13 Month Old Allergic to Sunscreen?

J.-

I use and recommend the Arbonne Baby Care Sunscreen. It has been Pediatric tested and is designed for babaies, children and sensitive skin individuals. I have one on hand if you want one this weekend. You can check out the whole line of baby products by going to skincaresolutions.myarbonne.com and click shop online.

Good quetion! My children are sensitive skin type kids!
T.

Several years ago my mother developed an itchy rash that was only relieved by sitting in the pool or in a bathtub filled with cool water. It was even keeping her from sleeping. Dermatologists prescribed several meds that didn't work. She was using sunscreens and sun lotionsevery day. One particular brand was the culprit. She stopped using the screens and lotions for several weeks and changed to a new brand. That solved the problem.

One thing I would ask the daycare is if they are using the sunscreen you sent or if they put it into a group for community use. Another thing they might do is rub each child's face and arms - never washing their hands in between - this could spread germs or rashes.

Arbonne also offers some really great sunscreen that is more natural and may be better for your child.

My oldest still has this problem. The first sunscreen that he did not react to is Neutragena Sensitive Sunscreen. I found that most of the sunscreens have the same ingredients in them. California Baby also puts out a sunscreen that works rather well and is for sensitive skin. You may have to look at Target, or a health food store, or just order it online.

My dd and I are both allergic to any sunscreen containing anything other than titanium or zinc oxide/dioxide. The following were recommended by our dermatologist yesterday: Nutragena sensitive skin (come in 30 and 45), burt bees (I know comes in a 15) and Blue Lizzard (I know comes in a 30)...all of these can be found over the counter at walmart, target, cvs, walgreens, and probably rite aid...the others that contain only the titanium and zinc you would have to order from online and can be quite expensive.

Find the baby sunscreen with the most Zync Oxide in it. I had a similar situation with my oldest when she was 3 months old and the Pediatrician told me to do this. Zync Oxide is skin protectant. I followed the advice and never had the problem again. This also worked for me for diaper rash cream. Believe it or not the different types of desitin have different amounts of Zync Oxide in them and the only one that works on my daughter's bottom is the original which has the highest amount of Zync Oxide. Check it out.

My son also has sensitive skin. We use earth's best organics sunscreen (spf 70) from babiesrus and burt's bees sunscreen from Walgreens. Both seem to be tolerated very well and have no chemicals.

My daughter was the same way as a baby. She could actually tolerate the mildest of sunscreens but anything else caused her to break out. I will say that now she is grown up (7 years old) she can handle sunscreen again. However, now she seems to have developed an allergy to latex. Apparently her skin is just sensitive to certain materials. I wish I had some advice, other than trying (in small doses) a few different kinds. I don't know if Aveeno makes a sunscreen, but it would be a good place to start. Otherwise, you might look into hats and other ways to cover her.

Good luck!
R.

First make sure they're actually using what you gave them. Some day cares buy in bulk and may be using that.

Maybe not allergic rash, but just sensitive? Try something different, maybe an oil free sunscreen.

Here, you can find all kinds of sunscreens and their safety ratings at

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch.php?query=sun...

Sunscreens are in general pretty toxic, but as you can see, there are lots of "green" (safe) ones to choose from. This database rates safest first. If you click on any one, the following page will show you where you can buy it. It's on the right side.

L.

it is kind of hit or miss. The american cancer society recommends no ad 45 as the most stable. They have one specifically for little ones but I don't remember. I would check their web site. They test sunscreens all the time to determine which is the most effective, the most stable, stands up to water etc. I have had skin cancer so I try to stay up on this sort of thing. My little guy was hit or miss on sunscreen when he was this age. Good luck

Yes I do know the problem. It is loaded with tons of chemicals. Arbonne has a great baby sunscreen that is Pure,Safe and Beneficial made from herbs. Ck out web at www.successfromtheheart.myarbonne.com

That's what it sounds like. Water Babies (and Coppertone in general) rated pretty poorly on the sunscreen study. Go to this site and search for sunscreens, you should come up with a HUGE study they did and rated 100's of different brands - plus a lot of other great info on products. :]
www.ewg.org

Hi J.,

My guess would be that it's heat rash, not an allergy. We had a similar problem when using the sunscreen sticks--it was like her skin couldn't breathe, and she got what seemed to be heat rash. Maybe try something that isn't waterproof or a physical barrier-type sunscreen with zinc oxide or something. We were fine just ditching the stick, but keep in mind that best thing might not be a baby product--sometimes they are the worst about excessive fragrance and such!

Good luck.

L.

Tons of kids have this kind of reaction to paba in sunscreens, most sunscreens now are paba free, especially if they are for children. Find out what the day care is using on her, just to be sure. (sometimes for convenience sake they will use the same stuff on all the kids unless they KNOW for sure of an allergy situation-I worked at a pre-school, this happens.) My daughter has very sensitive skin, I used Hawiian Tropics Baby Faces and Tender Places, it has less chemicals in it-but honestly feels like you're putting elmer's glue on your kids-lol.

I used water babies on my toddler and she broke out in a horrible red rash all over! It was awful! We now use Aveeno Baby - it's the best. It lasts a long time and works really well. Best of all, it doesn't irritate my daughter's sensitive skin. We've been using it for 3 years and love it.

My little boy also had the exact same thing. I tried many sunscreens and finally discovered that Aveeno worked the best. The ones that had the real water resistance were the worst (ie. the Bullfrog, even the Water babies). Sunscreens that are all zinc oxide also seem to work well on him.
My boy is 9 years old now and a fair red head so I have been experimenting with this for several years now.Up until 2 years ago the best sun screen I could find was Le Roche Posey which cost 40$!!! I was thrilled to find the Aveeno..... it comes in a spray and lotion. Hope this helps.

My niece and I used Water Babies in FL simply because we have small kids around. Both of us broke out with a rash. Hers was so bad she couldn't go to the beach that day. My rash went away soon after I showered. Same thing happened to me when I used one called Barbie something, but just on my face. I think I changed to Banana Boat and I was fine.

Point is, it might not be the PABA ingredient, it may be the ingedient used as a preservative. It could also be that the ingredient changes over time. Change brands and see if that helps. Good luck!

I can't tell you a particular brand because, usually, there is a specific ingredient that the child is allergic to. My son has had terrible reactions to sunscreen since he was about 9. We knew there was one sunscreen that had not caused problems so we tried to figure out which ingredient was not present in it but in the ones that had caused the rash and swelling. I think it is Avobenzone that he is allergic to. The first time he had a reaction, we had put a "for faces" sunscreen on him. His eyes swelled shut, he had a heavy red rash all over the area it had been applied and his face felt like shoe leather. It took days of taking benadril for it to go away. We tested a few different ones on his arms before discovering his culprit.

It can also be fragrences used in the product that can cause a reaction for some, but if you are using sunscreen for sensitive skin, it may not have that. Sensitive skin just may not be the problem. It may be an actual allergic reaction to a particular ingredient. I would look closely at the ingredients in what they were using and try to find one with different ingredients. Test it on a small area first. Also, sometimes the ingredient does not cause the reaction until the sun hits it, so make sure you try on a small area that will be exposed to the sun. Also, there may only be one ingredient different but if that is the one that is the problem, it only takes one.

It can be a real pain but if it is an allergy, it is worth it to find out what. Allergies can become worse over time, which is what I think happened with my son. He now refuses sunscreen from other people and we use the same brand every time to make it simpler. Some people are allergic to sun exposure but you might look at the sunscreen angle first. Good luck.

The best sunblock I've ever used on my babies is mineral based from the health food store.

www.http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
This websites lets you enter products to see what is really in them. Many products that and marketed for children contain some really auwful chemicals. The website will give you a rating to show you how dangerous the product is.
We switched our whole house to Melaluca products about a year ago. They are less expensive then what we where buying in the store and there products are so safe that they do not require child safety caps. They suntan lotion comes in a spray bottle that has a locking twist cap. Which I love because there is no cap to loose and it doesn't spray when it gets throw in the bag.
We found out "sensitve skin" and "allergies" we had running rampant in our family was just a normal reaction to the harsh chemicals that we were using in our home.I highly reccomend becomeing a customer of theirs. It has relieved a lot of our allergies, all of our "sensitive skin", and all of my worries about the safety of cleaning products we were using in our home. Even our dogs are healthier.
If you would like to give them a try let me know and I'll show you how to get started.

OK, I found this on an Alternitive web site Dr. David Williams. Go to a health food store and buy powered vitamin C. Get a small spray bottle and mix 2 tablespoons with water and mist your child. I would start and a weekend and mist once every 30 minutes or so and it soaks in and builds up and will last a day or two. The daycare can just mist her down before going out side. It is non toxic!

H.

Hi J., I tried a different sunscreen last year and broke out in a rash - was so glad that I did not put it on my face!! I checked the label after - ( as I did not suspect I would be allergic to sunscreeen or lotions at all) - the brand I used had sulfate. I do have a known intolerance to that. I know children's skin is more sensitve in general but thought that might be something for you to be aware of. I have gone back to using what I get for the kids - NO AD brand 35. There is also baby sunscreen. But pleas check with your pediatrician or read up on the use of lotions and sunscreens on young children. Best Wishes, S.

She could be allergic to a certain ingredient in the Sun Screen, I would try to use a different one next time and see what happens. I know I can not use a sunscreen with coco butter in it. I will break out like your daughter if I do.

Hi!

We use California Baby products, including sunscreen for our 3 little ones. It's chemical/allergen free and works great! You can get it at Target, Whole Foods or many online stores.

ARBONNE! Give me a call and I'll send you some samples. Also, with the misquito season right around the corner I just found out an AMAZING way to repel them with another Arbonne product that was made for a completely different reason! I am a clinical scientist and don't recommend anything unless I have tried it and know the biochemistry behind it. Just call me and I'll hook you up with samples! 1-###-###-####

Probably so. Don't know if you've ever researched the many chemicals with which sunscreens are laden...but they're not good. Plain old sun would be better. If you strongly feel you must use sunscreen, I would read up on natural methods, and possibly head for the healthfood store, etc., for broader options. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the options you encounter. Happy sunning!

Blessings,
H.

I did also want to add--with all due respect to my fellow mommies on here!--that I don't feel it is hit or miss. With the world-wide web, you can get all the info you need on this subject. You can look up every ingredient on anything--and find out what it does to the body. I personally wouldn't depend upon the American cancer Society's info. Other countries (and many in our own country) are curing and preventing cancer, and have been for a long time. Research, research! Be empowered : )

Hi J.,

You need to be aware that over the counter sunscreens have carcinogens in them such as formaldehyde, etc. which can cause an allergic reaction. It's really a shame that companies are allowed to put neuro-toxins in their products and sell them to the public. They don't even have to list them on the ingredient label. I shop from a manufacturer that uses no harmful ingredients in their products. I've been a happy customer for two years. They do have sunscreen by the way. For more info, please message me.

K. C.

My youngest had the same issue and a friend suggested Nature's Gate Kid's Block sunscreen. It is the only stuff I use on him and we have not had any more reactions since. The only place I have found to buy it, where I live, is Whole Foods. It is fragrance-free, contains no animal by-products, is gentle, and it works! If you can find it, try it...maybe it will work for you too :o)

Hi, both my kids are allergic to CHILDREN and BABY sunscreen. My daughter's reactions are more severe than my son's. She gets large red rashes on her face when it is used - it looks like a severe sunburn or large hives and becomes hot to the touch. (My son's reaction can be similar but most of the time his was a smaller bumpy rash.) This is painful for her and looks awful. It can also take several days for the rash to fade. We switched to regular (not formulated for children) sunscreen and it helped tremendously. I'm at work and I'm not absolutely certain of the brands we have used with the most success, but as I recall, we use Coppertone (in a spray form)most often. I spray it in my hands then apply it. She just turned six and my son just turned 4, both have always had reactions to children's sunscreen. Good Luck!! Hope this helps. T.