My Daughter Is Allergic to Sunscreen

We use zinc oxide right from the tube of Desitin (40% zinc oxide).

It's white, but it will stay on for days - even in water. It actually helps to clear up rashes tool

Look for ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They are minerals that provide a physical barrier from the sun rather than a chemical one as found in most common sunscreen brands. I'll warn you ahead of time, the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide ones are thick and harder to rub in but they work amazingly well.

Also, does her skin break out as soon as you put the sunscreen on or is it once she's sweating and her pores open up? Have you tried spray vs. lotion? Are the hives all over her body or only in certain areas?

I'm rather anti-sunscreen since most people are deficient in Vit D3 which actually keeps one from getting cancer. I learned this trick from my very fair Scandinavian friend of mine (who burned after 10 min in the sun). She takes 1,000 mg of omega 3 fish oil before she going in the sun and then again afterwards. Her skin might get a little pink, but the skin does not ever have that burning sensation. I have my kids take it before they go in the sun and they haven't had a sunburn in years and we spent days at the pool in Texas. They have chewable Omega 3's for kids if she can't swallow pills. Otherwise I would try making your own like the others suggested. Good luck!

not specifically, other than the predictable suggestion to go to a dermatologist. and if this is an ongoing issue, you really should.
there's increasing evidence that sunscreen itself has been responsible for the rise in skin cancers, along with over-exposure to the sun itself. so don't be in too much of a hurry to slather her in it, although there are times it's necessary for sure.
one of the best things you can do is find good sun protective clothing. it's really brilliant- light-weight and cool, yet protects against both sun and bugs. i paid about $40 for a long-sleeved shirt a few years ago and love it. wish i could find a skirt or pants to match. i love the sun, so safe ways to stay out in it are very important to me.
other than a hat, though, the face is still an issue. kiss my face and jasons both make good quality sunscreens, i'd give them a shot.
khairete
S.

Absolutely get her tested; she may be allergic to very specific ingredients and then, once you know the cause, you can start to hunt sunscreens that don't contain it. Also--dermatologists can either recommend over the counter sunscreens (once they know the real issue), or they can prescribe a sunscreen that might only be available through prescription!

But meanwhile, please use other forms of sun protection. There are many products out there that are sun-protective clothing--the fabrics are designed to screen UV rays. Yes, she may have to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants in summer, BUT they will be lightweight; the makers of these clothes are well aware that nobody likes to be in heavy clothes in summer. Also be sure to get her a good hat, with a really wide brim so it truly shades her face and neck, and made of sun-protective material. And don't hesitate to use umbrellas at the beach and to keep her out of the sun during peak UV hours -- avoid the hours 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Again, a dermatologist is your next step here. Make a list of every sunscreen you have tried so far, and take it with you, so the doctor can look up those products and figure out whether they have something in common that could be the allergen in this case. She may have to undergo some tests. But it's important to use sunscreens and limit exposure, so it's well worth seeing a dermatologist and then following up on whatever he or she tells you.

Are you absolutely sure it's the sunscreen? Does the outbreak start right after applying it, or after sun exposure? If it's not an immediate reaction, and comes on after sun exposure, it's possible she's could be sun-sensitive.
I only mention this because I also thought for a long, long time when I was young that I was allergic to sunscreen and really struggled with my skin in the summer. After visiting a doctor as an adult, I learned I was actually allergic to UVA/UVB light. Any initial exposure to UV light in the summer causes a horrible outbreak of hives. Usually the first outbreak is the worst, but it gets better after that. But the first outbreak can be pretty intense.
I would suggest seeing your doctor and describe what's going on.
As for your recommendations- well, since I'm sun sensitive, I just wear a rash guard/swim shirt and a hat. And zinc oxide. Physical barrier sun blocks are my only option.

I agree with getting her tested. I know that glycerin is a common allergen, and it is in many many lotions. If you know that she is allergic to glycerin (as an example), then you can look at the inactive ingredients and know what to avoid.

And, in the meantime, go to a dive shop and buy her a few cute swim shirts. This will serve her well as she gets older - dive shops have very cute girl-cut UV protective swim shirts.

(Is your daughter also sensitive to certain laundry detergents and/or soaps? If so, it may really be a glycerin allergy, because glycerin is in many of these also).

I think you need to figure out which ingredient it is that is causing the hives. You will probably need to take her to a dermatologist or allergist to help determine which ingredient she is allergic to.

You could also try a brand of sunscreen that advertises as low in allergens or good for sensitive skin. Ultimately, you're going to need to know what it is that's causing the hives, as this is not the only product she'll be putting on her skin. She's going to need to know what it is she's allergic to.

Call a dermatologist and ask the office staff.

Do you know what it is in the sunscreen she is reacting to? You can make your own natural sunscreen easily out of coconut oil, shey butter, coco butter, and beeswax(for stability). There are several recipes online using a mixture of some or all of these. Other also add vit e oil. The important ingredient is zinc oxide, and this you can order off Amazon. As long as she is not allergic to the zinc Oxide (which is what actually gives the sun protection) the other ingredients can be mixed and matched to whatever works with her skin.

California baby does not cause a rash or cause eczema flare. We use the lotion and face stick.

I was going to suggest to only try organic sunscreens, but I think you are doing that. I think Alba is organic. Never heard of Badger. Keep trying organic ones at your local health food store. Good luck!

I break out in hives from sunscreen. It gets worse and worse every time I use it. I used to use the spray on kind and my allergist told me not to use the spray ons. He said to use a paraban free cream. That seems to work. I do use moisturizer with sunscreen and that is always fine.

Try Kiss My Face. It works for me. Also No Ad.

BTW - my allergist told me there was no test for sunscreen allergies.

ive identified that my dd can't use anything with Aveobenzone??? in it but as long as I get the titanium dioxide type of sunscreen she is fine.
the kind that sits on the skin and blocks .

Im notfamiliar w alba or badger so if those are the thick white paste kind I apologize. I googled unscreen allergies and found a lot of info a few years aback.

My daughter has very reactive skin and tends to break out in hives more in the summer because of the heat (it can exacerbate the problem quite a bit). We've had luck with California Baby sunscreen (pricey) and rash guards but keeping cool and airing out her skin helps the most.

Yes, you absolutely can be allergic to sunscreen. My daughter has eczema and severe airborne allergies. She gets two allergy shots once a month. She is in the high school Colorguard and they spend most of the summer outdoors so sunscreen is a must. At the recommendation of her dermatologist we use Elta MD Skincare, UV Aero Broad-Spectrum SPF 45. It's not cheap but it does not cause her any skin problems.

I'd recommend a dermatologist.

Try No-AD my daughter had the same issue as a baby and the only thing that did not affect her was this product. You can get it at Target or Walmart.

She needs to see a professional.

I agree she could be allergic to certain UVA light.