allergic to sunscreen, what do you use?

jannylynn

jannylynn

New member
I was using the NoAD brand. I have used it for years but this year I've been coming home from the pool all itchy and bumpy everywhere that I put it on. :thumbdown: I took benadryl last night and woke up this morning with it pretty much gone. So today I tried Banana Boat for Babies which is supposed to be hypoallergenic (Paba free, all this great stuff listed on the bottle). Um, not so much. I'm itchy again. :( It's all up and down my legs and arms. Thank goodness it isn't on my back and face.

There has to be something out there that I can use. I burn so easily that I have to use a high SPF but I'm wondering if that's maybe what's causing the itching? It's going to be a very itchy summer if I don't find something. We go to the pool almost every day!
 
Hope someone has a suggestion, I have the same problem with sunscreen. I find the Banana Boat does it the worst.
 
I'm totally allergic to anything with SPF. I just have to stay out of prime sun time. We don't go out to the pool until 4 pm. This strategy works for us because none of us really want to be out in the heat and bugs anyways.

Hope you can find a solution that works for you.
 
are you allergic to sulfa as well?

One of my kids has a sulfa allergy and also allergic to sunscreen..so I assume the sunscreen has some sort of sulfate in it.

Anyways..we just use zinc oxide for her esp on her face and shoulders...it's so thick though that'st he only downfall of it. She is NOT a water person...would rather play on the pool steps with toys than be IN the water so i haven't had the chance to really test it IN the pool.
 
I'm not but i found this article that might help!!! seems like most of the time the allergy is to the fragrance or a perservative in the lotion.....so there is hope that you can find one that works!!!

http://health.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/05/30/are-you-allergic-to-sunscreen/

Then i found this link on webMD for a brand that recommended by someone's dermotologist!!! Scroll down to the second response!!

http://boards.webmd.com/webx?THDX@@.897c036c!thdchild=.897c036c

Good luck...I hope you find something that works!!!!
 
It's hard not knowing what exactly your allergic to. I know even though that Banana Boat says all of that there is still a lot of Chemical added to it. My husbands skin gets super itchy if he puts anything on with fragrance. I would suggest just using just plain 'ol Zinc oxide which I use on my son most of the time.

My boy is allergic to a lot so we have to be careful but here are some that have worked for us. UV Natural Baby (it has SPF30 but it doesn't have any added fragrance which a lot of people are sensitive to), Burt's Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen, and Neutrogena Sensitive Skin (I forget the exact name - my husband took it with him) but I haven't put that on my son yet but it is fine for me and hubby (I'm overly sensitive to things too).
 
DS and I both have super sensitive skin, too, and sunscreen is a major problem. We both get the itchy red bumps, too. Banana Boat was HORRIBLE for us. So far the only thing that works and doesn't irritate us is Coppertone:

m_wb_50lotion.jpg


HTH some!
 
Awesome suggestions, ladies! I know lanolin is another HUGE problem for me...it's practically in every freakin' lotion, so I get stuck using the disgustingly think Eucerin for my poor chapped hands every winter.

Fragrance is just suckish all the way around...skin and sinus allergies. In fact, sunscreen gives me migraines on top of hives and rashes--another reason we avoid it if possible.
 
This isn't a great solution, but you could try wearing a swim shirt -- at least that would minimize the area that you have to apply sunscreen to.
 
I had that same problem like two summers ago and posted about it on DST. I got some good suggestions. Everyone seemed to recomend the Neutrogena. I bought a drugstore brand of Nuetrogena and honestly I didnt have the itching but I found it was kinda sticky. I bought the spray on kind so maybe the lotion isnt as bad. I did see the Burt's Bees kind and would like to try it
 
thanks so much! At least I have some stuff to try! I bought some Neutrogena Sensitive skin sunscreen and so far it's not really itchy! We were out from 10-3 today. INSANE, I know but we always have so much fun! I sat under an umbrella and was talking with some friends.

Burts Bees will be next if the Neutrogena causes problems.

It's weird. I don't really have sensitive skin. I wear perfumed lotions all the time. So I'm hoping it's just a fluke.
 
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