also removed one sunscreen spray — Ocean Potion Kids Instant Dry Mist SPF 50 — from the group of recommended sunscreens in our sunscreen Ratings, because it is marketed especially for children.”
Consumer Reports tested sunscreens in the past and found that those containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide could have nanoparticles — particles known for causing developmental issues in animals. The FDA’s analysis will determine whether these chemicals are more harmful in spray form, since they’re more likely to be inhaled by kids.