Are you using the worst sunscreens for your children? Sunny weather is finally here and the Environmental Working Group has rated sunscreens based on potentially harmful chemicals used in them. Just because it's marketed for children, doesn't mean it's good for them. Banana Boat and Coppertone are popular brands that may include questionable chemicals. Before you slather a bottle of sunscreen on your kids, take a quick peek at EWG's list to make sure you won't be causing other problems from increased chemical exposure.

Whatever you do, don't fear the sun. It's important to avoid sunburns, but healthy sun exposure is good for you. Click here to learn more about healthy sun exposure and vitamin D.

While adult use of antacids has been linked to increased risk of bone fractures, these same medications have been used in infants without research on their risks of bone fracture until now. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that "new research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting found infants prescribed antacids to manage acid reflux, or spitting up, under age 1 had more bone fractures later in childhood."

Acid reflux or gastro-esophageal reflux (GER/GERD) are commonly thought to be related to overproduction of stomach acid in adults, or weak muscles around the stomach in babies. Doctors frequently recommend medications to reduce acid production in adults and now appear to be doing the same in very young children to control the symptoms.

High Antacid Use in Infants

Researchers analyzed records of 874,447 healthy children and "found approximately 10% of the children were prescribed antacids in the first year of life, including H2-blockers such as ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepsid) as well as PPIs such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and pantoprazole (Protonix). A small percentage was prescribed both.

"Children who used PPIs had a 22% increased likelihood of fracture, while children who used both PPIs and H2-blockers had a 31% increased likelihood of fracture. Use of H2-blockers was not associated with an immediate increase in fractures, the study found, but there was an increased likelihood of fracture with time."

Antacids "Not Safe for Children"

Researcher also noted that the younger a child started antacid medication, and the longer a child was on antacid medication further increased the risk of bone fractures. The lead researcher noted, "With many antacids easily available over-the-counter for adults, these medications may seem benign...However, our study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting antacid medications are not safe for children..."

Avoiding Antacids and Fractures in Children

Spit up is fairly common in the first year of life as a child's digestive system continues to fully develop. Most cases are mild and should not require medical intervention. Reflux tends to be less common and less severe when breastfeeding children, so breastfeeding is a good way to avoid problems to start with. When breastfeeding, mom's diet may also have an affect on the baby's digestion. In children with more severe symptoms, there may be functional issues that could be addressed with hands-on treatment or diet changes.

Using antacids to prevent the body from producing a proper amount of stomach acid can also increase other risks, like infection due to reducing the digestive systems' ability to kill a "bug." Some reflux symptoms actually result from too little stomach acid, reducing the body's ability to digest food well, and allowing food to essentially rot in the stomach and cause reflux symptoms. It's worth trying non-drug treatments to improve the problem before starting on a lifetime of antacids. And it appears these antacid medication should rarely be used in children due to risk of fractures and other health problems.

Johnson & Johnson has lost another lawsuit relating use of their talc baby powder to cancer in a 62-year-old woman, with $110.5 million in damages awarded. This follows almost $200 million in damages that Johnson & Johnson has had to pay other plaintiffs for failing to warn consumers about the risks of using talc baby powder.

Talcum powder is made from the mineral talc. As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes. It is commonly used in cosmetic products like baby powder.

Cancer & Talc Baby Powder?

Most would assume a product sold for use on babies for decades would have zero risk. However, the American Cancer Society notes there has been research indicating small but significant risks relating talc to cancer:

"It has been suggested that talcum powder might cause cancer in the ovaries if the powder particles (applied to the genital area or on sanitary napkins, diaphragms, or condoms) were to travel through the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes to the ovary...Many studies in women have looked at the possible link between talcum powder and cancer of the ovary. Findings have been mixed, with some studies reporting a slightly increased risk and some reporting no increase...One study suggested genital talcum powder use may slightly increase the risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer in women who are past menopause."

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO) and classifies the perineal (genital) use of talc-based body powder as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

To be safe, it's most likely best to avoid the use of talc baby powder as a precaution to avoid cancer.

Have you taken a forest bath lately? Some research indicates forest bathing could be beneficial for your health. No, it's not what you think. Forest bathing, or forest-air bathing, involves taking a leisurely trip to the forest for relaxation and recreation.

Forest bathing helps COPD patients

A recent study on forest bathing looked specifically at elderly COPD patients who were taken to an urban area or the forest to take long walks. Blood tests performed afterward showed beneficial changes for those who walked through the forest rather than the city.

Other studies have indicated benefits to cardiovascular health and chronic stress from forest bathing. While there may be no massive long term randomly controlled trials to prove the benefit of a walk through the woods, it's worth a try. It's a safe bet that we can all benefit from healthy physical activity in a natural relaxing environment. Plan your next forest bath today!

Medpage Today reports on a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) statement that recommends against using codeine to treat pain and coughs, or use of tramadol to treat pain in children under the age of 12.

"The [FDA] cited concerns about slowed or difficult breathing or death, especially among younger children and infants in its decision to restrict the use of products containing these two drugs."

"The FDA also added a new 'Warning' advising against the use of products with codeine and tramadol in children ages 12 to 18 who are obese or have obstructive sleep apnea or serious lung disease."

No Codeine or Tramadol When Breastfeeding

"There is also a strengthened 'Warning' advising against the use of these products among breastfeeding mothers, as it may cause serious harm to their infants."

"'We understand that there are limited options when it comes to treating pain or cough in children, and that these changes may raise some questions for healthcare providers and parents,' said Throckmorton [MD, deputy center director for regulatory programs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research]. 'However, please know that our decision today was made based on the latest evidence and with this goal in mind: keeping our kids safe.'"

Choose Low Risk Non-drug Treatment for Children

Too often, we grab for medication that seems to provide an easy solution, but it's important to avoid falling for the belief that drugs are the answer to all of our problems. Our current opioid epidemic started with physicians trying to help patients with chronic pain, but it's now turned into a devastating mess. All opioids, including codeine and tramadol, should be a last resort and used with much more caution. Simple non-drug treatments are often just as effective without the risks. A spoon of honey has been found to sooth a bad cough as well as medication. State and national opioid guidelines recommend using non-drug treatments like chiropractic first for pain relief. 

Especially when it comes to children, it's important to use a cautious approach that starts with non-drug care first before trying higher risk opioid medications like codeine or tramadol.